The collection gathered together by D. C. Allen includes published materials, manuscripts and other paper documentation, and photographs, postcards, and other visual materials. The published material consists mainly of books and pamphlets written by House of David founder "King Benjamin" Purnell and his wife Mary and others associated with the House of David. This collection was formerly stored at the University of Wyoming American Heritage Center.
The Israelite House of David was established at Benton Harbor, Michigan, in 1903 by "King Benjamin" Purnell, a former roving preacher, and his wife Mary. In 1895, Purnell received a revelation that he was the "seventh messenger" described in the Book of Revelation. The previous six "angels" were Joanna Southcott, Richard Brothers, George Turner, William Shaw, John Wroe, and James Jezreel, all of England. As outlined in biblical scripture, the function of the seventh angel was to gather together the tribes of Israel prior to the second coming of Christ.
Incorporated under a religious charter, the Israelite House of David was a commonwealth with all possessions of members surrendered to Purnell who in turn provided for their support from a central fund which he administered. Most of the original members of the colony came from Indiana and Ohio, but this number increased dramatically following a trip to Australia in 1904-05 when Purnell appeared before the members of the previous messenger's followers, James Jezreel. During its heyday in the 1920s, the Benton Harbor colony numbered more than 900 members.
Activities of the colony included a farm, numerous commercial ventures including an amusement park, an open air tabernacle, a vegetarian restaurant, hotel, bands, crafts for sale in a gift shop, and a printing press. The colony was also remembered for its traveling baseball team with players' trademark braided long hair and beards.
Almost from its inception the colony and Purnell were the subject of both controversy and litigation. In 1923, some members of the colony brought suit against Purnell for the restitution of their property and wages for the time they had worked without pay. In another case, the people of the state of Michigan questioned the colony's tax exempt status for its many commercial ventures. Most damaging, Purnell was the subject of several morals charges. Just days before his death in December 1927, an order was issued to him to vacate the House of David premises and to dissolve the religious association.
Internal power struggles which began before Purnell's death culminated in a split in 1930 and the formation of a new colony, the Israelite House of David as Re-organized by Mary Purnell, later shortened to Mary's City of David, led by Purnell's widow Mary. The original colony which had earlier shortened its name to the House of David was led by Judge H. T. Dewhirst, the colony's chief secretary. In 1966, membership in the House of David numbered under 100, though some operations continued, such as the miniature train locomotive. The aging membership was still devout in their expectation of the imminent second coming.
