Bessie Foster, hairdresser

These are newspaper clippings relating to Bessie Foster. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "A granddaughter of free mulatto barber of Florence John H. Rapier, Sr. (1808-1869) and his second, common-law slave wife, Lucretia McAlister (ca. 1825-aft. 1860) through Bessie's mother, their d...

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Bibliographic Details
Format:	Electronic
Published:	Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection
Subjects:	Photographs, documents, and clippings
Online Access:	https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/484

format	Electronic
collection	Work/Business Collection
building	Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection
publisher	Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection
topic	Photographs, documents, and clippings
spellingShingle	Photographs, documents, and clippings Bessie Foster, hairdresser
fulltopic	Photographs, documents, and clippings Work/Business
description	These are newspaper clippings relating to Bessie Foster. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "A granddaughter of free mulatto barber of Florence John H. Rapier, Sr. (1808-1869) and his second, common-law slave wife, Lucretia McAlister (ca. 1825-aft. 1860) through Bessie's mother, their daughter Susan (1859-1927), Bessie McAlister Rapier Foster (1882-1963) is believed to be Florence’s first African-American businesswoman. She was known locally as a hairdresser and chiropodist, and in 1916 opened the Pastime Theater for Negroes on Sweetwater Street, near Court. In 1925 her chiropodist business was located on the 2nd floor at 109 S Court St. By 1960 she was the owner of the Improved Pool Room. Married four times, Bessie had four daughters, two of which were adopted. A convert from the AME Church to Roman Catholicism, Bessie was instrumental in the founding of Blessed Martin De Porres Catholic Mission on West College Street in Florence in the late 1940s. She was known to locals for her industry, thrift, entrepreneurial spirit, and generosity. She died in 1963 and was buried in the black section of the Florence City Cemetery next to her second husband Thomas Spencer Foster (1877-1918)."
spelling	Bessie Foster, hairdresserWork/BusinessThese are newspaper clippings relating to Bessie Foster. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "A granddaughter of free mulatto barber of Florence John H. Rapier, Sr. (1808-1869) and his second, common-law slave wife, Lucretia McAlister (ca. 1825-aft. 1860) through Bessie's mother, their daughter Susan (1859-1927), Bessie McAlister Rapier Foster (1882-1963) is believed to be Florence’s first African-American businesswoman. She was known locally as a hairdresser and chiropodist, and in 1916 opened the Pastime Theater for Negroes on Sweetwater Street, near Court. In 1925 her chiropodist business was located on the 2nd floor at 109 S Court St. By 1960 she was the owner of the Improved Pool Room. Married four times, Bessie had four daughters, two of which were adopted. A convert from the AME Church to Roman Catholicism, Bessie was instrumental in the founding of Blessed Martin De Porres Catholic Mission on West College Street in Florence in the late 1940s. She was known to locals for her industry, thrift, entrepreneurial spirit, and generosity. She died in 1963 and was buried in the black section of the Florence City Cemetery next to her second husband Thomas Spencer Foster (1877-1918)."Florence Times (1) Florence Herald (2)Lee Freeman1912-08-09 (1) 1917-11-21 (2)Still ImageJPGBessie_Foster_Local_News.jpg (1) Bessie_Foster_Ladies_Haridressing_Parlors_Ad.jpg (2) Bessie_Foster3.jpg Bessie_Foster.jpg (4)https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/484https://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/24fc25871ccd31c3db748b7782dfb7dc.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI3ATG3OSQLO5HGKA&Expires=1663804800&Signature=Leo1aVBNv%2FxICRNZlz6YIaRnTFs%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/903bad49031526bd1d4ff89fa952c4a5.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI3ATG3OSQLO5HGKA&Expires=1663804800&Signature=qia%2BTqdlFoEVDH2IER7QuIn0uos%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/6ce28c1721d0e405ad225d383a55feb9.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI3ATG3OSQLO5HGKA&Expires=1663804800&Signature=egBsgdkNF1TBryr3DxOx4LXqLGM%3Dhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/36745/archive/files/a7235843c28d0783e7dc01d596cd646d.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI3ATG3OSQLO5HGKA&Expires=1663804800&Signature=gzGD9FZOAaVcKVphxrFgZZDwnVc%3DFlorence Times (1) Florence Herald (2) Johnnie Mae Brock (4)EnglishImages are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.
title	Bessie Foster, hairdresser
titleStr	Bessie Foster, hairdresser
id	PSSbusiness484
url	https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/484
_version_	1743889536311623680

Bessie Foster, hairdresser

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