Historically Speaking
Published by The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc.
P.O. Box 63
Buffalo NY 14207
www.aahanf.org
Sharon Holley and Madeline Scott, Editors
Volume 32
Number 2 October 2008
named Lucille Ceil. Initially, he omitted the “s” from the
spelling. He said he added it later, because Seals sounded
better then Seal. The 1920 census confirms that the name was
originally spelled “Seal”, but Willie was uncertain as to when
the alteration was made.
W.B. and his sister Alice grew up in the cities of
Alexandria and Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended schools
in both cities; however his formal education ended after the
sixth grade. In later years, he enjoyed telling the story of how
he perfected his reading ability by reading the newspapers
used to “wall paper” his family’s shanty home. At an early
age, he demonstrated musical ability and was allowed to take
piano lessons with a local teacher. The piano student quickly
became an adept musician who mastered classical pieces as
well as traditional gospel and spirituals. In his early twenties,
he became the choral director, pianist and organist for several
area churches in the Alexandria area. He also earned extra
money by giving music lessons to adult as well as children
piano students.
At age 23, W.B. answered a calling to the ministry. His
formal ordination did not take place until 1954, yet the
ministry marked a life-long avocation that lead the Rev. W.B.
Seals to pastor several churches in the Alexandria area, and
later in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York. At one point,
he experienced a personal conflict between his musical calling
and his spiritual calling. However, he decided to pursue the
ministry as he felt he “had a greater conviction for the
ministry.” He continued, however, to teach piano and to play
for groups in his church, when requested. In fact, after his
move to Buffalo, he responded to the request of young people
at the St. John Baptist Church, to assist them in starting a
choir. The Bells of St. John organized under Rev. Seals’
leadership, in 1948, continue to provide musical
accompaniment to the church service to this date.
In 1931, Rev. Seals married Nettie Mae Patterson. They
had four children, Willie P., John D., Mildred I. and James C.
A decade later, the couple divorced and in what was an
unusual ruling at the time; Rev. Seals was given custody of
their four children. A second marriage took place in 1943.
And a year later, Willie and the former Clara Ellis added a
fifth child, Barbara A., to their family. By 1944, the Seals
family had settled into routine life in Alexandria. In addition
to teaching piano in his home, acting as choral director and
pianist for several churches and pastoring his own church,
Rev. Seals also maintained a full-time job at an auto-parts
COMMUNITY HISTORY MAKERS
Willie Brown Seals
By
Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold, Ph.D.
Willie Brown Seals
Willie Brown Seals, who preferred to be known by his
initials, W.B., was born on November 22, 1910 in the rural
community of Bayou Rapides, near Alexandria, Louisiana.
He was the eldest child and only son of Irene Lair. His only
sibling, Alice Roosevelt Seals, was born two years later. Their
father, Giuseppe Nasello was a native of Sicily, who
immigrated to this country in 1901. Giuseppe, or Joe, was
married during the time of his relationship with Irene Lair, and
never acknowledged his son or daughter. He owned a dry
goods store in Alexandria. He died in 1958 and while W.B.
knew where to find his father, it’s unlikely that father and son
ever met formally.
The origin of the Seals name has some mystery attached
to it, as neither child was given their mother’s surname of
Lair. According to W.B., “Seals” was a name he made up.
He claimed to have taken the name, from a favorite teacher,
1
store. In 1943, Irene Lair, Rev. Seals’ mother suffered an
incapacitating stroke. Her daughter Alice, who had recently
moved to Buffalo, moved Irene to Buffalo to take care of her.
Irene Lair’s death in September 1946 set into motion a chain
of events that resulted in major life changes for the Seals
family. At the urging of his sister, Rev. Seals agreed to move
to Buffalo so that the two siblings and their families could be
together. The following year, the Seals family joined the
historic exodus of Black emigrants from the South that has
been described as the Second Great Migration. In the decade
between 1940 and 1950, the black population of Buffalo
swelled from 18,000 to 36,745. Like
many of their
compatriots, who were sheltered by family until they found
jobs and could get established, the seven members of the Seals
family moved in with Rev. Seals’ sister, her husband John and
teen-aged daughter, Dorothy.
The apartment that the family shared at 266 Walnut
Street near Broadway was typical of Buffalo’s Black
neighborhood at that time; very old and crowded housing
stock. Their cold- water flat consisted of four rooms: a living
room, kitchen, and two small bedrooms. The lavatory
comprised of only a commode and basin was located in the
hall and shared with the back apartment. Rev. Seals found
work at the Chevrolet Plant on River Road in Tonawanda and
worked there for almost twenty-five years until his retirement
in 1972. The family also grew as four sons; Gerald, Kenneth,
Bruce and David were born following the move to Buffalo.
In spite of the fact that he worked a full time job, Rev.
Seals became an active participant in Buffalo’s religious
community. He was well known as a preacher, teacher and
church musician. Soon after their arrival in Buffalo, the Seals
family joined the congregation of St. John Baptist Church and
became active and involved members. Rev. and Mrs. Seals
remained life-long members of St. John’s. He served as the
Assistant and Associate pastor of the church as well as Bible
study and Sunday school teachers. After his retirement, he
served as a pastoral minister visiting and ministering to the
sick and shut-in members of the congregation.
For extended periods, he also ministered to other
congregations outside of the St. John congregation. In 1956,
he was called to the pastorate of the Cold Spring Baptist
Church and remained there until the early 1960s leading the
congregation in retiring its mortgage debt and significantly
increasing its membership. In succeeding years, he was
interim Pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church in Niagara
Falls as well as New Hope Baptist Church of Buffalo. He was
invited to numerous churches as a guest preacher and Bible
study teacher during his many years in the ministry.
