Black History Miscellaneous File

Archive

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St. Joseph Museums

Name/Title

Black History Miscellaneous File

Entry/Object ID

9999.BHF.337

Scope and Content

Miscellaneous This Week in Black History Out of the Past is a photocopy of a newspaper picture from the News-Press. It shows the block bounded by Felix, Francis, Ninth and Francis streets before a municipal parking structure was constructed in the block. This was the view to the West from Ninth Street and Frederick Avenue. Francis Street is at the right, and Felix Street is at the left (Submitted by Kathryn Gamble of St. Joseph). April 7, 1909 Matthew H. Henson adventurer and explorer became the first man to reach the North Pole on this day. When Naval Admiral Robert E. Peary made his second expedition to the Arctic region in 1891, he took Henson along as a friend. Henson became an expert in handling the equipment, dog sleds and in dealing with the Eskimos. In 1900, 1902, and 1905 Peary made repeated trips to reach the North Pole accompanied by Henson. In February 1909, they started on an expedition from Cape Sheridan, Greenland. Finally on April 7 1909, 60 miles from their goal, exhausted and suffering from snow blindness, Matthew Henson became the first man to reach the North Pole. He published his account of the expedition in his book, A Negro Explorer at the North Pole. April 8, 1974 Henry (Hank) Aaron baseball great and currently baseball executive, made baseball history, when he broke Babe Ruth's home run record, by hitting his 715th home run. He led the National League in runs batted in four times and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. He was a native of Mobile, AL. Aaron started pro-baseball at 18. He joined the Braves in 1952 after they bought his contract from the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League. He played for the Braves-in Milwaukee and Atlanta-for all but two seasons of his 23-year major league career and still holds more batting records than anyone is history. November 22, 2002 Young At heart has a newspaper photo of the St. Joseph A Cappella Choral ensemble. Members of the group are: Joseph Mays, Charles Franklin, Thomas Mozee, Dennis Patterson, Robert Gorman, Robert Chambers, Robert Tillman, Donnie Jones, Rev. Ennis Whaley, Bedette Smith, Virginia Glass, Connie Brown, Louise Browning, Margaret Brown, Elizabeth Tillman, Robert Campbell, Oliver Browning, Frances Harper, Thelma Chambers, Vietta Combs, Edith Brown, Shirley Words and Kathryn Mays. The group sings from coast to coast, Toronto to Mexico City. Samuel M. Holt was in the Spanish-American War and was sent to Cuba as Second in Command of the band that blew the charge when our forces attacked San Juan Hill. He mustered out of the Army and returned to Wathena, where he began to teach music to many of the residents of Elwood and Wathena. He led a band which played for dances held in th area. in his 70s he still played tuba in weekly outdoor musical concerts in a Wathena Park. One of the best groups around was an a Cappella group formed in St. Joseph by Rev. Ennis. Annual tours were conducted during the 60s. The group ended when Rev. Whaley moved from the city. There is a photocopy from a newspaper that has a picture of Swift workers from 1950. They are: Nate Coleman, Veron Brisco, George Elo, Robert Gorman, James Fulmer, Gene Hollis, Ade Stalvecious, Olin Burton, Lincoln Gorman, John Moore, Harrison Robinson, Ed Price, Elmer Koitz, Marcus Minor, Andy Pflugradt, Allie Ford, Bill Adams, Robert Tillman, Joe Gergeni, Frank Perry, Vernon Hart, Dewey Agee, Al LaFever, Joe Hernandez, Gerald Boyer, Harry Reece, Sam Ashook, Brian Cowart, Harry Labouff, George Rice, and Rollie McPeek. May 19, 1985 St. Joseph News-Press photocopies of newspaper pictures had the title Short-term Marriage. At left Ramon Stillman and Tiranie Kirby get ready for their part as wedding party members, while below, bride Cassandra Smith waits at the back of the church for the wedding march to begin. Nearly 40 children age 2-14, took part in this mock wedding at Holsey Chapel ICM. St. Joseph News-Press September 3, 1973 there is a newspaper picture of Eddie Ray a well known St. Joseph resident. He was honored for his many contributions to the community especially in recreation. He is retiring this year from Pearl Brewing Company, where