| Roy & Delores Shavers - Tape 3 - Late 1986 |
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| Narrators: Delores Shavers and Roy Shavers |
| Interviewer: Dr. Mildred Pratt |
| Date: late 1986 |
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| Side A |
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| MP |
This is the tape number three of the Roy Shavers'. |
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| DS |
The telephone rang and Mrs. Posey called to remind me that she was the first organist of
the Melody Gospel Chorus when she was still in high school. She played until she was a
senior, I guess it was. She wanted to make a note that you'd get that. The Melody Gospel
Chorus, my father had it for thirteen years, and they were just in operation for about
thirteen or fifteen years. I think it started out as a chorus. Just a regular chorus.
Mr. Williams out in Normal...
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| RS |
Way out here in the country like. |
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| DS |
He and Papa went in together. |
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| RS |
That's right. |
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| MP |
Do you know his first name? Mr. Williams first name? |
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| DS |
Caroline was her [the wife's] name, but I can't remember his name. Anyhow, Papa went
into it. I think it was just a chorus when Lucinda must have had it because she said
when she had it, it was at Mount Pisgah Church where they used to practice. So I think
it was just a chorus that started first. And then Papa organized it into the Melody
Gospel Chorus. Because, when I went in, it must have been in the forties because we
lived over on Jackson Street, and we used to practice at the social center that we was
telling you about. Not the one that had the ice-cream social. Another one on South Main.
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| RS |
One that's been destroyed where the city hall is. |
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| DS |
That's where Janice Johnson played the piano then. Then [Lee] Stokely, he was the
pianist. He was a student at ISU. [19]43 and. I got up to [19]49. This [a photo]
must have been an early one. There is no date on there. This was in [19]42. Every
picture I have Papa-then Papa had you to come in to help him. Then Mr. Anson come in
to help him. We went out to little towns around here and gave.
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| MP |
So you really did give performances then? |
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| DS |
Well, we went around to all the little towns giving recitals, and we were on the radio.
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| MP |
Oh, you were. In Bloomington-Normal? |
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| DS |
Bloomington is the only one that had the station then. The studio was upstairs over the
Castle Theater. We gave a recital up there that went out over the air. Janice Johnson
was the pianist. [19]42 is all I have.
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| RS |
This goes up to [19]49. |
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| DS |
Yes, I have it up to [19]49 from [19]42, but I guess every year they didn't have a picture taken.
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| MP |
What were some of the towns you visited? |
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| RS |
All around this area's small towns. |
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| MP |
And what kinds of groups would ask you to sing? |
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| RS |
Church groups. Just church groups. |
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| DS |
Church groups. They sang gospel music. All they sang was gospel. This minister that
went with Hazel Harris. What was his name? Married Mildred Stewart-Mildred.
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| RS |
Stratton. |
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| DS |
Stratton, Reverend Stratton. He with Papa they got these little towns because he was
the minister at the Methodist Church. I guess the ministers all sort of got together.
Papa would go and talk to them. And of course we went in for a collection. We got a
certain amount. The people didn't get anything, but enough to keep the organization
going. For traveling and whatnot. But to Merna and Saybrook and all over.
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| MP |
To Black and white churches? |
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| DS |
They was white. |
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| RS |
All white churches. |
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| MP |
All white churches. Yes. |
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| DS |
Now, this is. See how they changed their uniforms. |
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| MP |
What is the likelihood... What radio station were you on? |
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| DS |
WJBC. |
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| MP |
What is the likelihood that they would have some of your old tapes? |
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| RS |
That station went out of business. See we don't have a TV. |
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| DS |
Oh yes, we do. The radio. |
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| MP |
The radio. That's what I'm saying. Would they have some of those tapes?
They probably would have some of that stuff on tapes.
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| DS |
They probably would. |
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| MP |
Maybe I got to check and see. This is the first time that I knew they were on radio.
Who is this person here (looking at photo) who seems to be the conductor?
