Bessie Foster, hairdresser

Title

Subject

Work/Business

Description

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)."

Source

Florence Times (1)
Florence Herald (2)
Johnnie Mae Brock (4)

Publisher

Florence Times (1)
Florence Herald (2)

Date

1912-08-09 (1)
1917-11-21 (2)

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

JPG

Language

English

Type

Still Image

Identifier

Bessie_Foster_Local_News.jpg (1)
Bessie_Foster_Ladies_Haridressing_Parlors_Ad.jpg (2)
Bessie_Foster3.jpg
Bessie_Foster.jpg (4)

Original Format

Newspaper

Files

Bessie Foster Ladies Hairdressing Parlors Ad.jpg

Collection