Hi Peter:
Thanks so much for alerting me to your blog. I think this is a great way to unearth more information about your grandfather. I'm going to send the link to a few people whom I'm hoping can be helpful in your search. I'm sure there must be some correspondence or recollections out there given how prominent Harry was and the people he knew. I hope you continue to post information here as you discover it. As I mentioned when we talked on the phone, the fact that people such as your grandfather--who was such a race man--chose this solution of last resort, passing, suggests just how intractable racism was in the early twentieth century. I think his story has much to teach us.
Best of luck to you,
Bliss Broyard
(author of ONE DROP)
Bliss Broyard
(author of ONE DROP)
- Show quoted text -
If any of you wants to read the exact words of Harry Herbert Pace, see the following: Civprostories.law.cornell.edu, and go to chapter 06 in the case of Hansberry v. Lee. There are transcripts of Mr. Pace's testimony in the Civil Courts of Cook County Illinois in 1937. Specifically, go to hansberry16.pdf (page 10), and hansberry27.pdf (page 23). Here he tells about his academic background, the companies he has been a part of, the fact he wrote the words to "St. Louis Blues", etc. This is actually very fascinating. In addition, in hansberry27 he talks about how he describes himself as a "colored man". I have been chasing your ancestor for more than twenty years, and I find him to a very fascinating man, and am apalled that history has slighted this giant of a human being.
ReplyDelete@WGentry664 thank you for showing us these transcripts. We had seen some of them, but not these particular pages. Very interesting to hear Harry Pace mention that he wrote the lyrics to St. Louis Blues, under oath! I haven't been able to find anything else about that anywhere, but i'm sure he was telling the truth...my theory is that they must have co-wrote it, because there are a lot of quotes of handy recalling how he came up with the opening line, and it always says "words and music by W.C Handy." But Harry Pace was quite the lyricist as you probably know, and he and Handy were collaborating during this time. We were able to track down a rare song that w.c handy and pace made together and we did a remake of it. You may find it interesting, you can see it at:http://vimeo.com/11790998
DeleteOnce again, thank you for reaching out. My father and I both appreciate your kind words, and agree that someone as great as Harry Pace deserves to be remembered.
Sincerely,
Eric Pace
Eric,
ReplyDeleteI'm Alan Reitano with AEWorks Blues Alley - a web series about blues music, produced in Nashville, TN. I have done quite a bit of research on your (great)grandfather and am in the middle of producing an episode of Blues Alley where he is featured prominently. I would love to use the image from this page for the episode and I would also be glad to share the info I have uncovered about Harry Pace. It's pretty impressive. Please contact me at alan.reitano@aeworks.org. We are a non profit entertainment company dedicated to improving knowledge with inspiring stories of American culture. Thanks. Alan