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Colored Notes by Jeffrey T. Wilson
During the period August, 1924 through March
1929, Jeffrey T. Wilson wrote a column for the Portsmouth Star about
social events in the African-American community in Portsmouth ,
Virginia . The first columns appeared as “Colored Notes” by J. T.
Wilson. The articles could be found in the section of the newspaper
near the “Want Ads” and only had one column of information. Later,
the columns were increased to sometimes three to four columns. The
location of the columns was generally at the bottom of the page
along with other classified ads.
“Colored Notes” reported on a variety of events (births, deaths,
marriages, and anniversaries), social items (visitors to Portsmouth
and travelers from Portsmouth to other places), cultural events
(plays, lectures, concerts, church programs which would include
a special program from quartets or other musical groups) and organizational
news (schools, churches, lodges, social and savings clubs). The
column appeared daily and Jeffrey Wilson would tell the citizens
where to leave “notes” which would be included in the articles for
publication. These articles were published daily until Jeffrey T.
Wilson died in June, 1929.
Jeffrey T. Wilson started wrote the articles from the late age of
eighty until his death at age eighty-six. He sometimes referred
to himself by the pseudonym of “ye scribe.” Once ,
when challenged about his qualifications for writing the notes ,
he countered… “Some people want to know who “ye scribe”
is, where did he come from, etc.; he was born here a slave, on South
Street; has lived here practically all his fourscore years and knows
personally of all he write about… He is an active member of Emanuel
AME Church and is superintendent of the Sunday school. He is employed
with the U.S. Court in Norfolk . He was once active in political
parties. ( Colored Notes , Dec. 10, 1924). The Wilson Chronicles
, as they have been sometimes referred to ,
were the wisdom of an old man who wrote first about his
church ( his beloved Emanuel AME ) ,
his family, and the people of Portsmouth . He was a religious man,
a family man, and an honest man. He states in his notes that he
was married four times and outlived all four wives! Old Jeff has
a living daughter, Blanche Wilson Bridge of Ettrick, Virginia who
can tell you about her father. Blanche, said once that, “if he had
not been so old, they would have lynched him.”
Jeffrey T. Wilson would encourage his reading public to go to the
polls to vote. He would often make comments on events and how they
affected blacks. He was outspoken and often would make “cracks”
or take “verbal shots” at the white power structure. Once he referred
to the “white power structure as “white lilies.” He did not feel
he had to worry about how people would interpret his message. He
had deep feelings about many things and he expressed these ideas
through the medium of the daily newspaper.
Jeffrey T. Wilson was well-respected in the community of Lincolnsville
in Portsmouth . Blanche Wilson Bridge remembers that her father
went to church every day except Saturday. He was known for walking
about the city to get to his destination. He was a commanding figure
wherever he went---tall, straight as an arrow, goateed, lively of
step; he was a cultured gentleman of the old school… beloved and
esteemed by white and colored alike. (July 16, 1950 written by Lee
F. Rodgers).
The notes include names, activities, information about people in
Portsmouth , organization or events when details were published.
Obituaries of some people are given in depth… for example, the obit.
of Ida Barbour, written on July 18, 1925 who is buried in Mt. Calvary
Cemetery is given in the notes. The name of many other people who
died during this time is given and the cemetery that they were buried
in is mentioned in many cases.
Colored Notes in the Portsmouth Star written by Jeffrey
T. Wilson, 1924-1929 are located in the newspaper on microfilm at
the Portsmouth Public Library. They may be viewed in the library
and photocopies of these columns are available.
Colored Notes Index and Colored Notes Columns from the Portsmouth
Star, 1924.
Presentation on Feb. 5, 2009 at Portsmouth Public Library
Jeffrey T. Wilson, Twenty years after the Civil War was deeded on
December 1, 1884, with love and affection from his mother, Mary
A. Taylor, “all of that certain lot in the village of Lincolnsville,
on the north side of Carroll Street (638 Carroll ST) the lot of
land conveyed to the said Mary A. Taylor who signed the deed with
{her mark] to Jeffrey T. Wilson, of the said county of Norfolk in
the State of Virginia of the second part.
