Henrietta Vinton Davis Day Proclaimed in Baltimore

Mayor Sheila Dixon has proclaimed August 25, 2009 as “Henrietta Vinton Davis Day” in Baltimore.

Recorded Cases of Black Female Lynching Victims 1886-1957: More on Black Women Who Were Lynched

The following information is from a dissertation entitled “STRANGER FRUIT”: THE LYNCHING OF BLACK WOMEN THE CASES OF ROSA RICHARDSON AND MARIE SCOTT” by MARIA DELONGORIA. It is extracted from Appendix A: Recorded Cases of Black Female Lynching Victims 1886-1957. This list indicates approximately one hundred and fifty four women who were lynched.

m= mother d=daughter s=son f=father c=cousin w=wife h=husband #=age of victim b=brother s1=sister

* some sexually related aspect (evidence of rape, sexual assault and/or ‘relationship’)

** approximate date

Date	Name	Lynched with	County/City State	Allegation
1870
Sept	Mrs. John Simes		Henry Co KY	Republican
1872
Nov	Mrs. Hawkins (m)		Fayette Co KY	Republican
	—– Hawkins (d)		Fayette Co KY	Republican
1876
May	Mrs. Ben French		Warsaw KY	murder
1878
4 Nov	Maria Smith		Hernando MS	murder
1880
29 July	Milly Thompson		Clayton GA
6 Dec	Julia Brandt (15)	Joe Barnes Vance Brandt	Charleston SC	theft/murder
1881
*4 Sept	Ann (Eliza) Cowan (35)		Newberry SC	arson
1885
29 Sept	Harriet Finch	Jerry Finch John Pattishal Lee Tyson	Chatham Co NC	murder
1886
Sept	—–		Cummins Pulaski KY
25 July	Mary Hollenbeck		Tattnall GA	murder
18 Aug	Eliza Wood		Madison TN	murder
1887
28 April	Gracy Blanton		W. Carroll LA	theft
1891
15 April	Roxie Elliott		Centerville AL
9 May	Mrs. Lee		Lowndes MS	son accused of murder
1 Aug	Eliza Lowe		Henry AL	arson
	Ella Williams		Henry AL	arson
28 Sept	Louise Stevenson	Grant White	Hollandale MS	murder
1892
3 Feb	Mrs. Martin		Sumner Co TN	son accused of arson
10 Feb	Mrs. Brisco(w)		AK	race prejudice
10 Feb	Jessie Dillingham		Smokeyville TX	train wrecking
11 March	Ella (15)		Rayville LA	attempted murder/poisoning
2 Nov	Mrs. Hastings(m)	son (16)	Jonesville LA	husband accused
	Hastings(d,14)		Jonesville LA	father accused of murder
21 Dec	Cora		Guthrie,Indian Territory
1893
19 March	Jessie Jones		Jellico TN	murder
18 July	Meredith Lewis		Roseland LA	murder
15 Sept	Emma Fair	Paul Hill Paul Archer William Archer	Carrolton AL	arson
16 Sept	Louisa Carter (Lou)(m)		Jackson MS	poisoning a well
	Mahala Jackson (d)		Jackson MS	poisoning a well
1893
Nov	Mrs. Phil Evens (m)		Bardstown KY
	Evans (d)		Bardstown KY
	Evans (d)		Bardstown KY
4 Nov	Mary (Eliza) Motlow		Lynchburg VA	arson
9 Nov	Rilla Weaver		Clarendon AK
1894
6 March	unknown Negro woman		Pulaski AK
16 July	Marion Howard		Scottsville KY
24 July	Negro woman		Simpson Co MS	race prejudice
1895
20 March	Harriet Tally		Petersburg TN	arson
21 April	Mary Deane		Greenville AL	murder