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| DS |
Hazel Harber, my stepmother. |
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| MP |
Oh, she was the conductor. She was really quite a creative person then, right? She painted?
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| DS |
Oh yes. She's the one that painted all those pictures downstairs.
She embroidered and crocheted like mad.
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| MP |
Isn't that interesting. So she directed the chorus. |
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| DS |
She directed it. That's why my father was the administrator or whatever you want to call it.
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| RS |
Business manager. |
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| DS |
Business manager. |
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| MP |
Did she have any special training for that, or was it talent? |
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| DS |
It was a talent. |
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| MP |
Yes. A natural talent that she had. |
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| RS |
Now this is a Presser Hall at Wesleyan. |
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| MP |
So you sang out there, too. |
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| RS |
Oh yeah, this was in [19]49. |
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| MP |
Do you remember singing at any high schools or grade schools? |
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| RS |
Mostly churches. All churches, I think. My God, 1949.
There are a lot of them gone. There's "Old Man" Anson.
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| DS |
We sang at the high school here once. I think this is a picture from high school.
(inaudible) Davis. This says Presser Hall, given at Presser Hall, March 26, 1943.
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| RS |
This is six years later, you was back again. |
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| MP |
They may also have tapes of some of these. |
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| DS |
This is at Presser Hall. Must have been there two or three times.
Guess every year we must have went there. This is 1950.
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| MP |
So that probably was an annual event. |
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| DS |
The Melody Gospel Chorus. I don't know when or how they started the name.
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| MP |
But what I think is interesting was that there were always men and women in the chorus.
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| DS |
Oh yes . They had the different voices. As I say, Hazel Harber, my stepmother, was the
director, and she was a good one. She sang also and had a beautiful voice. Different
ones had different solos to take. I don't have any of the programs. You see they're all
dressed alike because Hazel made my white... We had long black skirts and white satin blouses.
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| MP |
You sang gospel music. |
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| RS |
That's right. |
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| DS |
WJBC moved they are out here on [Greenwood] Road now, but they were up over the Castle Theater.
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| MP |
And that's where you went to do your. |
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| DS |
Over the air lines. |
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| MP |
I wonder if they have copies of that. I'm going to check it and see. |
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| MP |
Now you were talking about Madam... Who was Joiner now? |
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| DS |
Mrs. Joiner was the head of the school. |
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| MP |
She was the head of not only the school there, but wasn't she head of all the chains at one time?
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| DS |
I don't know about that. |
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| MP |
Because her name is very prominent in literature. |
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| DS |
She was a politician, and her husband was in everything. He was sort of a playboy. |
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| MP |
In what sense was she a politician? What's her full name? |
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| DS |
Marjorie Joiner. I saw her on television here a couple of years ago in the Bud Billiken parade.
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| MP |
When did she die? |
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| RS |
She's still living. Her husband died, but she's still living, I think. |
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| MP |
Did she run for office? |
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| DS |
No. She was wrapped up in the beauty culture affair. |
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| MP |
But she worked for politicians to help get them elected? |
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| DS |
As far as I know. I don't know. All I know is this Bud Billiken. |
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| RS |
That's a city. You know how cities are. |
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| MP |
And Chicago, too. |
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| RS |
That's what I'm saying. You got your fingers in a lot of things there. Especially
if you come up with a lot of money, you've got to have your fingers in everything.
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| MP |
That's right. |
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| RS |
They were real nice people. |
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| DS |
I think everyone in Chicago knows Madam Walk-Marjorie Joiner. |
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| RS |
Margie Joiner. |
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| MP |
That was about all about the school. I had a picture here.
Of course, you saw that, of the graduation exercise.
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| MP |
So we'll be able to get a copy of that then. |
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| DS |
I had these all separated at one time. Now, what else did you want to know?
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| MP |
You said you served on the mental health board. |
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| DS |
Yes. I was secretary for that too, for... |
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| MP |
What years, do you remember? |
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| DS |
Oh, Tick was the president of that. |
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| RS |
Let's see. How long has Tick been dead? |
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| DS |
It must have been... We had been here four or five years.
