This is a newspaper article about Webb Coffee and his crop of wheat for the year 1872. According to Florence historian Lee Freeman: "Webb Coffee (ca. 1796-1881) was a slave of Gen. John Coffee (1772-1833) for many years before becoming the slave of the General’s son, Joshua (1832-1879), at Coffee's Hickory Hill Plantation on the modern Cloverdale Road. In 1874, Joshua Coffee testified in Webb’s Southern Claims Commission (a Federal court which awarded monetary damages to pro-Union Southerners for property and crops confiscated by the Union Army if they could prove they’d remained loyal) case that Webb had loyally supported the Union and had lost two mules and several bushels of corn, peaches and other foodstuffs, which were taken by the Union Army in July of 1863, and that Webb deserved to be reimbursed by the Federal Government. Unfortunately however Webb’s claim was denied. In his Southern Claims Commission application he states: "I resided 3 Miles North of Florence Ala. from the 11th of April 1861. On the 1st of June 1865 I was living on land rented from My former Master, Joshua Coffee. . . I did not change residence or business during the war." “Uncle” Webb Coffee died 12 April, 1881. His Florence Gazette Sat., April 16, 1881 obituary says: "Uncle Webb Coffee, a clever old colored man, one of our oldest citizens, died Tuesday night, of dropsy, aged about 85. He died where he had lived for about 60 years, at the old Coffee homestead.""]]> 1872-06-18]]> 1949-04-21]]> This is a partial copy of a Shoals Area Business Directory, featuring WZZA, Luster's Theological Bookkeeping and Printing Services, and Mr. James Brown of Brown's Cleaners.]]> BT.095.jpg]]> This is a newspaper clipping about Dr. L.M. Pollard, an African American dentist, who was taking over the practice of the late Dr. J.E. Jones.]]> 1916-11-17]]> This is a newspaper article about a mix-up between black porters at two different Florence hotels. According to Florence historian Lee Freeman: "Unnamed black porters of rival Florence hotels have a "mixup" over a "traveling man and his luggage" in which the porters of the New Florence are the victors, obtaining the traveler's patronage for their hotel."]]> 1910-08-15]]> This is a newspaper ad for the Tri-Cities Theater, a black theater managed by H.L. Fields.]]> 1914-01-15]]> These are advertisements related to Bessie Foster.]]> The Florence Times (2)]]> The Florence Times (2)]]> 1921 (1)
1915-04-30 (2)]]> PNG (2)]]> BFoster11.png (2)]]> These are newspaper clippings relating to Bessie Foster. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "A granddaughter of free mulatto barber of Florence John H. Rapier, Sr. (1808-1869) and his second, common-law slave wife, Lucretia McAlister (ca. 1825-aft. 1860) through Bessie's mother, their daughter Susan (1859-1927), Bessie McAlister Rapier Foster (1882-1963) is believed to be Florence’s first African-American businesswoman. She was known locally as a hairdresser and chiropodist, and in 1916 opened the Pastime Theater for Negroes on Sweetwater Street, near Court. In 1925 her chiropodist business was located on the 2nd floor at 109 S Court St. By 1960 she was the owner of the Improved Pool Room. Married four times, Bessie had four daughters, two of which were adopted. A convert from the AME Church to Roman Catholicism, Bessie was instrumental in the founding of Blessed Martin De Porres Catholic Mission on West College Street in Florence in the late 1940s. She was known to locals for her industry, thrift, entrepreneurial spirit, and generosity. She died in 1963 and was buried in the black section of the Florence City Cemetery next to her second husband Thomas Spencer Foster (1877-1918)."]]> Florence Herald (2)
Johnnie Mae Brock (4)]]> Florence Herald (2)]]> 1912-08-09 (1)
1917-11-21 (2)]]> Bessie_Foster_Ladies_Haridressing_Parlors_Ad.jpg (2)
Bessie_Foster3.jpg
Bessie_Foster.jpg (4)]]> This is a newspaper clipping stating that John Moore was completing the brick work for a store house on Tennessee Street. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "All we know of John Moore (1857-aft. 1900) is that he was a Florence bricklayer."]]> 1895-11-21]]> This is a newspaper article and photo with Charlie Burgess, who is receiving an award after becoming the first African American to complete the gas and diesel mechanic apprenticeship program.]]> 1968-03-02]]>