Jeffrey T. Wilson commanded the attention of about 30 friends, librarians,
and historians on February 5, 2009 at the local history room in
the Portsmouth Public Library. Mae Breckenridge-Haywood introduced
a new resource to the audience assembled. During the 1920’s
reading was a popular recreational activity especially during the
winter months when other forms of activity were limited. There was
a thrust to bring African-American life into the literary scene
and so “white newspapers” designed special columns to
entice African American readers. Very early on, the Evening Progress,
the newspaper in Petersburg, Virginia, had articles called “Colored
Dots” written by Otelia Richardson Wyche and was designed
for African American readers. Alexandria, Virginia had articles
in the Alexandria Gazette written by Estelle Lane which were
called, “News of Interest to Colored Readers.” Then,
in the little historic town of Portsmouth, Virginia, the Portsmouth
Star developed a column called “Colored Notes.”
Jeffrey T. Wilson was the writer tabbed to write the articles which
were not “gossip or scandal but wholesome and intelligent
news.”
..................................................... Mae
Breckenridge-Haywood, a retired school librarian and President of
the African American Historical Society of Portsmouth, Inc., has
done research for the past twelve years. She is the co-author of
two books, Inscriptions in Triumph and Black America: Portsmouth,
Virginia. Breckenridge-Haywood is the compiler of the articles
and created the “Index to Colored Notes.” The index
is an alphabetical listing of the events (births, deaths, marriages,
and anniversaries), social items (visitors to Portsmouth and travelers
from Portsmouth to other places), cultural events (plays, lectures,
concerts, church programs which would include a special program
from quartets or other musical groups) and organizational news (schools,
churches, lodges, social and savings clubs). The column appeared
daily and Jeffrey T. Wilson would tell the citizens where to leave
the “notes.” First, they left the articles at 416 Effingham
Street and then at Bass Drug Store located at 223 S. Green Street.
The articles wer published daily from 1924 until Wilson died in
June, 1929. The “Index to Colored Notes” is online
at the Portsmouth Public Library website and linked to the Local
History section. The website for the Portsmouth Public Library where
the index is accessible is: www.portsmouthpubliclibrary.org.
In addition to the reference resource, Breckenridge-Haywood developed
an 11x17 poster of the index for area librarians, reference copies
of the reprint articles which can also be located on microfilm in
the library, pictures of the schools, principals, bookmarks, and
note cards. Persons who attended this event came in from Newport
News as well as from the Hampton Roads area despite the weather
of twenty four degrees outside. The audience was given note cards
of the Bass Drug Store which is where the “Colored Notes”
were dropped off by Portsmouth citizens to be published in the newspaper.
The Hampton Roads area libraries which will have a reference copy
of the Columns are: Portsmouth Public Library, Norfolk Public Library,
Chesapeake Public Library, and Virginia Beach Public Library. Breckenridge-Haywood
received a grant of $5,500 from the city of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth
Museums and the Fine Arts Commission to develop the index.
Written by Mae Breckenridge-Haywood, President
African American Historical Society of Portsmouth
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Jeffrey T. Wilson
Selma Steward, President
of AAHGS-Hampton Roads Chapter said:
"...the Index and the book...they are wonderful, since
I wasn't going anywhere I sat down and read the articles..they
are an incredible source of information about Portsmouth during
that time frame. Who the heck is V.T. Thomas (R. V. Richards)
with the bus service whose ad appears before J.T. (Jeffrey T.
Wilson) takes over. The wonder about Wilson is that he not only
provides the information about Portsmouth in the 1920's but
that he is able to provide information about people and places
prior to emancipation. Good heavens his mother was 16 when Lafayette
comes back to VA to visit...and in another the gentlemen whose
name escapes me (Davy Blair who was 101 years old) gets his
Confederate Pension of $25.00 a year. Where the heck are you
going to get that information from? It is a treasure and you
are to be commended for bringing this resource to the attention
of everyone, and making this index available to everyone."
Cecelia Brown and her
mother, Bessie Liverman came to the unveiling of "Colored
Notes". Cecilia said: "Excellent presentation.
I remember the Colored Notes as a young girl in the 50’
and early 60’s, when Mr. Lee F. Rodgers wrote them. Excellent
resource."
Corey Thornton said:
"He liked the organization of information indexed for
easy access for everyone."
Pat Hines said:
"Very impressive, the amount of information. Our younger
generation needs this vital information. This presentation needs
to be presented to school age children and youth for Black History
Month."
Anne
Kinken Johnson said:
"Many researchers would be thrilled to have access
to this resource."
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