It's been at least ten or fifteen years ago.
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| RS |
It hasn't been that long. |
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| DS |
Don't you think it's been that long? |
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| RS |
It hasn't been that long because Tick moved... The last meeting
I remember that you attended was out on Vale Street.
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| DS |
That was a special meeting out there. We had all our meetings out to the university.
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| RS |
Ten years. I'd say ten years. Mrs. Tick hasn't been dead that long. |
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| DS |
But see, it was him. |
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| RS |
I know, but I'm saying. |
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| DS |
This was young Tick, the son. I was his secretary. |
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| RS |
I used to have to take you out there when you had special meetings. |
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| DS |
After that guy was leaning up against my car. |
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| RS |
I'd say... Time goes so fast. I'd say ten years. |
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| DS |
At least ten years. |
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| MP |
And you were secretary. |
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| DS |
Just for one year. |
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| MP |
Were you the only Black person on that board? |
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| DS |
Yes, and not that I knew any people in mental health, but it was just sort of a civic
organization, you know. I did learn a lot though. And they talked about different people.
Most people who belonged to the board either knew or had someone that had been ill.
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| MP |
Mentally ill? |
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| DS |
That's right. Then I belonged to... Well that wouldn't be interesting because it was still
out to the Catholic Church when Margaret (Unintelligible) had these doctors come here, but
it was sort of mental health also because it was about-what do you call this? Those awful
pictures that the doctors from Chicago brought. About these teen-agers becoming pregnant.
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| MP |
Oh, I see. Teen-age pregnancy. |
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| DS |
Teen-age pregnancy and whatnot. |
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| RS |
We had so many things going on. |
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| DS |
I'd just retired. |
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| RS |
We were active, you know. |
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| MP |
But after a while you just feel... |
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| DS |
You've done your part. And I just don't go into those things any more.
But I do know that a lot of the things they are doing now that I've already
done. So that's about all the civic things I can think of. I just thought
about that after you had gone. But I had pictures to back it up. To show
you that I had. And a lot... Well, you had a bowling alley. Not a bowling
alley. But you sponsored a bowling team. I was thinking about those medals.
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| RS |
I have medals downstairs. I sponsored a bowling team here for several years.
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| MP |
What does sponsored mean? |
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| RS |
Bought their uniforms. Paid for (laughter). |
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| MP |
Oh, I see. |
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| DS |
They won. |
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| RS |
Yeah, we won. |
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| DS |
We have two. |
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| RS |
We got three, but one got broken by the flood. A bronze. |
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| MP |
That's what I didn't ask you about, what kind of recreational
activities you did? You played a little tennis, right?
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| DS |
Very little. |
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| MP |
Were you a bowler? |
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| RS |
I used to play basketball. We played basketball around here. We wasn't professionals,
but we was a private team. And we were all Black. We challenged all these small towns
in basketball. We were good. We were called the Buffaloes. But I always liked baseball.
Well, I like football.
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| DS |
What's her name Mrs. Bynum? Had the girl's team that I played on. |
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| RS |
You played basketball. |
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| DS |
Laura Bynum had the girls. We played Decatur and Peoria. It wasn't no professional.
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| MP |
It was just a recreational activity. |
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| DS |
Yeah, that's about the only athletic... |
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| MP |
Did I ask you about the Great Depression and whether or not
either of you was involved at all in the Great Depression.
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| RS |
We got married right in the Depression. |
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| DS |
Got married in [19]31. |
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| MP |
You got married during the Depression. |
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| RS |
The Depression was in [19]29 and wasn't over until... |
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| MP |
About World War II. |
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| RS |
It started easing up in [19]36. |
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| DS |
(Unintelligible) going to school in World War II. I was. |
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| MP |
Do you remember being actively involved in any of the programs Roosevelt established?
Did you work in any of the programs? Work Progress Administration.
