John Culmer

Who was John Culmer?

Father John Edwin Culmer was a minister and civil rights leader, most notable for his work in Miami, Florida, United States.

An accomplished musician, Culmer attended Oskaloosa College, where he received a B.A. in music. He received a bachelor of divinity degree from Bishop Payne Divinity School. He has also received honorary doctorates from Bethune-Cookman College and the Virginia Theological Seminary.

After leading a ministry in Tampa, in 1929, Culmer was transferred to the Saint Agnes Church in Miami. At the church, Father Culmer helped the poorly established church become one of the most acclaimed congregations in the American South.

During his tenure as minister, he served on the Dade County Senior Citizens Board, and headed Miami's Peaceful Integration committee. Culmer also was chairman of the Fact-Finding Committee of the Greater Miami Negro Civic League, where he brought national attention to the deplorable housing and sanitation conditions of African Americans in Miami; this led to the building of the Liberty Square housing project, which opened in 1937.