	Alice Green		Greenville AL	murder
	Martha Green		Greenville AL	murder
1 July	Mollie Smith		Trigg County KY
20 July	Mrs. Abe Phillips (m)	unnamed child (1) Hannah Phillips (d)	Mant TX
23 July	Negro woman		Brenham TX
2 Aug	Mrs. James Mason (w)	James Mason (h)	Dangerfield TX
*28 Aug	Negro woman		Simpson MS	miscegenation
26 Sept	Felicia Francis		New Orleans LA
11 Oct	Catherine Matthews		Baton Rouge LA	poisoning
2 Dec	Hannah Kearse	(Walker,m) Isom K. (s)	Colleton SC	stealing a bible
1896
*12 Jan	Charlotte Morris		Jefferson LA	miscegenation/living with white “husband”
1 Aug	Isadora Morely		Selma AL	murder
18 Nov	Mimm Collier		Steenston MS
1897
9 Feb	Negro woman		Carrolton MS	theft/arson
5 March	Otea Smith		Julietta FL	murder
12 May	Amanda Franks		Jefferson AL	murder
	Molly White		Jefferson AL	murder
1898
22 Feb	Dora Baker	(d,2) Frazier Baker(f)	Williamsburg SC	race prejudice
9 Nov	Rose Etheridge		Phoenix SC	murder
13 Nov	Eliza Goode		Greenwood SC	murder
1899 23 March	Willia Boyd		Silver City MS
1900
2 March	Mrs. Jim Cross (m)		Lowndes AL
	Cross (d)		Lowndes AL
7 July	Lizzie Pool		Hickory Plains AK	race prejudice
25 July	Anna Mabry		New Orleans LA	race prejudice
28 Aug	Negro woman	Negro man	Forrest City NC	theft of peaches
1901
5 March	Ballie Crutchfield		Rome TN	theft
20 March	Terry Bell		Terry MS
1 Aug	Betsey McCray (m)	Belfiield (s)	Carrolton MS	knowledge of murder
	Ida McCray (d)		Carrolton MS	knowledge of murder
4 Oct	Negro woman		Marshall TX	assault
1902
15 Feb	Bell Duly		Fulton KY
27 Dec	Mrs.Emma Wideman	Oliver Wideman	Troy SC	murder
1903
	Negro woman			murder of Mrs. Frank Matthews
8 June	Negro woman	Negro men (4)	Smith County MS	murder
24 June	Lamb Whittle		Concordia LA
*25 July	Jennie Steers		Beard Plantation, Shreveport LA	murder by poison
28 Oct	Jennie McCall		Hamilton FL	by mistake
1904
7 Feb	Holbert (w)	Luther Holbert	Doddsville MS	burning barn
*14 June	Marie Thompson		Lebanon Junction KY	murder
30 August	unknown		Bates Union AK
1906
7 Nov	Meta Hicks		Mitchell GA	husband accused of murder
1907
20 March	Negro woman		Stamps AK
	Negro woman		Stamps AK
21 May	Mrs. Padgett (m)	Son	Tattnall GA	son accused of rape
	Padgett (d)		Tattnall GA	brother accused of rape
1908
3 Oct	Mrs. D. Walker (m)		Fulton KY	race hatred
	Walker (d)		Fulton KY	race hatred
1909
9 Feb	Robby Baskin		Houston MS	murder
30 July	Emile Antione		Grand Prairie LA	assault
1910
April 5	Laura Mitchell		Lonoke AK	murder
*25 Aug	Laura Porter		Monroe LA	disreputable house
1911
*25 May	Laura Nelson	L.D. (14)(s)	Okemah OK	murder
2 Sept	Hattie Bowman	Ed Christian	Greenville FL	theft
1912
**	Pettigrew (d)	Ben Pettigrew (f)	Savannah TN
**	Pettigrew (d)		Savannah TN
	Negro woman		Codele GA
*23 Jan	Belle Hathaway	John Moore Eugene Hamming Dusty Cruthfield	Hamilton GA	tenants of murdered man
