{"id":13040,"date":"2021-02-12T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T16:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/?p=13040"},"modified":"2021-02-10T16:06:23","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T22:06:23","slug":"the-tuskegee-institute-singers-visit-to-davenport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/2021\/02\/12\/the-tuskegee-institute-singers-visit-to-davenport\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tuskegee Institute Singers’ visit to Davenport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The reviews were overwhelmingly positive. \u201cDelightful,\nsplendid, pleasing and greatly appreciated\u201d described the entertaining\nperformances of the Tuskegee Institute Singers ensemble that traveled the globe\nin 1914 and 1915 promoting the mission and interests of Tuskegee Institute in\nAlabama. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Colorado Statesman<\/em>. [volume 21 no. 34], April 17, 1915, page 5 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Musicians and faculty chaperones gave concerts in the Tri-Cities from May 4 to May 6, 1915, in high schools, churches, and the Y.M.C.A. The program was consistently described as a rendering of plantation melodies, negro folk songs, and dialect readings. The talented entertainers\u2019 names remained a mystery until a recent review in the Register and Leader<\/em> newspaper out of Des Moines, Iowa listed them as Thomas Ray, Charles Anderson, LeRoy Brown, Luther Davidson, and Richard Mann. The busy performers took a bit of time while in the area to visit Davenport photographer J.B. Hostetler to have their group portrait taken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tuskegee Singers photographed by J.B. Hostetler in May 1915<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Organized by Booker T. Washington in 1884, three years after the historically black, private university in Tuskegee, Alabama was founded, a quartet of singers was sent out by the founder to acquaint audiences with the Tuskegee name and educational philosophy. The school choir formed in 1886 and continues to be a vibrant part of the school\u2019s culture to this day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The glee club reorganized in 1909 and traveled until well into the 1940s, with membership numbers varying. On this particular tour, a quintet performed melodies including \u201cGo Down, Moses\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSwing Low, Sweet Chariot\u201d and \u201cSince You Went Away\u201d written\nby black composer J. Rosmond Johnson. Interspersed between numbers were literary\nreadings and brief addresses regarding the work of the Institute. No admission\nfees were charged but voluntary offerings benefiting the Institute were\ncollected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tuskegee Singers photographed by J.B. Hostetler in May 1915 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Newspaper reviews state lobbies were packed, audiences\nthronged into auditoriums, and applause was hearty and frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 We salute these men\nfor representing the Tuskegee Institute so ably with their harmonies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n