Historically Speaking
Published
by The Afro-American Historical Association of the
Niagara
Frontier
, P.O. Box
63, Buffalo
NY
14207
Sharon
Holley and Madeline Scott, Editors
Volume 24 Number
1 April
2000
24th
ANNUAL FAMILY HISTORY DINNER
The Afro-American Historical Association will hold it's annual Family History
Dinner on Friday, May 5th,
6:45 P.M.
at the New Golden Nuggett,
2046 Fillmore Avenue
.
The
presenter this year will be Stanton Biddle, head librarian at
Baruch
College
in NYC. He will present his family
history (Peterson/Tolliver) going back to the late 1700s in
Pennsylvania
and
Allegany County
,
New York
. In the 1920s the Biddle family
raised Arabian horses and owned a riding stable in
Cuba
,
New York
. He has done extensive research
and will have photographs and census records for display.
Stanton
Biddle, one of the early members and a generous financial supporter of the
Afro-American Historical Association, was employed at the
University
of
Buffalo
prior to moving to
Brooklyn
in the early 1980s to take the position at
Baruch
College
.
The
dinner will also feature the winning essay by Courtney Carter (
St. John
Christian
Academy
) from the Carter Woodson Essay Contest.
The Association will present the William Wells Brown Awards to Western
New Yorkers who have made outstanding contributions to the preservation of
state or regional African-American history.
This year's Awards will be presented to Dr. Warren Barbour, Rev.
Richard Stewart, Mrs. Ora Curry, and the Michigan Street Preservation
Corporation.
Donation
for the dinner is $17. For ticket
information, call Madeline Scott at 834-4982 from
9 A.M.
to
9 P.M.
MY
HISTORY IS
AMERICA
'S HISTORY
"Follow your family's story and you'll re-discover
America
's history." That is the idea
at the heart of My History Is America's History, project created by the
National Endowment for the Humanities to mark the millennium.
The project outlines 15 things you can do to save
America
' stories in My History guidebook, Web site and poster, and includes simple,
easy-to-follow steps to preserve stories and historical treasures.
For example, there are sample oral history interview questions for
drawing out relatives' memories; tips on preserving family treasures such as
photographs, furniture and videotapes; and classroom and family projects to
give students a personal connection to American history.
The
Web site, www.myhistory.org, is
designed as a virtual "front porch" for every American.
Families can post their stories and photos on the on-line archive and
visitors can read other families' stories and see how the tapestry of
America
has been woven. Call
1-877-NEH-HISTORY for more information.
FUNDING
FOR RESTORATION OF NASH HOUSE
Mayor Anthony M. Masiello has proposed $300,000 in Block Grand Funding for the
restoration of the Nash House. Rev.
J. Edward Nash, the late prominent
Buffalo African-American leader and minister resided at
36 Nash Street
from 1923 until his death in 1957. He
served as pastor of the historic
Michigan
Street
Baptist
Church
from 1892 until 1953. The house
contains the historical documents and artifacts left by Rev. Nash.
The restoration project is being spearheaded by the Michigan Street
Preservation Corporation. Once
restored, the Nash House will be the site of a museum and research center.
The
city of
Buffalo
has also funded $90,000 for site planning and first phase construction of an
Underground Railroad Memorial at
Broderick
Park
along the
Niagara River
. Initiated by the work of the
Buffalo Quarters Historical Society, the Memorial will include statues and
historical markers commemorating the Underground Railroad activities in this
area.
HARRIET
TUBMAN DAY PROPOSED IN NYS
Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve and Senator Michael F. Nozzolio have
proposed a resolution asking the Governor to proclaim March 10th as
"Harriet Tubman Day" in
New York
State
. Harriet Tubman is well known
for being a conductor on the Underground Railroad and is said to have made at
least 19 trips to the South to help more than 300 enslaved African-Americans
escape to freedom. The Harriet
Tubman Home and burial site is located in
Auburn
,
New York
. Numerous groups and
organizations, including the Harriet Tubman Home and the Black Women's Leadership
Caucus are supporting this resolution. For
more information, contact Deputy Speaker Eve's office at (716) 895-2464.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WOMEN
COMMUNITY
BUILDERS OF
WESTERN
NEW YORK
In 1899 the United States Congress passed an Act to "encourage the
holding of a Pan-American Exposition on the
Niagara
Frontier...." The Act
described the purpose of this Exposition as the vehicle "to fittingly
illustrate the marvelous development of the
Western Hemisphere
during the nineteenth century, by a display of the arts, industries,
manufactures, and the products of the soil, mines and sea."