11 Feb	Negro woman	Negro children (3)	Beaumont TX
13 Feb	Mary Jackson	George Saunders	Marshall TX
25 June	Ann Boston		Pinehurst GA	murder
1914
13 Mar**	Mrs. Joe Perry (m,w)	Joe Perry (h) Son Child	Henderson NC
*31 Mar	Marie Scott (17)		Muskogee OK	murder
28 May/June**	Jennie Collins		Shaw MS	aiding in escape
17 June	Paralee Collins (m)	Issac (s)	West Plains MO
*12 July	Rosa Richardson (27-35)		Providence/Santee SC	murder
25 Nov	Jane Sullivan (w)	Fred Sullivan (h)	Byhalia MS	burning a barn
1915
15 Jan	Eula Charles	(Barber,d) Dan Barber (f)	Jasper County GA	parents accused of bootlegging
	Ella Charles	(Barber,d) Jesse Barber(b)	Jasper County GA	parents accused of bootlegging
May	Briley		Pescott AK
17 Aug	Hope Hull		AL
*8 Dec	Cordella Stevenson		Columbus MS
1916
19 Aug	Mary Dennis		Newberry FL	aiding in escape
	Stella Long		Newberry FL	aiding in escape
4 Oct**	Mary Conley		Arlington GA	complicity in murder
1917
1 March	Emma Hooper		Hammond LA	murder
1918
17 May	Mary Turner (pregnant)		Brooks Co GA	taught a lesson
4 June	Sarah Cabiness	unnamed children(2) Bessie Cabiness(d) Pete (s) Tenola Cabiness(d) Cute Cabiness (d)	Huntsville TX	threatening white man
4 Sept	Mrs. James Eyer		Marion GA
*21 Dec	Alma House (pregnant)	Andrew Clark	Shubuta MS	murder
1919
5 May	unknown Negro woman		Holmes MS	race prejudice
1920
2 Nov	unknown Negro woman		Ocoee FL	race prejudice
18 Nov	Minnie Ivory	Willie Ivory Will Perry	Douglass GA	murder
1921
9 April	Rachel Moore		Rankin MS	race prejudice
1922
25 June	Mercy Hall		Oklahoma City OK	strike activity
1923
5 Jan	Sarah Carrier		Rosewood FL	race prejudice
	Lesty Gordon		Rosewood FL	race prejudice
29 Sept	Negro woman		Pickens MS
31 Sept	Negro woman		Holmes MS	race prejudice
1924
23 June	Penny Westmoreland	Marcus Westmoreland	Spalding GA
19 July	—– Sheldon		Meridian MS
11 Sept	Sarah Williams		Shreveport LA
1925
*25 April	Annie Lowman (m)		Aiken SC	defending her daughter
1926
25 April	Lily Cobb		Birmingham AL
25 May	Eliza Bryant		Duplin NC	success
8 Oct	Bertha Lowman(d,s1)	Demon (b)	Aiken SC	lynched after acquitted of murder
11 Nov	Sally Brown	Clarence (c)	Houston TX
1928
25 Dec	Negro woman (1)		Eros LA	dispute w/ whites
	Negro woman (2)		Eros LA	dispute w/whites
1930
12 Feb	Laura Wood		Salisbury NC
5 July	Viola Dial (pregnant)		Narketta MS	race prejudice
6 July	Mrs. James Eyers (w)		Markeeta MS	race prejudice
10 Sept	Holly White	Pigg Lockett	Scooba MS
1931
May	Mrs. Wise		Frankfort VA	resisting Klan
1946
*25 July	Dorothy Malcolm(w)	Roger Malcolm (h)	Monroe GA	able to identify mob members
	Mae Dorsey (w)	George Dorsey (h)	Monroe GA	able to identify mob members
1956
*25 March	Angenora Spencer		Hyde NC	miscegenation
1957
18 Nov	Mrs. Frank Clay		Henderson NC	dispute

