Finding aid for the Louise Shropshire family papers


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
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.
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