In this photograph my mother, Doris Graham Cleage, was at my Cleage grandparent’s house on Atkinson in Detroit, Michigan. I don’t know what the occasion was. I don’t know why she was turned like this. There were no pets. My sister and I were unlikely to be crouched down by her chair. She’s wearing both of her earrings. She wasn’t shy and also unlikely to be sobbing softly with her face hidden from the camera. I think that it would be a good photo for a story starter.
My uncle Henry Cleage probably took the photo.
Henry Cleage. 1930s. Photographer Albert B. Cleage Jr.
The year before we had moved from Springfield, Massachusetts where my father was pastor of St. John’s Congregational Church back to Detroit where he was pastor of St. Marks Presbyterian Church. The parsonage was down the street from my grandparent’s house and I walked by it every day on my way to and from kindergarten and first grade. I might add that I walked it all by myself, crossing the busy street of Linwood at the light and walking past the isolated and wooded seminary to reach school. My sister Pearl was a preschooler and stayed home playing and napping while I toiled, uphill both ways, to and from Brady Elementary School.
Kristin and Pearl. About 1952. Photo by Albert B. Cleage Jr.
In 1953 there was a church fight and my father left St. Matthew’s with 300 parishioners and started a new church, Central Congregational Church. We moved to the new parsonage on Chicago Blvd.
I first shared this photograph on Sepia Saturday in 2010, sixteen years ago.
This post includes both the article announcing the concert and a report written after the concert.
The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana Fri, May 8, 1908 · Page 12
Sings in Concert at Simpson Chapel
The violin recital of Clarence Cameron White will be given this evening at Simpson Chapel under the direction of the Colored Y. M.C. A. Orchestra. He will be supported by the local talent. The following program will be given: Overture -“Northern Lights,” Y.M.C. A. Orchestra. Violin–Hungarian Rhapsodie, Clarence Cameron White. Solo- Dry Those Tears,” Miss Pearl D. Reed. Piano–(a) Valse in sharp minor; (b) Polanalse in A major, Alberta J. Grubbs. Violin-(a) ‘Tran Merci; (b) Scherzo, Clarence Cameron White. INTERMISSION Orchestra- The Spartan.” orchestra. Vocal Miss Pearl D. Reed. Readings- A. A. Taylor. Selection- The Bird and Brook,” orchestra.
The Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana • Sat, May 9, 1908Page 21
Clarence C. White’s Recital. The farewell appearance of. Clarence Cameron White, the colored violinist, prior to his going abroad to pursue further his study of the violin, drew a large audience to Simpson Chapel last night. Mr. White came under the auspices of the orchestra of the colored Y. M.C.A. which also contributed to the program. A pleasing feature of the program was the singing of Miss Pearl Reed. leading soprano of the Witherspoon Memorial church choir. Following is the program: Northern Lights,” Y. M. C.A. orchestra; Hungarian rhapsodie (violin), Clarence Cameron White; solo, “Oh, Dry Those Tears”, Miss Pearl D. Reed; piano, valse (a) sharp minor, (b) polonaise in A major, Mrs. Albert J. Grubbs: violin (a) Tran Merci, (b) Scherzo, Clarence Cameron White: vocal solo, “Goodbye,” Miss Pearl D. Reed: select reading, A. A. Taylor; selection, “The Bird and the Brook,” orchestra. The proceeds will be used for the purchase of a piano.
Setting sail on Lake Idlewild. My mother the photographer’s finger.
Henry is taking me out on Lake Idlewild in the little sailboat. It was used to practice the skills needed to sail the big sailboat on the Detroit River. You can read about that boat here -> Sailing Log Detroit River – 1970
For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I will be posting an event for that date involving someone in my family tree. Of course it will also involve the letter of the day. It may be a birth, a death, a christening, a journal entry, a letter or a newspaper article. If the entry is a news item, it will be transcribed immediately below. Click on photographs to enlarge in another window.
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Henry William Cleage
The Founding of Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church
Begins With 31 Members Prof. David Graham of Rushville was moderator and Rev. W. W. McCall of Greensburg was secretary. Other members present were Rev. Fred W. Schmuch of Milroy, Rev. N. B. McClung of Vevay, Rev. Mr. McDill of Madison, and Dr. Cowan of Indianapolis. The petition was discussed at some length. By unanimous vote an organization was decided upon. The 31 members who signed the petition were as follows: Henry W. Cleage, Mrs. Carrie Perkins, Mrs. Emma Moore, A. T. Roney, Mrs. Cora Donann, Mrs. Cathern Crenshaw, Mrs. Daisy L. Brabham, Albert Cleage, Mrs. Gertrude Cleage, James Myers, Mrs. A. L. McElrath, O. F. Dennis, Mrs. Hattie Mitchell, H. M. Mitchell, Mrs. Theresa Finley, Othello Finley, Miss Edith Finley, Miss Luell E. Hibbett, Mrs. Mary Peterson, Mrs. Anna Bowman, John T. Fox, Miss Pearl Reed, Thomas H. Bransford, Mrs. O. F. Dennis, Miss Alice Mathews, Miss Hilda Reeder, W. J. Perkins, Henry Moore and H. L. Hummons. April 30, 1907 • Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA This is from a history of Witherspoon church that used to be on the church website, but no longer is there.
Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 May 1907 page 2
A called meeting of the Presbytery of Indiana of the United Presbyterian church met in this city at Realty hall Tuesday night and organized a colored organization with thirty one members. Dr. H. L. Hummons, Henry W. Cleage and Thomas H. Bransford were elected Elders. Dr. J. Pl Cowan of the Woodruff Place United Presbyterian church was elected moderator of the session and will have charge of the organization until a minister can be secured. There will be preaching at Realty hall Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Members of the Presbytery present were Prof. David Graham, of Rushville, moderator, W. W. McCall of Greensburg.
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The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana • Sat, May 11, 1907 Page 3
I didn’t realize until I was working on this post that Henry W. Cleage’s two year old daughter died of broncho pneumonia one day after he was involved in the founding of Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church. Martha Christina Cleage had been born in Indianapolis, Indiana October 10, 1904. She was named for her maternal grandmother Martha Loving .
Henry’s wife Minnie Loving Cleage, died sometime after the daughter was born and before her death. The only evidence I have found of her in Indianapolis, aside from her daughter being born there, is an unclaimed letter in the post office in 1905.
The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana · Saturday, November 02, 1907
Special ordination exercises were held at the Witherspoon United Presbyterian church Sunday evening. The Rev. J. P. Cowan assisted the Rev. C. W. McCall, pastor, in the services in which Henry W. Cleage was ordained a ruling elder of the church. The following have been elected trustees: Philip Tasch, James Meyers and O. Finley.
For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I will be posting an event for that date involving someone in my family tree. Of course it will also involve the letter of the day. It may be a birth, a death, a christening, a journal entry, a letter or a newspaper article. If the entry is a news item, it will be transcribed immediately below. Click on photographs to enlarge in another window.
Henry, Albert, Gertrude, Ola and Pearl Cleage, 1947 photo from my family archives
We visited the Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church in 1910 on their third anniversary in U – United Presbyterian Congregation Celebrates. Today we move forward to 1947 and the 40th anniversary. My family founders have traveled from Detroit back to Indianapolis for the event. They have aged from their twenties to their sixties in the photo above. Some have died – Jacob and Edward Cleage. More have been born. My grandparents have seven children. Henry and Ola have two. Once again my grandfather is speaking.
The Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana • Sat, Apr 26, 1947 Page 11
The Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church will observe its 40th founders day Sunday with all-day services. The pastor, the Rev. Clinton Marsh, will speak at 11 a. m. Dr. A.B. Cleage, Detroit, who was among the early members of the church, will be guest speaker at 7:30 p. m. Dr. J. L. Hummons, who was organizer and founder of the beginning group, will be master of ceremonies. Before the address by Dr. Cleage there will be a brief sketch of the history of the church, which was moved from North West and Walnut Streets to the present site about 15 years ago. Among former out-of-town members expected are- Mrs. A.B. Cleage and Henry Cleage. an active member of the church and leader in its activities until he transferred from a federal position here to Detroit several years ago. The Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana • Sat, Apr 26, 1947 Page 11
For Z we will go back to the founding of Witherspoon. Luckily for me, they were founded in April and continued to celebrate through the years.
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Other posts related to Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church.
For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I will be posting an event for that date involving someone in my family tree. Of course it will also involve the letter of the day. It may be a birth, a death, a christening, a journal entry, a letter or a newspaper article. If the entry is a news item, it will be transcribed immediately below. Click on photographs to enlarge in another window.
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THE SPRINGFIELD UNION, Saturday, Apr 21, 1951,Springfield, MA, page: 24
COMMUNITY GOOD WISHES–A gift went with good wishes to Rev. Albert B. Cleage, Jr., left, at Hotel Kimball last night. William C. Jackson offers the gift as George A. Laws stands by. Mr. Cleage, minister of St. John’s Congregational Church five years, will become minister of St. Mark’s Community Church, Detroit, Mich., May 1.