he had been employed for 27 years. He is being presented a honorary and lifetime membership in the Missouri Western State College Gold Coats, a booster group of the local college athletic programs. From left are: Hurel L. Wilson, Jerry M. Myers, Mr. Ray and Charlie Burri. There is a letter, envelope, and Memorial Tribute sent to Mr. and Mrs. B. James of 718 Warsaw Ave, St. Joseph, Missouri telling them of the death of Dr. William A. Simms. Mr. Simms was born in St. Joseph. Survivors are: Mrs Bertha R. Simms, daughter and Ms. Reola Triane Jarrett. He died March 29, 1978. A letter was written to Geraldine Robinson from Swan Holt . He tells her that the hardships his parents had to confront were really not bad except the inequities that were thrust upon them because of their race. They had the ability to get along with the finances they had. They never went hungry. The letter was written in 1995. Time to Honor Black Achievements is the title of this article. These are the people that the article honored: J. A. Sweeting, invented the device for rolling cigarettes, M. B. Rhodes patent on the water closet paved the way for modern indoor toilets, W. Johnson invented the egg beater, J. Hawkins invented the oven rack, Norbert Rilljeux had a process of multiple evaporation which revolutionized the sugar industry and is used in the manufacture of condensed milk, soap, glue, gelatin and in the recovery of waste liquids in distilleries and paper factories, William B. Purvis patented paper bag machines and metal cutters on wax paper and aluminum foil boxes. Sara Boone conceived the ironing board with collapsible leg support, Jan Matzellzer revolutionized the shoe industry with his shoe-last machine, A. L. Rickman invented overshoes and William Hampton the vulcanizing of rubber for automobile tires, Garrett Morgan invented the automatic stop light for intersections, C. B. Brooks the mechanical street sweeper, P. B. Downing thought up having mailboxes on the street, O. Dorsey came up with the device on your door which holds it open when you want to move items in or out, Granville Woods invented the telephone receiver and collaborated with Alexander Graham Bell on dozens of telephone patents, T. B. Pinn designed a wooden prototype of modern file cabinets, J. B. Love invented the pencil sharpener, Lew Latimer the portable coat racks for hats, coats and umbrellas, S. B. Scottron invented the curtain rod, W. S. Grant designed the support used in the middle of the rods, W. P Ray invented the handy dust pan, T. W. Stewart came up with the mop, G. T. Sampson invented clothes dryers, D. A. Fisher conceived casters, making it easier to move heavy furniture, Augustus Jackson made ice-cream, Hyram Thomas produced the first potato chip, Jackson and Long invented the bottle cap, George F. Grant the golfers tee, J. W. Batts designed the forerunner of the luggage carrier, A. C. Richardson developed the device used to lower your casket into the grave, Henry Brown the strong box, Booker T. Washington was the first black invited to the White House. St. Joseph News-Press July 4, 1976 is a typewritten story . The article is about the country's bicentennial celebration. It is written by Vivian Shannon Madison of 2211 Locust Street. The title is "Lest We Forget She talks about the Bartlett school with its R.O.T.C. units, the operattas , plays and dramas produced by Bartlett. She writes about how they were torn down and Horce Mann was built on same spot. She mentions the building that Dr. Thompson built, the Pony Express Statue now stands in the triangle where Dr. J. C. Marshall had his office. She talks about many building that were torn down and many new buildings built. The message that she wanted the youth of St. Joseph as well as the new citizens of this city was to reap the benefit of knowing that our city has also had Black Citizens who have made significant contributions to our city's growth and our Country's History. Most of all she does not want them to be forgotten. February 25, 2015 "Newspapers Reveal history of black community", St. Joseph NewsPress, column by Alonzo Weston. Brief mention of McKinley Club, 1896; Isaiah Harris, one of first blacks to vote in city; paternity suit against Rev. W.W. Stewart; 1889 Emancipation Day celebration; Gabriel Scott and Aunt Jenny, black citizens aged 105 & 108; 1888 Independent Colored Voters of St. Joseph;

