Finding aid for the Louise Shropshire family papers
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Title: |
Louise Shropshire family papers |
Repository: |
University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library
Phone: 513-556-1959
http://www.libraries.uc.edu/arb.html
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Creator: |
Shropshire, Louise |
Dates: |
1921-2002 |
Quantity: |
3 linear feet (3 boxes) |
Abstract: |
This collection contains documents related to the lives of Louise Shropshire and her family. The collection contains copies
of Shropshire's original choral compositions including her best-known composition, If Jesus Wills. Correspondence, family photographs, certificates, and booklets in the collection also document Shropshire's life, her
family, and her friendship with members of the Civil Rights Movement including Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are also
several items in the collection relating to her son, Jackie L. Shropshire, founder of the Queen City Boxing Club.
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Identification: |
US-14-02 |
Location: |
Archives and Rare Books Library |
Language: |
The records are in English |
Biography of Louise Shropshire
Louise Shropshire was born Louise Jarrett on February 15, 1913 in Coffee County, Alabama to a family of sharecroppers. Her
grandparents had been slaves. In 1917, her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Louise married Robert Shropshire Sr. who was
a bail bondsman.
Shropshire was a choral director and composer of religious hymns. While attending the 1935 National Convention of Gospel
Choirs and Choruses in Cincinnati, she was discovered by Reverend Thomas A. Dorsey. Shropshire went on to publish several
gospel compositions and co-wrote some with Rev. Dorsey. Her compositions include: I Know Jesus Pilots Me, Are you Worthy to Take Communion, Come on, Jesus Will Save You Right Now, Crucified for Me, and His Precious Blood. The song, If My Jesus Wills, which she wrote sometime in the 1930s or early 1940s is argued to be the base of the Civil Rights Movement hymn, We Shall Overcome.
Scope and Content
This collection contains documents related to the lives of Louise Shropshire and her family. The collection contains copies
of Shropshire's original choral compositions including His Precious Blood, I Know Jesus Pilots Me, Are You Worthy to Take Communion, Come On (Jesus Will Save You Right Now), Crucified for Me and her best-known composition, If Jesus Wills. The collection also contains other choral arrangements acquired by Shopshire throughout her career as a choral director.
Correspondence, family photographs, certificates, and booklets in the collection also document Shopshire's life, her family,
and her friendship with people involved in the Civil Rights Movement including Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are also
several items in the collection relating to her son, Jackie L. Shopshire, founder of the Queen City Boxing Club.
Statement of Arrangement
This collection is arranged into 12 series in alphabetical order by subject matter:
Series 1: Advertisements-Contains flyers and print advertisements for events and products
Series 2: Certificates-Contains certificates awarded by various private, state, and religious organizations
Series 3: Choral Arrangements/Hymn Lyrics-Contains arrangements for hymns; organized alphabetically by title
Series 4: Financial-Contains budgets, bank statements, and other documents related to finances
Series 5: Legal Documents-Contains law-related documents such as contracts and birth and death certificates
Series 6: Letters-Contains correspondence both personal and official
Series 7: Photographs-Contains personal photographs belonging to the Shropshire Family
Series 8: News-Contains newspaper articles
Series 9: Orders of Worship-Contains orders of worship for the observances of special religious functions
Series 10: Leaflets/Booklets-contains leaflets and booklets relating to special functions
Series 11: Other Papers-Contains miscellaneous papers which did not fit into any of the above categories
Series 12: Other Items-Contains non-manuscript items too large to fit in folders
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection.