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| RS |
No. Only thing that we was-no. |
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| DS |
Because I wasn't even voting when President... |
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| RS |
You take that Roosevelt war that was in [19]40. |
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| MP |
The Truman War. |
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| RS |
The Truman War. No, that's too far back. |
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| MP |
I'll ask you these general questions. This important.
We want this. What's been the best part of your life?
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| RS |
(Unintelligible) |
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| DS |
I don't know. I can't think of anything. Just being healthy and happy.
God's been good to us. The fifty-five years we've been married we haven't
wanted for anything. That's about. Just had a good life. Even though
there has been a lot of sadness and sickness, we've weathered it.
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| MP |
What has been the most important factors that influenced
your life? Individuals? Organizations?
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| DS |
When Roy and I married it was right in the Depression. We roomed with my father for
about six months, and Roy was just getting started in his business. There was a white
woman that said to him one time- of course, his father had always said if you can make
money for somebody else you can make it for yourself. And Mrs. Harwood used to say if
you can pay fifteen dollars a week room rent, you can get you a house. I think he told
you about him buying his first car through her. And she'd say, "If you've got fifteen
dollars buy one dress instead of two. Buy a good one and dress it up." She just took
Roy and I in like we were relation to her. And you know her daughter still comes from
Tryon, North Carolina every year. Her husband's stepmother is still living here. He
was a dentist. Dr. Shaffer. And Jean and Roger still come. And when they're in
Bloomington, they come here and have lunch or take us out to lunch. So I think Mrs.
Harwood was influential in getting us started. Because I worked downtown and Roy was
trying to get his business started at The Al Hambra [318 North Center Street], remember?
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| RS |
Yeah. |
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| DS |
He had done cleaning for her, and I went out one time, and she just sat us
down and showed us how you can do this and do the other. [text omitted]
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| MP |
Yes. |
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| DS |
Right now. I tell him money means more to him sometimes than I... |
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| MP |
Do you think you got that from your father? |
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| RS |
Yes, I did. I had a lot of business experience to start out with. Because I stayed
home. I was the only boy that stayed home and stayed right with my father. Doing his
business for years. So I knew what it was to be in business. Although I had a lot of
responsibility because in those days you worked. You didn't be like children today
and have an allowance. You worked for your pay. I always had ambition to have a
home, nice home and nice car. Raised up that way. Didn't mind hard work. But that
had always been my ambition to get to the place where I could have a nice living, a
home, be able to help my relatives if I could.
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| MP |
Well, you certainly achieved that. |
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| RS |
I've achieved it all. I've been nice to my family, and we have done pretty well on our
own. I always felt, you know, in those days we had such a hard time, such a hard time.
I said one of these days. (two unintelligible sentences) You've got to dream. I'll
always been a dreamer. You've got to believe in something to do it well. I always had
ambition. Anything I tried to do the best I could possibly do.
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| MP |
I think this is useful to have on tape because young people today need this kind of wisdom.
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| RS |
That's right because nobody is going to give you anything. And it's gotten worse now.
I tell young people now today, you almost have to have two jobs. It looks like a certain
percentage of our people will never be able to own a home or rent a halfway decent place
right today. So you got to have that extra push to really make it. You got to want it.
We still got to be a little bit better in everything we start out to do today. Right
now today it still stands that way.
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| MP |
That's right. Things are a little improved but not much. |
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| RS |
We've got to be just a little bit better because there's so many people out there that's
ready to do the same thing. We still can't be choicy. Well, you can be a little choicy
if you're good, if you're good.
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| DS |
Nothing is handed to you. You've got to work for everything you get. The generation of
today. Like we heard on the television tonight. Kids less than twelve years old getting
five dollars a week allowance. You just can't visualize little kids...
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| RS |
One little kid said he got, three and a half years old, he got four dollars or five dollars.
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| DS |
He was about five or six years. In first or second grade. |
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| MP |
Isn't that something? |
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| End Side A (side B is blank) |
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