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    The Jubilee Singers. (1875). Image courtesy of the New York Public Library.

NPR Interview w/ Henry Louis Gates

Courtesy of Mark via his Twitter feed, I learned that NPR has an interview today with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.  Check it out on their site.

Gates is the author of Finding Oprah’s Roots: Finding Your Own – published in 2007 that describes the work done on her family tree.  As you may know, Oprah has Nashville roots.  I did a quick search online and found this excerpt from Jet magazine in 1972 about her win as “Miss Fire Prevention” while she was a student at Tennessee State University. 

oprah_missfireprevention

People.com even has a picture of her win!

Kelly- Winfrey

Nashville Globe: July 5, 1907

Little Rock, Ark., June 27 — the wedding of Miss Mabel Winfrey, of this city, and Mr. John H. Kelly Jr., of Nashville, was solomnized at the First Congregational Church of Battle Rock Wednesday evening. The general opinion is that it was one of the prettiest weddings ever witnessed among the people of the City of Roses. The church was beautifully decorated with cut flowers, potted plants, ferns and lilies, forming a beautiful background. The arch under which the happy couple stood was laden with lilies from the center of which hung a floral design in the shape of a bell. This made a picture long to be remembered. While the audience was waiting for the bridal party to enter Miss Carrie Booker rendered a very sweet selection, “Dearie.”

To the strains of Mendelssohn’s wedding march, played by Miss Stella E. Bush, the bridal party entered, led by the four ushers, Messrs. Frank A. Young, Oscar A. Miller, Berestful W. Jackson and Chester E. Bush. Next came the four bridesmaids, Misses Mattie A. Booker, Ethel M. Pitts, Mattie C. Winfrey and Maggie E. Kelly, of Columbia, Tenn., beautifully gowned in pink, green, blue and lavender organdies respectively, carrying carnations and ferns. The best man, Dr. Frank B. Adair, of Humphrey, Ark., followed by the matron of honor, Mrs. Lida Gilliane, of Ft. Smith, Ark., gowned in white chiffon with blue ribbons and carrying an armful of white carnations and ferns, entered. After these came the ring bearer, little Sara Booker, dressed in white embroidered swiss. She was followed by two little flower girls, Olga Jordan and Hazel Lindsay, who were dressed in white accordion pleated organdies, carrying baskets filled with roses which they strewed in the brides’ path. From the vestry room in the rear came Mr. John H. Kelly, Jr., who stood under the arch and awaited the coming of the bride, who entered leaning on the arm of her brother, Mr. Robert C. Winfrey. The bride’s dress was a creation of white silk chiffon over liberty satin with panel front and yoke of imported silk embroidered chiffon, trimmed with frills of accordion pleated chiffon, white satin ribbon and chiffon rush. Her veil which extended to the end of her train, was caught up with orange blossoms. She carried an armful of bride’s roses. During the ceremony, which was performed by Ref. Y. B. Sims, the pastor, Miss Birdie Mae Boyd, of Oberlin, O., sang sweetly “O Promise Me.”

The reception was at the bride’s home, 2400 Adams street.