*Crystal Nicole Femister has a similar chart in the Appendix of her dissertation “Ladies and Lynching”: The Gendered Discourse of Mob Violence in the New South, 1880-1930. Having used overlapping sources accounts for similarities although there are differences in categories, variations of names, locations and some of the other content.

Livication 2009

PRESS RELEASE

4/9/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Nnamdi Azikiwe

202-483-6097

email: info@ladydavis.org

website: http://www.ladydavis.org

blog: http://henriettavintondavis.blogspot.com

AUGUST 25, 2009 is HENRIETTA VINTON DAVIS DAY

-Events to recognize cultural icon-

Washington, DC –Today the Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation announced plans to host Livication Day 2009.  The Foundation has as its mission to raise awareness of the life and legacy of Shakespearean actor, elocutionist, dramatic reader and activist Henrietta Vinton Davis.

Miss Davis remained relatively unrecognized until July 1983 when an article entitled “Henrietta Vinton Davis and the Garvey Movement” by Professor William Seraille was published in the journal ‘Afro-Americans in New York Life and History’.  Nearly a year later, acknowledgment of her contributions increased with the publication of the book ‘Shakespeare in Sable’ written by Professor Errol Hill of Dartmouth University.  In 1994, actor Clayton LeBouef received a commission to write a play on her life entitled ‘Shero: The Livication of Henrietta Vinton Davis.’   Her home in Northeast Washington, DC has been listed on Cultural Tourism DC’s African American Heritage Trail since 1999.

In 2008, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty issued a proclamation designating August 25 ‘Henrietta Vinton Davis Day.’  The designation furthers the Foundation’s efforts to raise awareness of Miss Davis’ life and garner funds to place a marker at her grave.  The decree issued in 2008 acknowledges Davis as the first African American to work at the DC Recorder of Deeds office beginning in 1878, before Frederick Douglas was appointed Recorder.  The proclamation also recognizes Miss Davis’ significance as a cultural icon.  She made her career debut as a Shakespearean actor, elocutionist, dramatic reader and impressionist in Washington, DC on April 25, 1883 where she was introduced by Douglas, a family friend.

The proclamation also acknowledges the success of Miss Davis as a public speaker. During 1919, a year remembered for its “Red Summer,” she joined the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League headed by Marcus Garvey.

The Livication Service will be conducted at her grave site located in National Harmony Memorial Park 7101 Sheriff Road Largo, MD (phone:301-772-0900). on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. Other activities are also in the planning stages.

About Henrietta Vinton Davis

For thirty-five years after her debut performing “Shakespearean delineations”, original plays and dramatic readings with her own performing company, and local troupes throughout the United States, South America and the Caribbean, Henrietta Vinton Davis broke new ground as a successful theatrical artisan in the United States. Her dedication to her craft gained her recognition as the first African American “woman of the stage.”

As a leader of the African Redemption Movement beginning in 1919, Davis made use of her acting skills to promote the aims and objectives of the UNIA. Her ability to “transport her listeners” to another place with her oratorical skills played a key role in both attracting members to the organization and promoting the Black Star Line Shipping Company.  As such, she was elected to numerous positions including International Organizer, and Third Assistant President General of the UNIA.  Additionally, as Vice President and a Director of the Black Star Line. Davis was the de facto authority aboard the Black Star Line’s flagship vessel, the S.S. Yarmouth, on its maiden voyage.  The ship was laden with a cargo worth upwards of $5.000.000 destined for the Caribbean.  On the ship’s return Marcus Garvey proclaimed Miss Davis “the greatest woman of the [African] race today” in a meeting at the UNIA’s Liberty Hall.

About The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation

Initially organized to raise funds solely to place a marker at the grave of Lady Henrietta Vinton Davis in 2005, the mission of The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation has evolved to include educating the general public on her life by producing plays, publishing books, producing documentary videos and conducting symposiums educating the general public about her life and the times in which she lived.

