-
-
Title
-
T. B. Watkins
-
Description
-
File containing photos and information on Theron Watkins (1877-1950), or T. B. Watkins, a community activist, co-founder of the Watkins Brothers Funeral Home at 1729 Lydia Avenue, and step-father of local black political leader Bruce Watkins. Native of Indiana coming to Kansas City in 1909 as a funeral home founder later involved in the 1940 city clean-up campaign and becoming "the first black to sit on Kansas City's draft board" and a co-founder of the Gateway Athletic Club. Also the posthumous namesake of the T. B. Watkins Housing Complex at 12th and Woodland Avenues in 1952, with residence at 2506 Benton Boulevard.
-
Object Type
-
Vertical File
-
-
Title
-
Watkins Brothers Memorial Chapel Celebrates Its 100 Year Anniversary - From 1909 to 2009
-
Description
-
Watkins Brothers is "one of the oldest continuous operating African American-owned business [sic] in Missosuri." Article tells the story of the business, first located at 1729 Lydia, then at 18th Street and Benton Boulevard, and finally at 4000 Emmanuel Cleaver II Boulevard. Information about the Watkins family is also included.
-
Date
-
2009-05-29
-
Object Type
-
Newspaper Article
-
-
Title
-
Blacks in Kansas City, Part III--Business and Industry
-
Description
-
Third in a series of four articles about the history of African Americans in Kansas City. It provides an overview of black business and industry, from the period before emancipation in 1865 to the present (1986). Starting in the late 1800s, African Americans were mostly "limited to household labor and unskilled jobs," but by 1913 "were securing jobs as barbers, cooks, railroad workers, and waitresses" in Kansas City. The growth of job opportunities and black-owned businesses and business organizations in the 20th century are then discussed, with many examples such as Alpha Minor Smith, Reuben Street, Reverend James Wesley Hurse, T.B. Watkins, Felix Payne ("investment broker and bondsman"), Guy Davis ("Public Accountant and Auditor"), J.A. Wilson ("Kansas City's pioneer negro jeweler"), John Burns ("manager and former police officer"), Eureka Casket and Coffin Company, the Kansas City Urban League, the Kansas City Council of Employees, the Kansas City Nebro Directory, and Associated Negro Grocers."In 1870, Mrs. Alpha Minor Smith opened a dressmaking and notions shop in Kansas City. The Alpha Minor Smith Dress Shop was the first shop in the city to carry ready-to-wear clothing for ladies. Another successful businessman of the black community was Reuben S. Street. Mr. Street, owner of Street Enterprises, was one of K.C.'s leading businessmen. Street's Blue Room was known throughout the country as a popular meeting place."
-
Date
-
1986-02-21
-
Object Type
-
Newspaper Article
-
-
Title
-
African Americans in Politics
-
Description
-
Passage in book describes early attempts to get African American candidates on the ballot. Theron B. Watkins' unsuccessful campaign for city alderman and L. Amasa Knox's campaign for the state legislature are described.
-
Date
-
2006
-
Object Type
-
Book Section
-
-
Title
-
Theron Watkins
-
Description
-
Book excerpt about Theron Watkins (1877-1950), or T.B. Watkins, a prominent African American of Kansas City and father of local politician Bruce Watkins. Watkins was born near Indianapolis and came to Kansas City in 1909 as an undertaker and soon co-founder of Watkins Brothers Funeral Home at 1729 Lydia Avenue, which became "one of the most successful black businesses in Kansas City". He became a leader and activist in the community starting in the 1910s and candidate for city alderman in 1921 and the Missouri legislature in 1944.
-
Date
-
2006
-
Object Type
-
Book Section
