Black Occupations in St. Joseph

Archive

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St. Joseph Museums

Name/Title

Black Occupations in St. Joseph

Entry/Object ID

9999.BHF.315

Scope and Content

Occupations Contractor: This is a photocopy of the house at 4085 16th Street. The house was the long-time home of a prominent Black St. Joseph contractor. Rusticated random ashlar characterizes the second story of the front while rusticated random coursed ashlar distinguishes the first floor. Weatherboards cover the sides of the building. Three columns support a large front porch with a plain entrablature. A railing with lathe-turned wooden spindles connects the columns. The Roof is a steep gabled style. Mortician Marries. There is a photocopy of a picture of the wedding of Holland Alexander. He ran the Alexander funeral home located at 21st and Angelique. He married the former Zanomia Robinson Duff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter D. Duff. Holland was the son of William and Mary Alexander. Others in the picture are Winston Mays, Zanomia Mauryce Elliott, Catherine Kenford, Abis Martin, Gregory and Jeanne Alexander. Police: St. Joseph News-Press January 23, 1998 the is a photocopy picture of Herman Merrill when he was presented a commendation after he stopped a robbery. Mayor Douglas A. Merrifield presented the commendation. There is another picture of Herman at age 78 wearing the medal he was awarded. He shot two men who were allegedly in the process of robbing the Beaty Store, 19th and Jule streets. The holdup occurred February 6, 1968. He also received the distinguished service medal for that robbery case back in 1968 and was presented a special plaque at the 50th Annual Policeman's Benefit Ball in the late 1980s. He was the first black policeman to work on the streets, he also was a detective before retiring January 1, 1981, after 25 years on the force. Sports: A scanned newspaper picture shows a class of Jeet Kun Do taught by Earl Walker He was the instructor of the karate class. Jeet Kun Do means "The way of the Intercepting Fist" that Bruce Lee taught. He also mixes in elements of judo, wrestling and boxing. Swift Workers. St. Joseph News-Press December 30, 1994 has a picture of Swift workers from 1950. This group worked five years and 12 working days without a lost-time accident This company closed in 1970.

Collection

Black Archives

Lexicon

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Sports, Karate

Search Terms

Black Contractors, Black Morticians, Black History, Black Occupations, Black Police, Swift Packing Company, Black Employees at Swift Packing Company

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

File, Folder

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Maintenance

Maintenance History

Date

Feb 11, 2014

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Gregory Alexander

Person or Organization

Holland Alexander

Person or Organization

Jeanne Alexander

Person or Organization

Mary Alexander

Person or Organization

William Alexander

Person or Organization

Walter Duff

Person or Organization

Zanomia Robinson Duff

Person or Organization

Zanomia Mauryce Elliott

Person or Organization

Catherine Kenford

Person or Organization

Abis Martin

Person or Organization

Winston Mays

Person or Organization

Mayor Douglas A. Merrifield

Person or Organization

Herman Merrill