Collection

Black Archives

Lexicon

Search Terms

Black History, Emancipation Day Celebration, Independent Colored Voters of St. Joseph, McKinley Club, Black Social Clubs

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

File, Folder

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Maintenance

Maintenance History

Date

Apr 15, 2014

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Hank Aaron

Person or Organization

BILL ADAMS

Person or Organization

Dewey Agee

Person or Organization

Sam Ashook

Person or Organization

Aunt Jenny

Person or Organization

J. W. Batts

Person or Organization

Alexander Graham Bell

Person or Organization

Sara Boone

Person or Organization

Gerald Boyer

Person or Organization

Veron Brisco

Person or Organization

C. B. Brooks

Person or Organization

Connie Brown

Person or Organization

Edith Brown

Person or Organization

Henry Brown

Person or Organization

Margaret Brown

Person or Organization

Louise Browning

Person or Organization

Oliver Browning

Person or Organization

Charlie Burri

Person or Organization

Olin Burton

Person or Organization

Robert Campbell

Person or Organization

Robert Chambers

Person or Organization

Thelma Chambers

Person or Organization

Nate Coleman

Person or Organization

Vietta Combs

Person or Organization

Brian Cowart

Person or Organization

O. Dorsey

Person or Organization

R. B. Downing

Person or Organization

Bea Ewing

Person or Organization

D. A. Fisher

Person or Organization

Allie Ford

Person or Organization

Charles Franklin

Person or Organization

James Fulmer

Person or Organization

Kathryn Gamble

Person or Organization

Joe Gergeni

Person or Organization

Glass, Virginia

Person or Organization

Lincoln Gorman

Person or Organization

Robert Gorman

Person or Organization

Robert Gorman

Person or Organization

W. S. Grant

Person or Organization

Grant. George F.

Person or Organization

William Hampton

Person or Organization

Frances Harper

Person or Organization

Isaiah Harris

Person or Organization

Vernon Hart

Person or Organization

J. Hawkins

Person or Organization

Matthew H. Henson

Person or Organization

Joe Hernandez

Person or Organization

Gene Hollis

Person or Organization

Sammuel Holt

Person or Organization

Swan Holt

Person or Organization

Augustus Jackson

Person or Organization

Reola Trian Jarrett

Person or Organization

W. Johnson

Person or Organization

Donnie Jones

Person or Organization

Mary Jones

Person or Organization

Tiffanie Kirby

Person or Organization

Elmer Koitz

Person or Organization

Harry LaBouff

Person or Organization

Al LaFever

Person or Organization

Lew Latimer

Person or Organization

J. B. Love

Person or Organization

Vivian Shannon Madison

Person or Organization

Marshall, J. C. Dr.

Person or Organization

Matzellzer, Jan

Person or Organization

Matzellzer, Jan

Person or Organization

Joseph Mays

Person or Organization

Kathryn Mays

Person or Organization

Rollie McPeek

Person or Organization

Marcus Minor

Person or Organization

John Moore

Person or Organization

Morgan, Garrett

Person or Organization

Thomas Mozee

Person or Organization

Jerry M. Myers

Person or Organization

Dennis Patterson

Person or Organization

Robert E. Peary

Person or Organization

Frank Perr

Person or Organization

Andy Pflugradt

Person or Organization

T. B. Pinn

Person or Organization

Price, Price

Person or Organization

William B. Purvis

Person or Organization

Eddie Ray

Person or Organization

W. P. Ray

Person or Organization

Harry Reece

Person or Organization

M. B. Rhodes

Person or Organization

George Rice

Person or Organization

A. C. Richardson

Person or Organization

A. L. Rickman

Person or Organization

Norbert Rilljeux

Person or Organization

Harrison Robinson

Person or Organization

G. T. Sampson

Person or Organization

Gabriel Scott

Person or Organization

S. B. Scottron

Person or Organization

Bertha R. Simms

Person or Organization

Dr. William Simms

Person or Organization

Bedette Smith

Person or Organization

Cassandra Smith

Person or Organization

Ade Stalvecious

Person or Organization

T. W. Stewart

Person or Organization

W. W. Stewart

Person or Organization

Ramon Stillman

Person or Organization

J. A. Sweeting

Person or Organization

Hyram Thomas

Person or Organization

Elizabeth Tillman

Person or Organization

Robert Tillman

Person or Organization

Washington, Booker T.

Person or Organization

Whaley, Ennis, Rev

Person or Organization

Wilson, Hurel L.

Person or Organization

Woods, Granville

Person or Organization

Shirley Words