"William C. Handy is Given Welcome"

Title

Subject

Music; W.C. Handy

Description

This is a newspaper article about W.C. Handy and a benefit concert he was performing at to raise money for a black school. According to Florence historian Lee Freeman, the concert was to raise funds for a black school to "serve children of Blessed Martin De Porres Catholic Mission in Florence. This Negro mission was founded by Florence's St. Joseph Catholic Church at 648/650 (both addresses are given for different years) W College St. in the mid-1940s. The priest was Rev. Fr. Isidore Fussnecker OSB of St. Joseph. Roman Catholic Convert and African-American Florence business woman Bessie McAlister Foster (1887-1963) was instrumental in founding this mission, which evolved into our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Sheffield, AL. The Methodist Handy played this concert, arranged by parishioners Bessie M. Foster and Magnolia Watkins, with the assistance of Fr. Fussnecker. Florence Mayor EF Yeilding welcomed Handy back to Florence and City Commissioner and executive secretary of the Chamber of Commerce C Hewlett Jackson presented Handy with a handsome inscribed trophy. I'm not sure if the school was ever built."

Source

Florence Herald

Publisher

Florence Herald

Date

1949-06-16

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

WC_Handy_Given_Welcome_I.jpg (1)
WC_Handy_Given_Welcom_II.jpg (2)

Original Format

Newspaper

Files

Collection

Music

Citation

“"William C. Handy is Given Welcome",” Shoals Black History, accessed April 19, 2025, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/797.