Tag Archives: Pearl Reed

A – APPROPRIATE Celebrations

This is my tenth A to Z Challenge. My first was in 2013, but I missed 2021. This April I am going through the alphabet using snippets about my family through the generations. On Saturdays I’ve combined my usual Sepia Saturday post with the letter of the day. A double challenge!

Pearl Reed. This photo was in the family photos and it is the one that appeared in the paper.

In the 1909 Easter season, my grandmother Pearl Reed sang at two events. Her photograph appeared in the section of the white paper “The Indianapolis News” entitled “News of Colored Folk” My grandfather Albert B. Cleage also appeared doing a reading at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church’s Easter service. I have included the newspaper column below. If you click you can enlarge it. I will also transcribe the two items that mention my grandparents below.

I am fulfilling two prompts with this post, the” first”A” in the A to Z Challenge and the Sepia Saturday post “Sing.”

Indianapolis News, Saturday, April 10, 1909

“Ressurrection of Christ.”

Witherspoon Memorial United Presyterian church will have special services at 10:30. The church is holding its services at the Y.M.C.A. rooms, North and California streets. The morning program will include a short sermon by the pastor, the Rev. D. F. White; Dr. Albert Cleage will read a paper on “The Resurrection of Christ”; Mrs. Pearl Donan will read the Easter lesson. There will be solos by Mrs. Othello Finley and Miss Pearl D. Reed, and a select chorus will sing “Hear His Voice.”

MUSIC FESTIVAL FRIDAY

Miss Pearl Reed One of Singers at Jones Tabernacle.

Among the special attractions of Easter week will be the music festival to be given next Friday evening at Jones Tabernacle, under the auspices of the Witherspoon Memorial United Presbyterian church. A carefully selected program has been arranged in which the best available talent will take part.

In addition to Miss Pearl Reed, a popular soloist, Miss Osie Watkins of Richmond, had been engaged to sing. Other features will be vocal solos by Aldridge Lewis and Mrs. Sallie Robinson. There will be instrumental solos by Alfred Taylor. The Twentieth Century Club of Jones Tabernacle, will serve refreshments at the close of the program.

The Indianapolis Star
From The Arbustus, 1911, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Albert B. Cleage

Congregation of Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church 1909 About the church.

Oh Dry Those Tears! More Pearl singing.

Click for more Sepia Saturday offerings.
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June 25, 1905 – Pearl Receives Photograph of Homer, Promises to Send Hers in Return

Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library/University of Georgia Libraries. Click to enlarge.
Pearl Reed

Homer Jarrett
1702 Chestnut St.
St. Louis, MO

2730 Kenwood Ave.
June 25, 1905

Dear Homer;

Received your letter, was delighted to hear from you after so long a period of silence. Glad you are well and having such a nice time in Missouri.

I thought that you had forgotten us. The photo is simply you. If you do not like it, you do not like yourself, for if it was any different it would not be like you. Really, Homer, I think it just lovely of you.

Thank you for it ever so much. Shall send you mine in a day or so, if nothing happens to prevent it. I am liable to break the camera but I suppose the artist can secure another one.

Do you like St. Louis? Shall you remain there long? Are you with the same people?
Hoping to hear from you soon,

I remain
Yours Sincerely
Pearl D. Reed

________________

Trying to picture Homer years younger from this later photo. In his WW1 and WW2 draft registrations, Homer was described as 5 ft 8 in, slender, with black hair and blue eyes.

Homer Jarrett, at a later date. Used by permission of a Jarrett descendant.