Vintage , original , dated Mar 19 , 1924 receipt written to :

" Rev R. J. Crockett of Rock Hill South Carolina "  He was the Minister of AME Zion Church in the early 1900s.

Receipt is marked  " The Progressive Messenger - A weekly Newspaper published in the Interests of the Colored People " by J. W. Crockett , publisher / Book Dealers.   307 S. Caldwell St.

also signed by J.W. Crockett 

Charlotte NC Receipt Progressive Messenger Newspaper for Colored People

Original, VTG Receipt. Not a reproduction

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Reverend Dr. R. J. Crockett was a prominent African American minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church and an educator who led the Clinton Institute in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Background and Ministry

• Education: He graduated from Livingstone College, the historically black college in Salisbury, North Carolina, closely tied to the AME Zion Church.

• Role at Clinton Institute: He served as a professor and the leader/principal of Clinton Institute in Rock Hill, an important high-grade school established for the education of Black youth in the region.

• Pastoral Appointments: He served local congregations, including as pastor at Clinton Chapel Station in Rock Hill, and later as the Presiding Elder of the Rock Hill District for the AME Zion Church

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J.W. Crockett was a prominent African American businessman, editor, and religious leader in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He served as a crucial pillar of the city's Black press and literary community.

Key Roles & Contributions

• The Progressive Messenger: J.W. Crockett was the editor and publisher of The Progressive Messenger, an important weekly newspaper serving the Black community ("Colored People") of Charlotte and the wider region. He operated the publication with his wife and staff until his death in 1926.

• The A.M.E. Zion Book Concern: In addition to his independent publishing efforts, Crockett was a prominent layman in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (A.M.E. Zion) Church. He served as the General Manager of the A.M.E. Zion Book Concern located at 206 South College Street in Charlotte, which served as a bookstore, repository, and printing press for religious literature, bibles, and educational materials