A scene from the play Christophe by William Edgar Easton

Proclamation for Henrietta Vinton Davis Day

SHINE ON, ETERNAL LIGHT

SHINE ON, ETERNAL LIGHT

Tune — “Hamiltonia”
words and Music by ARNOLD J. FORD

Shine on, Eternal Light
To greet our souls this day;
Dispel the gloominess of night
And drive our doubts away.

Our longing eyes prepare
When war and strife shall cease,
To view the morn soon to appear;
The “New Era” of Peace.

Thy Temple O our God,
No kingdom can remove,
Made without hands, this blest abode,
The Harbinger of Love.

Of all the gifts that flow
From Thy great throne above,
We ask Thee on our hearts bestow
The gift of “Perfect Love.”

My soul the Light receives
And dares the Truth to prove,
Not in blind ignorance believes,
But knows that God is love.

Come Love, and give new birth
To man’s destructive mind.
Spread where confusion reigns on earth
Good-will to all mankind.

Shine on, Eternal Light,
Thy penetrating ray
Shall turn the hour of darkest night
Into Eternal Day.

Christophe; a tragedy in prose of imperial Haiti

A scene from the play Christophe by William Edgar Easton

Christophe; a tragedy in prose of imperial Haiti

Henrietta Vinton Davis staged, directed and acted in William Edgar Easton’s play, “Christophe” on April 3, 1912 at the Lenox Casino in Harlem, New York City.  It was the second collaboration between the two, having staged a production of Easton’s Dessalines in Chicago during 1893.

Although the leading actress of African ancestry in the United States, in order for her to appear in reputable plays it was necessary that she direct, write and act in plays which she produced.

Scenes from the life of a Shero – www.ladydavis.org

Livication tribute to Henrietta Vinton Davis part 1

To Henrietta Vinton Davis.

As you stood in your womanly beauty,
In garments of glittering sheen,
Our hearts bowed down in gracious homage,
And we crowned you as our queen.

Although many have been before thee,
Thou beautiful dark-eyed queen,
None more worthy of allegiance
On the throne was ever seen.

For whether in joy or in sorrow
Thy magic art has been seen
We sat enslaved by thy sweet caprice,
Our fair, yes, charming queen.

We pledge thee our loyal allegiance,
We pledge thee our sympathy keen,
We pledge thee the love of a nation
And crown thee fore’er our queen!

(Katherine Davis Tillman, in New York Age.)

LIVICATION TRIBUTE TO LADY HENRIETTA VINTON DAVIS

MONDAY – AUGUST 25, 2008

TRIBUTE TO

LADY HENRIETTA VINTON DAVIS

A MEMORIAL ON THE OCCASION OF LADY DAVIS’ 148^TH EARTHDAY

10:00AM Livication Service at National Harmony Memorial Park 7101 Sheriff Road Largo, MD 20792

3:00PM -6:00PM Program at Martin Luther King Library room A-4

7:00PM Rally at UNIA Liberty Hall

Lady Henrietta Vinton Davis

Shakespearean Actor, Elocutionist, Dramatic Reader, UNIA International Organizer, Black Star Line Vice President

Henrietta Vinton Davis born August 25, 1860 Baltimore, Maryland, joined the ancestors on November 23, 1941 in Washington, DC.

An only child, her father, Mansfield Vinton Davis was a musician who passed away when she was very young. Her mother Mary Ann Davis married influential Baltimorean George Alexander Hackett. Hackett passed away when Davis was 9 years old. She and her mother then moved to Washington, DC.

Davis schooled in Washington until the age of 15. She became a schoolteacher in Maryland. Eventually, she went to work at the DC Recorder of Deeds in 1878 before Frederick Douglass.

Her desire for a theatrical career inspired her to study under Miss Marguerite E. Saxton. April 25, 1883 Miss Davis was introduced in her debut as an actor by Frederick Douglass. For over thirty-five years she was the premier African-American woman of the stage performing “Shakespearean Delineations”, original plays and dramatic readings throughout the USA, Caribbean and Central America.

