The Elite of St. Louis Society

The St. Louis community had several African-American newspapers. Some issues of the St. Louis Palladium and the St. Louis Argus are extant. St. Louis Public Library and St. Louis County Library Special Collections have microfilm of the surviving newspapers. St. Louis Public Library is indexing the obituaries in St. Louis Argus.

Apparently, it was common for African-American newspapers in other cities, such as Indianapolis and St. Paul, to report on St. Louis news. On 11 January 1890, the St. Paul Appeal reported on an “elegant” New Year’s Eve party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Armstrong located at 2627 Mills St. The Appeal noted that dancing continued until 4:00 a.m. and the newspaper presented a list of guests—“the elite of St. Louis Society.”

The list appears in the original order as published in 1890. Information in brackets was added based on other information, some drawn from other issues of the Appeal.

James Kendall provided this information in the 1993 St. Louis Genealogical Society Quarterly, volume 26, number 4, pages 109–110.

African-American Elite of St. Louis – 11 Jan 1890

Name Notes
Anderson, W. Of Chicago
Armstrong, Emma M. Teacher, daughter of host, Globe-Democrat, 24 Sep 1890
Bell, Louise  
Benson, E. L. Of Chicago, guest of honor
Bertha, Abraham T. (and Mrs.), builder, *Abajian 1:165
Blair, David C. (and Mrs.), barber, *Abajian 1:182
Brown, Charles H. (and Mrs.), elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Sep 1889
Carter, Georgia W. Teacher, Board of Education printed record, v. 6
Cole, Emma  
Cole, Richard Hill Elementary school principal, Appeal 17 Jan 1891
Cowan, W. R. Of Chicago
Dougherty, D.  
Farmer, Walter M. Washington Univ. Law Graduate 1889, Mo. Hist. Review, Jan 1984
Freeman, John F. Teacher, 1890 city directory
Goins, David D. Barber, 1890 city directory
Gordon, David E. Elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Sep 1889
Gossin, Andrew Jackson Elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Sep 1889
Grant, James W. Presiding officer of Home Club, Appeal 19 Sep 1891
Hickman, Carrie  
Hickman, Estella J. Substitute teacher, Board of Education, printed record v.6
Hickman, P. A.  
Hickman, Robert (and Mrs.)
Inge, Hutchins Elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Sep 1889
Jackson, C.  
Johnson, Lulu V. 1889 high school graduate, Board of Education Annual Report
Kelley, John A. (and Mrs.), elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Sep 1889
Langston, Arthur Dessalines Elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Oct 1889
Lee, Josephine Involved with YMCA, Globe-Democrat, 5 Feb 1890
Little, Minnie T. 1889 high school graduate, Board of Education Annual Report
Manisfee, William A., Dr. Physician, inspector of hygiene for Board of Education, 1925 city directory
McLeod, Mary Teacher, Appeal 17 Oct 1891
Mordecai, Edith V. Teacher, pianist, Gatewood, Aristocrats of Color, 1990
Napier, Cora  
Napier, Jennie Minneapolis
Parker, Hale G. (and Mrs.), elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Oct 1889
Plumb, J. M. Cincinnati
Porter, G.  
Roberson, Tillie  
Rovers, Albert C. Porter, 1890 city directory
Scott, Frank F. (and Mrs.), barber, 1890 city directory
Story  , Leah F. Teacher, 1890 city directory
Thomas, Bella C. Teacher, St. Louis school payroll list
Thomas, J. F. Probably James P. Thomas, real estate owner, From Tennessee Slave to St. Louis Entrepreneur, 1984
Thomas, Maria L. Teacher, 1890 city directory
Thomas, Pelagie Daughter of James P. Thomas, real estate owner, From Tennessee Slave to St. Louis Entrepreneur, 1984
Vashon, Emma Luella Teacher, Chicago Defender 19 Oct 1932
Watson, Jessie  
Whetts, Ella  
Wilkinson, Nellie L. Teacher, Appeal 28 Sep 1889
Williams, E. S. (and Mrs.), elementary school principal, Appeal 12 Oct 1889
Young, R. C., Mrs. Chicago, guest of honor