Name/Title
Beshears, Rufus P., Dr.: Dental School Photos, c. 1909Entry/Object ID
P2018.8.45Description
Beshears, Rufus P., Dr.: Dental School Photos, c. 1909. Two portrait group photos of students, one of whom should be Rufus Beshears, although not specifically identified. See description below.
Dr. Beshears (1888-1961) was a local black dentist with offices at 411½ Francis St., St. Joseph, MO. He served as a dentist during World War I and in his post-war practice served as contract dentist for the Veterans Administration. A widower, he married Kelsy Beshears, a noted female black activist, who became important in St. Joseph's struggle for civil right.
He was a leader in the black community and a Director of Laurence Jones' Piney Woods Country Life School in Mississippi.
A = Group photo of 33 students in a college laboratory, most wearing a lab jacket of sorts. One black student on right must be Rufus Beshears. Sepia. 9½" x 7¾" on 11" x 14" black cardboard mat.
B = Group photo of college class in four rows. The one black male on second row must be Rufus Beshears. (There is one woman among the 41 students). b/w. fading, dirty, 13" x 5" on brown cardboard mat, 9" x 17", broken on right side, holes in center and left side. brittle.Made/Created
Studio
VariousDate made
1909 - 1960Notes
Date: 1950Lexicon
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
Francis Street, 411½, Beshears Family, Black History in St. Joseph, Black Dentists, Francis Street, World War IDimensions
Dimension Notes
Printsize: VariousRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Rufus P. 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.