Thank You’ Said to Mr. Cleage by 25 Men for His Work Here
When Rev. Albert B. Cleage, Jr., resigned as St. John’s Congregational Church minister to go to Detroit, Mich., William C. Jackson had an idea that he took up with George A. Laws, chairman of the St. John’s standing Committee. The result was that 25 men, representing Springfield’s Negro community, had dinner with Mr. Cleage at Hotel Kimball last night. They came from different churches, different professions, different parts of the city. But they came for the same reason: to say “thank you” to Mr. Cleage for five years of effort toward church, community and racial improvement. Around the dinner table, among others,, were James H. Higgins, former Common Council president; Rev. Frederick A. Brown, assistant pastor, Alden Street Baptist Church; Walter English, Buckingham Junior High School teacher; Ernest Harrison, contractor. Also Dr. O. L. K. Fraser, dentist; Reginald Funn, former president of the local chapter, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: Paul Mason, Ward 4 councilman. And a group of St. John’s members; Robert Daniels, Romeo Elder, Russell Harrison, Howard Porter, Emery Butler and Eugene Sommerville.
Moving day. Me and sister with friends and their mother.
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Rev. Albert B. Cleage was my father. My sister and I were born in Springfield, Massachusetts where he was pastor of St. John’s Congregational Church. We moved back to Detroit, where both sides of our extended family lived when I was 4 and my sister was 2. That is where he became pastor of St. Mark’s United Presbyterian Community Church which ended up in the fight and split described in the post Q-Quite a Goal. Going alphabetically does put events out of chronological order.
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Other posts with my memories of living in Springfield
This is an extra post and not a part of the A to Z Challenge. I wanted to share this post for two reasons, there is a photograph of Dee Dee’s Godfather, Jack Franklin sitting in front on the left. And even more so because finally I found a news item describing a gathering at someone’s house and they told us what food was served! I found the recipe below in The Household Searchlight Recipe Book from 1931.
The Social Sixteen – 1937. Howard Tandy, Phyllis Lawson, Shirley Turner, John Roxbourough, Doris Graham, Bob Johnson, Christine Smoot, Bud Elkins, Gladys House, Bobby Douglas, Walter House, Lewis Graham, Connie Stowers, Burney Watkins, Jean Johnson, Barbara Cleage, Jack Franklin, Mary V. Graham.The Detroit Tribune, Detroit, Michigan • Sat, Dec 4, 1937 Page 5
SOCIAL SIXTEEN CLUB The Social Sixteen Club met at the home of Miss Barbara Cleage on Scotten avenue. All members were present and the meeting progressed with the president, Miss Doris Graham presiding. The minutes of the last meeting were read by the secretary, Miss Shirley Turner. Old business was called for and discussed. The new business dealt with the party that the club is planning to give in the near future. Jack Franklin, who is an amateur photographer and is one of the club’s members, took flood-light pictures of the members present. Refreshments, which consisted of tuna fish and cheese sandwiches and orange-gingerale drink, was served by the hostess. This repast was enjoyed by all present.
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I found this Sandwiches of History site where he actually makes this sandwich. I had to add it.
For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I will be posting an event for that date involving someone in my family tree. Of course it will also involve the letter of the day. It may be a birth, a death, a christening, a journal entry, a letter or a newspaper article. If the entry is a news item, it will be transcribed immediately below. Click on photographs to enlarge in another window.
Henry, Albert Jr. (my father) Albert Sr, Gladys
Detroit Free Press April 18, 1924 page 15
Cleage family going to church.
Were there Easter baskets back in the 1920s? Yes there were. You could get fillers or buy a ready made basket. I remember my Grandmother Pearl Cleage gave us ready made Easter Baskets in the 1950s .
Hudson’s Department Store – Detroit Free Press Wednesday, April 02, 1924
One hundred years ago, it was Easter Sunday and my father and his family were ready for church. They were members of St. John’s Presbyterian church, in Detroit, Michigan. My grandparents Albert and Pearl Cleage were founding members. Just a few weeks ago, I wrote about my Cleage family 100 years ago. You can read it at THE CLEAGES 100 YEARS AGO – 1925.
For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I will be posting an event for that date involving someone in my family tree. Of course it will also involve the letter of the day. It may be a birth, a death, a christening, a journal entry, a letter or a newspaper article. If the entry is a news item, it will be transcribed immediately below. Click on photographs to enlarge in another window.
My father, Rev. Albert B. Cleage Jr. later Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman
For several years after the 1967 Detroit Riot/Rebellion, my father received many invitations to speak around the United States. His participation in the Duke University Black Religion Symposium was one such instance.
For those who want to hear more from the Black Religion Symposium, audio of the speeches is available here -> Black Religion Symposium. The date on this page is for August, but the paper above gives April as the date and I’m going with that date. My father is the first speaker after the introduction.
