People, Locations, Episodes

Irene Britton Smith, Classical Composer born

*Irene Britton Smith was born on this date in 1907. She was an African and Native classical composer and educator. Irene Britton was born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of four siblings. She was of African, Crow, and Cherokee descent. Smith attended Ferron Grammar School, Doolittle Grammar School, and Wendell Phillips High School. Britton attended […]

Ruby Elzy, Stage and Film Vocalist born.

*Ruby Elzy was born on this date in 1908. She was an African American opera singer who appeared on stage, radio and film.

A native of Pontotoc, Mississippi, at the age of five her family was abandoned. Her mother (Emma) Elzy supported the family as a teacher at the colored school in Pontotoc. Elzy is known to have created the role of Serena in George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” on Broadway in 1935. She was married twice, her second husband was actor Jack Carr, who appeared on stage with her in “Porgy and Bess” and who also appeared in a number of films.

Robert Pious, Graphic Artist born

*Robert Savon Pious, a black graphic artist, was born on this date in 1908 in Meridian, Mississippi. His father was Nattie Pious, and his mother was Loula Pious. His parents married in 1895 and had nine children, of which he was the sixth born. The family lived at 2005 18th Avenue in Meridian. At the […]

James Hampton, Folk Artist born

*On this date in 1909, James Hampton was born. He was an African American folk artist.

Ermine Hall Allen, Vocalist born

*Ermine Hall Allen was born on this date in 1910.  She was a Black classical vocalist and educator. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota’s Rondo community, she was the youngest of two daughters to S.Edward. and Harriet ‘Hattie’ Grissom Hall.  Her older sister Dorothy was a music teacher.  Ermine’s first performances were impromptu affairs. At age […]

Allan Crite, Artist born

*Allan Rohan Crite was born on this date in 1910. He was a Black painter.

From Plainfield, New Jersey, he moved to Boston as a child where he spent most of his life. Crite was one of the few African American artists to work for the Federal Arts Project (FAP). During the 1930s, he studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Harvard University Extension School. In his later years, as a devout Episcopalian, Crite focused on religious themes, completing murals and other paintings for many churches.

Kapo, Afro Caribbean Spiritual Artist born

*On this date in 1911, Kapo was born. He was an Afro Caribbean painter and sculptor.

From Byuloss in Saint Catherine parish in Jamaica, he was born Mallica Reynolds. Kapo was totally self-taught as an artist. His extremely intuitive art was an extension of his spiritual development, which led him into a life of service to the people of his homeland as a religious leader. Kapo’s first paintings were done in the mid-1940’s consisting of straightforward religious symbols.

Charles H. Coles, Dancer born

On this date in 1911 Charles “Honi” Coles, an African American tap dancer, was born.

Portia White, Classical Vocalist born

Portia White, an African Canadian classical singer, was born on this date in 1911.

Portia May White was born in the town of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada to the Reverend William Andrew White and Izie Dora White. She made her musical debut at the age of six in her father’s church choir. At the age of 17, while teaching school, she received her first break, winning a silver cup in the Nova Scotia Music Festival.

Etta Baker, Folk Artist born

*Etta Baker was born on this date in 1913. She was an African American singer, composer, and musician one of the last surviving original American folk-blues performers.

Samuel Felrath Hines Jr., Visual Artist, born

*Samuel Felrath Hines Jr. was born on this date in 1913.  He was a Black visual artist and art conservator.   Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hines began studying art in 1926 after receiving a scholarship for youth classes at the John Herron School of Art Saturday School. After graduating high school in 1931, Hines worked for the Civilian […]

‘Speedy’ Huggins, Dancer, and Musician born

L. C. “Speedy” Huggins, an African American dancer and musician, was born on this date in 1913.

Huggins was born in Ft. Smith, AR. His family later moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where he attended Northeast Junior High School. A self-taught tap dancer, by the time he graduated from the eighth grade in 1928, he was dancing in nightclubs throughout the 18th and Vine district. In 1933, he performed on the opening night of the Cherry Blossom Club, one of the area’s premier nightclubs. Huggins performed throughout Europe while serving in the Army during World War II.

William Artis, Sculptor born

*On this date in 1914 William Ellisworth Artis was born. He was an African American artist.

From Washington, N.C. young Artis moved to New York in 1927. He studied sculpture and pottery at Augusta Savage Studios in the early 1930s and was a part of the Harmon Foundation exhibition in 1933. He received the John Hope Prize, which led to a scholarship at the Art Students League in 1933-34. Artis was hired by Audrey McMahon, the director of the College Art Association, along with several other artists to teach crafts and paint murals in churches and community centers.

Olivette Miller, Jazz Harpist born

*Olivette Miller was born on this date in 1914. She was a Black musician, a swing harpist, and a singer.   Olivette N. Miller was born in New York City, the daughter of actor and writer Flournoy Miller and performer Bessie Oliver Miller. Irvin C. Miller and Quintard Miller, both performers and producers, were her […]

Inge Hardison, Sculptor born

*Inge Hardison was born on this date in 1914. She is an African American sculptor and photographer.