(The Pan-American Magazine,
(1899)
When
the Pan American Exposition opened in 1901 there were two exhibits that
purported to represent African-American, and African communal life.
Each of these exhibits, however, offered stereotypic depictions of the
lives and accomplishments of African people.
The "Old Plantation", as the exhibit on American Blacks was
entitled, depicted Blacks only in terms of life in the old south amid the
affects of slavery. The "
African
Village
" presented a picture of black life that was even more demeaning as the
village and its inhabitants were portrayed as extremely primitive.
African-Americans
protested the use of these two exhibits and the exclusion of other exhibits
that would have illustrated the accomplishments of Black people.
Locally, the Phyllis Wheatly Club of Colored Women met on
November 12, 1900
to publicly oppose the planned exhibits. Mary
Talbert, Corresponding Secretary of the group and Mrs. John Dover, vice
president of the club were among those who vociferously objected to the
exhibits, not only on the basis of the content but also because there were few
blacks employed by the Exposition and none in management positions.
(Buffalo Enquirer, November
1900)
Given
this history, a group of African-American comprised of members of the Erie
County Links and other groups plan to observe the 100th year celebration of
the Pan American Exposition (2001) with a project that will highlight the
accomplishments of African-American women of
Western New York
. Drs. Barbara Seals Nevergold and
Peggy Brooks Bertram will co-chair the project.
Under
the auspices of the Women's Pavilion Pan American 2001, Drs. Nevergold and
Bertram are seeking the nominations of African-American Women who have been
(or are currently) "community builders" in the Western New York
community. The goal of this
project is to identify and collect information about, and publicize the
biographies of "African-American Women Community Builders of Western New
York." A compilation of these
biographies and accompanying documents, e.g. photos will be produced as a
publication to share with schools, media entities, and other venues.
Rules
For Nominations (Deadline-June 30, 2000)
.
Nominations may include persons who are living or deceased
.
Nominations should state as much information as possible about the nominee,
e.g. biographical background, nature of contributions, and any corroborating
information (or names of individuals who will elaborate on contributions of
nominee).
.
Nominees should be nominated in specific areas of education, religion,
advocacy, the arts, politics, charitable or community development projects.
.
Submission of pictures or other documents are encouraged.
Nomination
forms and accompanying documents may be mailed to the selection committee c/o:
Barbara
A. Seals Nevergold, Ph.D.
Educational
Opportunity
Center
465 Washington Street
Buffalo
,
New York
14203
849-6733
(d) 834-7302 (e)
Applications may be obtained at the NAACP Office,
1490 Jefferson Ave.
,
Buffalo
14208
, Monday- Friday between hours
12 to 5 P.M.
A.
PHILIP RANDOLPH EXHIBIT
The A. Philip Randolph Institute, Western New York Chapter in
cooperation with the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library will host the
Traveling Exhibit: "A. Philip Randolph, 1889-1979" from March 25-May
6 at the Central Library,
1 Lafayette Square
,
Buffalo
NY
. The Exhibit depicts
Randolph
's lifetime achievements as a civil rights activist and trade unionist.
23rd
CARTER WOODSON ESSAY CONTEST
The theme for the 23rd Annual G. Woodson Essay Contest was, "They
Came to
Buffalo
; African-American Families Who Migrated to
Western New York
". The contest was open to
three categories of students in grades 4 - 12.
The top essays were read at a program held at the North Jefferson
Branch Library & Center for Local African-American History and Research on
February 19, 2000
. Mrs. Sharon Holley, President of
the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, was in
charge of the program and contest. Mrs.
Madeline Scott gave out the awards. In
addition to the Historical Association, other sponsors were the Black
Educators of Western New York, Lit-Mus Study Club, and the Buffalo Erie County
Library. The top two essays in
grades 4-6, and grades 7-9 are printed below.
The winners received $50 and a certificate.
Second place finishers received $25 and a certificate.
GRADES
4-6
1st
Place
Adriana
Bails
Grade
5,
Buffalo
Arts
Academy
"Detective
Sergeant Charles A. Hulett:
My
Grandfather"
Detective Sergeant Charles A. Hulett was born in
Niagara Falls
,
Ontario
. His family moved around a lot
because his father was a construction worker.
