Wilson Daily Times, 24 December 1932.
choral music
Myrtle Jones is queen of Handel’s Chorus.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 11 September 1937.
——
- Myrtle Jones
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 808 East Nash, Butler Jones, 39, painter; wife Myrtle, 36; and children Gertrude, 12, Louise, 6, Joseph, 5, Ruth M., 3, and Willard, 3 months.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash, owned and valued at $2500, Buller Jones, 49, building painter; wife Myrtle, 46; and children Gertrude, 23, cook, Louise, 16, Joseph, 15, Myrtle, 11, William, 9, and John, 8.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash, Butler Jones, 59, painter; wife Myrtie, 51; sons Joseph, 25, Willard, 20, and John, 19, all painters; and William Tabron, 26, janitor at Carolina Theatre, wife Myrtie Tabron, 21, and daughter Patsy, 3 months.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash Street, painter Butler Jones, 69; wife Myrtie, 67; son John H., 27, and his wife Lizzie M., 28; son-in-law William L. Tabron, 35; wife Myrtie, 30; and daughters Patsy, 10, and Julia, 9.
Selections in English, German, and Italian (and a few Negro spirituals).
Handel’s Chorus performs at the Tobacco Festival.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 August 1940.
Hartford Bess‘ Handel’s Chorus sang at the 1940 Tobacco Festival, performing scenes that we would today find cringey. In the spirit of “don’t hate the player, hate the game,” I try not to judge.
Handel’s Chorus performs in concert.
Wilson Daily Times, 5 March 1943.
Hartford E. Bess‘ Handel’s Chorus, comprised of teens and young adults, performed to standing-room-only crowds for decades. In 1943, its members included Clara B. Taylor, Pauline Farmer, Ernestine Floyd, Mattie Ford, Eunice McCall, Devera Jackson, Eunice Cooke, Dora Dickerson, Henrietta Hines, Matteele Floyd, Inez Dickerson, Deloris Haskins, Romaine Hagans, Doris Joyner, Herman Hines, Harding Thompson, Ambrose Towe, Thomas Dawson, John W. Jones, Arthur Brodie, and Rudolph Best. Unfortunately, the accompanying photograph is not available.
Handel’s Chorus, outstanding Negro musical organization.
Handel’s Chorus begins rehearsals.
Under the direction of Hartford E. Bess, Handel’s Chorus club presented holiday season concerts for several decades.
Wilson Daily Times, 9 October 1940.
Handel’s Chorus officers:
- Louise Spivey, president
- Aaron Purdie, vice-president
- Arthur Brodie, treasurer
- Ernestine Floyd, secretary
Personnel:
- Annie G. Sanders, accompanist
- Hartford E. Bess, director
- Romaine Hagans, Pauline Farmer, Matteele Floyd, Estelle Stevenson, Louise McCall, Larnetta Howell, Alma G. Moore, Clematine Rogers, and Lena Cherry, sopranos
- Mildred Faulkner, alto
- Arthur Brodie and Junius Sturdiford, tenors
- Ambrose Towe, Aaron Purdie, Edgar Gerald, Charles Ballard, James Reeves, and Hardy Thompson, bassos