In 1919 her career took a dramatic turn when Lady Davis joined the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League headed by Marcus Garvey. Initially chosen as International Organizer, she eventually held positions as Assistant President-General and Vice-President of the Black Star Line. On Black Star Line flagship SS Frederick Douglass’ maiden voyage, she was the ranking member of the UNIA and the Black Star Line as it carried its cargo worth upwards of $5,000,000 to Cuba.

After leaving Jamaica where she continued supporting Garvey, she returned to the USA. There she joined the UNIA, Inc. headquartered in NY city. In 1934 she was elected President-General of that group.

At the age of eighty-one she joined the ancestors. Having been divorced, without children of her own and livicating her life to bettering the condition of her people, she was buried in Harmony Cemetery in Washington, D.C. without a marker for her grave.

HTTP://WWW.LADYDAVIS.ORG

The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation

Giving Campaign Donation Form

Yes! I want to donate to the Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation! Please complete this form, print it out, and enclose it with your payment,

payable to: The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation

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C/O The Mhotep Corporation

P.O. Box 43583

Washington, DC 20010

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q Silver Founder ($250 to $499) q Bronze Founder ($150 to $249) q Founder ($100 to $149) q Associate ($50 to $99) q Contributor ($25 to $49) q Other $_____________

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Is your donation being made in memory or in honor of someone special? If so, please complete the following:

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The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

Thank you for your support!

PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

08/09/2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Nnamdi Azikiwe

202-483-6097

email: info@ladydavis.org

website: http://www.ladydavis.org

blog: http://henriettavintondavis.blogspot.com

D.C. MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY DECLARES AUGUST 25 HENRIETTA VINTON DAVIS DAY

-Proclamation recognizes cultural icon-

Washington, DC –The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation announced today that DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has proclaimed August 25, 2008 ‘Henrietta Vinton Davis Day.’ The designation comes on the day the Foundation plans to unveil a marker at Miss Davis’ grave in National Harmony Park located in Landover, Maryland. The Foundation plans to host a memorial service at the grave site that day at 10:00 A.M.

The decree acknowledges Davis as the first African American to work at the DC Recorder of Deeds office beginning in 1878 before Frederick Douglas. The proclamation also recognizes Miss Davis’ significance as a cultural icon. She made her debut in her career as an actor, elocutionist, dramatic reader and impressionist in Washington, DC on April 25, 1883 where she was introduced by the then Recorder of Deeds, Frederick Douglas.

Furthermore, the proclamation acknowledges the success of Miss Davis as a public speaker. During 1919, a year remembered for its “Red Summer,” she joined the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League headed by Marcus Garvey.

About Henrietta Vinton Davis

For thirty-five years after her debut performing “Shakespearean delineations”, original plays and dramatic readings with her own performing company, and local troupes throughout the United States, South America and the Caribbean, Henrietta Vinton Davis broke new ground as a successful theatrical artisan in the United States. Her dedication to her craft gained her recognition as the first African American “woman of the stage.”

As a leader of the African Redemption Movement beginning in 1919, Davis made use of her acting skills to promote the aims and objectives of the UNIA. Her ability to “transport her listeners” to another place with her oratorical skills played a key role in both attracting members to the organization and promoting the Black Star Line Shipping Company. As such, she was elected to numerous positions including International Organizer, and Third Assistant President General of the UNIA, as well as, Vice President of the Black Star Line. On the maiden voyage of the Black Star Line’s flagship vessel with a cargo worth upwards of $5.000.000 to the Caribbean, Davis was the ranking member of both the UNIA and the Black Star Line.

About The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation

Initially organized to raise funds merely to place a marker at the grave and to the legacy of Lady Henrietta Vinton Davis in 2005, the mission of The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation has evolved to include educating the general public on her life by producing plays, publishing books, producing documentary videos and conducting symposiums educating the general public about her life and the times in which she lived.

Proclamation for Henrietta Vinton Dav