Name/Title
Beshears, Kelsy, Portraits in Later Life, c. 1978 & 1998Entry/Object ID
P2018.8.46Description
Beshears, Kelsy, Portraits in Later Life, c. 1978 & 1998. Two color photographs of Mrs. Beshears in later life, one a formal portrait, the other a snapshot at home. See description below. Kelsy was born in 1898.
Kelsy Beshears, a noted female black activist, who became important in St. Joseph's struggle for civil right. She developed the first public housing complex (Brookdale East Apts) in St. Joseph in 1969. Beshears came to St. Joseph upon her marriage to Dr. Rufus Beshears a dentist. Both Beshears and her son, Jerry Cooper, were active in local politics, NAACP, and equal opportunity activities.
A = Formal portrait, Kelsy Beshears, c. age 70, standing next to vase of roses, she is wearing a light blue dress and carrying a silver purse. color photo, 3" x 5", in cardboard portfolio.
B = Snapshot, Kelsey Beshears, age 100, seated in wing-back chair, wearing turquoise blouse over white skirt, her hair pulled up and back. Handwritten on back: "Kelsy Beshears, October 2, 1998, St. Joseph, Missouri." color, 4" x 6"Made/Created
Studio
UnknownDate made
1998Place
City
St. JosephState/Province
MissouriLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Print, PhotographicNomenclature Primary Object Term
PhotographNomenclature Sub-Class
Graphic DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
Beshears Family, Black History in St. JosephDimensions
Dimension Notes
Printsize: VariousRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Kelsy BeshearsProvenance
Notes
Items found in basement of Brookdale East Apt. Complex, the first public housing project in St. Joseph, established through the efforts of activist, Kelsey Beshears. Her son, Jerry Cooper, lived in the complex even after Kelsey's death. Donated by member of local NAACP.