Subjects:
African American composers
Choruses, Sacred
Civil rights movement
Preferred Citation
The preferred form of citation for this collection is: Cite specific item as appropriate, Louise Shropshire Family Papers,
1921-2002, US-14-02, Archives and Rare Books Library, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Detailed Description of The Collection
Series 1: Advertisements, 1982; undated
Box 1 / Folder 1
Advertisements, 1982
Series 2: Certificates, 1952-2002
Box 1 / Folder 2
Certificates, 1952-2002
Series 3: Choral Arrangements/Hymn Lyrics, 1921-1963 Arranged Alphabetically by Title
Box 1 / Folder 3
Choral Arrangements, "A", 1953
Box 1 / Folder 4
Choral Arrangements, "B", 1936-1954
Box 1 / Folder 5
Choral Arrangements, "C", 1938-1963
Box 1 / Folder 6
Choral Arrangements, "D", 1949-1962
Box 1 / Folder 7
Choral Arrangements, "E", 1957
Box 1 / Folder 8
Choral Arrangements, "G", 1938-1957
Box 1 / Folder 9
Choral Arrangements, "H", 1946-1960
Box 1 / Folder 10
Choral Arrangements, "I", 1943-1964
Box 1 / Folder 11
Choral Arrangements, "J", 1949-1962
Box 1 / Folder 12
Choral Arrangements, "K", 1953
Box 1 / Folder 13
Choral Arrangements, "L", 1954-1959
Box 1 / Folder 14
Choral Arrangements, "M", 1937-1951
Box 1 / Folder 15
Choral Arrangements, "N", 1950
Box 1 / Folder 16
Choral Arrangements, "O", 1921
Box 1 / Folder 17
Choral Arrangements, "P", 1963
Box 1 / Folder 18
Choral Arrangements, "S", 1938-1960
Box 1 / Folder 19
Choral Arrangements, "T", 1934-1961
Box 1 / Folder 19
Choral Arrangements, "U", 1953
Box 1 / Folder 20
Choral Arrangements, "W", 1944-1960
Box 1 / Folder 21
Choral Arrangements, "Whom Do Men Say I Am", undated
Box 1 / Folder 22
Choral Arrangements, "Whom Do Men Say I Am", 1952
Box 1 / Folder 22
Choral Arrangements, "Y", 1958
Box 1 / Folder 23
Choral Arrangement, "Fragments", undated
Series 4: Financial Documents, 1961-1965
Box 1 / Folder 24
Financial Documents, 1961-1965
Series 5: Legal Documents, 1988; 1993
Box 1 / Folder 25
Legal Documents, 1988 & 1993
Series 6: Letters, 1952-1963
Box 1 / Folder 26
Letters, 1952-1963
Series 7: Photographs, undated Arranged by Size and Subject
Box 2 / Folder 1
Cardboard Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 2
Plastic-wrapped Sheets, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 3
11*17 Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 4
8 1/2 * 11 Sized Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 5
Poster-Sized Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 6
Portraits, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 7
Individual Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 8
Pair Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 9
Group Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 10
Candid Photographs, Undated
Box 2 / Folder 11
Bound Photo Albums, Undated
Series 8: News, 1957-1983; Undated
Box 3 / Folder 1
Newspaper Articles, 1957-1984
Box 3 / Folder 2
La Voz, February 24, 1983
Series 9: Orders of Worship, 1965-1983; undated
Box 3 / Folder 3
Orders of Worship, 1965-1983
Series 10: Leaflets/Booklets, 1943-1991
Box 3 / Folder 4
Leaflets/Booklets, 1943-1991
Series 11: Miscellaneous Papers, 1952-1979; undated
Box 3 / Folder 5
Other Papers, 1952-1979
Box 3 / Folder 6
Other Papers, Undated
Series 12: Records and Ephemera, circa 1960-1990
Box 3 / Folder 7
Record Albums, Undated
Box 3 / Piece 1
Binder, Connie Daves Organ Lessons Ed. -9-4284, Undated
Box 3 / Piece 2
Glass Plate, Contains two "best wishes" notes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Undated
Box 3 / Piece 3
The Holy Bible, Red Letter Edition, King James Version, Undated
Box 3 / Piece 4
Plaque, Greater New Light Baptist Church to Louise Shropshire, 1984
Box 3 / Piece 5
Plaque, Landmark Bowl Xmas Club to Louise Shropshire, 1984
Box 3 / Piece 6
Plaque, Oak Tree Lanes to L. Shropshire, 1989-1990