His family had to go wherever there was work and they moved to
White Plains
,
NY
. After a short time there his
family moved to
8 Hollow Place
in
Buffalo
,
NY
. He attended
Fosdick
Masten
High School
. After high school he served in
the U.S. Navy. In the Navy he was
a seaman. He also took night
classes at the
University
of
Buffalo
.
He
married Louise Wallace in 1949. They
had 2 kids. A daughter Sandra and
a son Charles Junior. In November
1956 he joined the Buffalo police department as a patrolman.
In 1965 he received a department medal for his part in the arrest of
a person who attacked his partner. The
knife severed a tendon in his partner's hand, which required 14 stitches.
After a short foot chase patrolman Hulett captured him.
In 1965 he was promoted to Detective with his partner Donald Armstrong.
Over the years he received numerous department accommodations.
Detective Hulett was also a boxing instructor at the Police Athletic
League at the Willert Park Community Center.
There he worked with teens and pre-teens.
He
was also one of the founding fathers of the Afro-American Police Association.
The AAPA started as a group of African-American police officers that
strived to reduce racism and discrimination in the Buffalo Police
Department. They recruited
minority officers. They also
attempted and succeeded in improving police relations with the
African-American community by being lawful, peaceful and striving for justice.
In
February, 1974 he was promoted to Detective Sergeant, 7 days before his death
on March 7, 1974.
2ND
Place
Amanda
Harper
Grade
4, Campus West School
"Judith
Bryson-Harper"
The first person from my mother's side of the family to come to buffalo was my
mother, Judith Bryson-Harper. She
was born in Puerto Rico. She came
to Buffalo not long after she was born. Puerto
Rico was a poor place to live. Rose,
who was Judith's mother felt that Judith would have a better life if she left
Puerto Rico.
Judith
left the island with the Bryson family (Marcel and Minnie, an African-American
family) when she was about a year old to live in a place called Greenville,
South Carolina. Mr. Marcel Bryson
was in the United States Air Force and was transferred from Puerto Rico to
South Carolina where they stayed until Judith was about 3 years old.
At three years of age Judith was moved to Buffalo, New York where Mr.
Bryson wanted to retire and live close to two of his eleven sisters.
So off the Bryson family went where Judith Bryson-Harper still lives
today.
Judith
and the Brysons have lived in a number of areas on the East Side of Buffalo.
One of the first school she went to was P.S. 41.
It was located on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Sycamore Street.
The school was torn down but will be always special to Judith.
Judith also attended schools 40, 16 and 17.
Judith was about 12 years old when she started school at Woodlawn
Junior High. She was a hard
working student and played in the band for three years.
While she was there she played the clarinet and made the All-City Band.
She also had a poem published in the book, Our
Best.
Judith
won a scholarship to Promfret Connecticut High School and after a year decided
she didn't like it and returned to Buffalo where she attended East High
School. Judith quit high school
and went to the Adult Learning Center where she went to get her diploma.
Not long after college Judith Bryson-Harper had her first daughter
Leslie and it was ten years later that she had her next daughter Amanda.
Four years later after Amanda was born came Marcella.
Two other children Casey and Justine came to live with the Harper
family two years after Marcella was born.
Judith just met her first granddaughter that was born to Leslie on the
25 of October 1999. Judith
Bryson-Harper met my father, an African-American, and they were married in May
1990.
My
father [Donald] was born to Gladys and John Harper in North Carolina.
Soon Donald moved to Ohio with his family.
He left Ohio with his family to come to Buffalo because his father
wanted a better job. (At his age
he couldn't go to work so he went to school.)
The first school he went to was school #15.
It was located on Elm Street. The
next school he went to was school #37. It
was located on Carlton Street. At
that time Donald enjoyed swimming and was very good with it.
The next school Donald went to was school #42 it was located at 14
hundred Grand, When he went to
that school he participated in music and played the drums, which he was very
good at. He also played basketball
and won many awards. He attended
West Hertle Middle School and afterward he went to Burgard VHS located on 1600
Kensington Avenue.
Donald
was 21 years old when he went to the University of Buffalo.
At age 23 he worked as a printer's assistant.
Donald was 26 when he became a fork lifter driver and a mill operator.
In 1988 he met my mother where they both were working at the time and
he married her in 1990.
My
mother and father still live on the East Side of Buffalo.
Mom always says that its something in the drinking water and that is
why she still lives in Buffalo and work in the Buffalo School System and my
dad works at a place called Dupont. We
all think that the winters are rough but the summers are beautiful so we
continue to stay and the rest is Harper history.
GRADES
7 -9
1st
Place
Courtney
Carter
Grade
7, St. John Christian Academy
"The
Bakers"
My family's migration was part of a great exodus of African-Americans moving
from Southern "slave-states" to the "Great North."
This is the story of Nathaniel and Lucille (Life) Baker as told to me
by my mother and my maternal great-grandmother, Virginia (Baker) Lightfoot,
their second eldest daughter.
Lucille
and Nathaniel Baker came to Buffalo, New York from Savannah, Georgia in the
early 1920s with their two daughters - Almeta, age four and Virginia, age two.
They brought their young family to9 Buffalo for economic prosperity and
to escape some of the harsh realities of the segregated South.
Their first home was on Buffalo's Lower East Side, on Spring Street.
Many of Buffalo's African-American population lived, and still
reside, on Buffalo's East Side.
Despite
what Nathaniel had been told about Buffalo, it was difficult for him to
secure steady employment here. In
Savannah, he worked the land but here he had many jobs.
He worked as an iceman; he harvested fruits and vegetables and worked
many other jobs to earn a living for his growing family.
His days were filled with heavy toil from sun up to sun down.
These were the days during the Great Depression, therefore, money was
scarce.
Nathaniel
was a proud man and did not want his wife Lucille to work outside of the home.
Lucille had all domestic responsibilities; cooking, cleaning and
rearing the now six children. Since
there was very little money, she also served as the family physician--using
herbs from her garden ingredients from her kitchen, and household products to
heal wounds. She was also the
accountant; budgeting to the penny and recording it in her ledger.
Moreover, Lucille was a philosopher with wise sayings and witty
parables to make you think and smile.
As
the children grew, and Lucille was weakened by a stroke, more of the household
responsibilities rested on the shoulders of the eldest daughter, Almeta.
Nathaniel grew ill. The
Buffalo winters were brutal and he died in the 1950s.
Lucille died on September 6, 1969, which was the first day of second
grade for my mother. I am a part
of the fifth generation from Lucille and Nathaniel Baker.
My great, great maternal grandparents became ancestors long before my
birth; however, stories that my family share during holidays and old
photographs, preserve their memory and make me feel as though they are with me
and I have known them all my life.
2nd
Place
Jonathan
Seay
Grade
8, St. John Christian Academy
"Migrations
to Western New York"
There were two major migration times for African-Americans to the Western New
York area. Once was during slavery
times, when many black people left the South to get away from slavery and live
as free people. New York was a
"free" state and many escaped slaves came to New York for freedom.
The Western New York area was the major station on the Underground
Railroad because
of the
easy access
to Canada.
African-Americans
also migrated
in large numbers to the Western New York area during the period 1920 -
1930 in search of work. Many
American men were fighting in the World War during this time and
African-Americans were recruited to work in the many industries in the Western
New York area.
African-Americans
who migrated to the Western New York area made many contributions to the area.
One famous person who migrated to Western New York during slavery times
was William Wells Brown. William
Wells Brown was born into slavery in 1814 near Lexington, Kentudky.
He escaped from slavery in 1834 and changed his name to William Wells
Brown in honor of a Quaker named Wells Brown who helped him to escape slavery.
After his escape from slavery, he settled in the Buffalo, New York
area. While in Buffalo, William
Wells Brown became very active in the city's Anti-Slave Society.
He was a lecturer and an organizer.
He is known for helping slaves to escape to Canada.
One of his special maneuvers was to station some of his people at the
American falls in Niagara Falls, NY and when the wealthy southern tourists
came to see the falls, with their slaves, Mr. Brown and his people would
secretly lure the slaves from their masters and tell them that according to
New York law they were considered free because New York was a free state. They
would then aid them in making the escape into Canada.
While in Buffalo William Wells Brown stayed in contact with slaves.
He worked as a cook on a boat that between Buffalo and Cleveland and
secretly hid fugitive slaves and helped them to escape to Canada.
During the year of 1842, Mr. Brown smuggled over 70 fugitives to
Canada.
Mr.
Brown left the Western New York area and moved to Boston, Massachusetts
because prejudice continued o grow in Western New York.
William Wells Brown is a noted author and the first African-American to
publish a novel. He died in 1884
in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