After his move to Buffalo, he developed an interest in
photography. He started photography as a hobby in 1947.
Once his interest was peaked, he spent a great deal of time
perfecting his photographic techniques and skills. Although
he had a mentor, he was largely self-taught. He learned to
take the photos, process and develop the negatives and print
the pictures as well. He was particularly skilled in lighting
and photo composition. Before color photography was
available, he hand painted the black and white pictures with
oil paints. He spent countless hours at his desk with a paint
palate, tubes of oils, q-tips and cotton swabs and painstakingly
detailed eyes, hair, cheeks or jewelry with just the right color.
In later years, he added special effects photography, such as
double exposure and unique backgrounds, to his repertoire.
For nearly 50 years, he built a sideline “job” into a
professional business that he named, Seals Ebony Studio. He
was called on by myriad groups and individuals to document
the history of several generations of African Americans in the
Western New York area, from births to deaths, to marriages
and other celebrations, to changes in the life of a community
over time. After his death in 1995, thousands of carefully
preserved, documented (names, dates, addresses) negatives
and photographs were found in his filing cabinets. They
represent a half-century of photographic records. These
negatives and the resultant photographs are extraordinary in
that they comprise an intact collection that portrays the rich
history of an African American community as seen through
the lens of an African American photographic artist.
During his lifetime, he received numerous recognitions
from the churches and church groups he worked with. But he
was most proud of the citations and proclamations he received
from the New York State Governor, Buffalo Mayor and
Common Council on the occasion of his 80th birthday. In
many respects, the story of Willie B. Seals’ life is reflective of
the lives of many unheralded African American men, who
were born in his era. In spite of the oppression and overt
institutional racism that was condoned by the Jim Crow laws
and associated societal conventions of the early twentieth
century, Willie Seals and many of his contemporaries strived
to live lives that were productive, contributory and exemplary
in their contributions to their families and communities.
This article was first published on the Uncrowned Kings WEB site. It is
reprinted here with the permission of Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold, author and
co-founder of Uncrowned Kings.
NASH HOUSE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
The Nash House Museum at 36 Nash Street, Buffalo,
New York currently is soliciting retired persons with an
interest in volunteering to help out at the Nash House
Museum. All persons with an expressed interest should visit
the Nash House website, “www.nashhousemuseum.org”.
There one will find contact information. Or, call The Nash
House at 716-856-4490. This solicitation is not exclusively to
retirees. We at the Nash House look forward to hearing from
you.
Dr. Felix Armfield
2
Second, I will not tell you about the world's problems. If you
read magazines and papers, listen to the radio, or watch TV,
you'll soon discover the challenges and probably observe that
they are the same each day. Don't ignore your responsibilities,
but again, I don't need to spend time on that topic. Third, I
will not attempt to amuse you, at least not intentionally. That
is a job for the trained professional, or someone who loves
taking risks. Having discarded the more typical approaches to
addressing graduates, I was left with the concern that I might
have nothing to say. I wrestled with this concern rather
anxiously for a while.
A few weeks ago, however, while reading the Buffalo
News one afternoon, the headline of a story jumped out at
me. To my surprise the item was an obituary, something in
the newspaper I rarely read. Nevertheless, the words in the
headline urged me on. It read: "Mary Hackney dies at 86;
her life an inspiration to generations." I was intrigued by
two things. First, who was Mary Hackney — I'd never heard
of her; and second, how does one influence generations? In
all honesty, I expected Mary Hackney to be a world leader;
possibly a public figure of some renown; perhaps a wealthy
person; maybe an entertainer. As it turns out, she was
probably more important than any of these because of what
she believed, the way she lived her life, and how that life
affected other people.
As I read the obituary I learned that Mary spent her
entire 86 years on the east side of Buffalo. She raised a family
of six children during the depression. She was active in her
church. In 1952 she was named "Mother of the Year" in
Buffalo. In 1983 she was inducted into the Black Hall of
Fame for community service.
I now knew Mary Hackney but I still needed to find out
how she was able to Influence generations. As I tossed this
question around in my mind it became apparent that Mary did
not influence generations through one big significant
contribution. Rather, it was by the way she did everything and
the fact that people noticed her unique approach to life. Mary
herself was personally fulfilled and successful — not by
material possessions, or a big career, or the things that come
from a high profile / high status life style. In her own words
Mary described herself by saying: "I knew how to sew, to
cook, to plant, and to smile." Her personal motto was 'To
serve this present age." Mary's way of living influenced those
around her. What was unique about the way she lived?
I didn't know Mary (obviously) but I believe I know
what characterized her life because I see these attributes in a
special type of person that comes along every once in a while.
I'd like to reflect on Mary Hackney and people like her for a
moment — this is my message for you today. I believe three
things will provide one with personal fulfillment and success.
Mary's life demonstrates them and I would like to offer them
for you to think about.
Mary J. Hackney
COMMUNITY HISTORY MAKERS:
Mary J. Hackney
NOTE: The following article was written by Mr. Donald A. Ogilvie
and was presented as a speech to the Hamburg, NY High School
graduating class of 1990. The speech is part of the Mary Hackney
Papers, and was submitted by Mrs. Hackney’s daughter, Ms. Dorothy
Hackney.
Donald A. Ogilvie
“Mary Hackney dies at 86; her life an inspiration to
generations.”
If not the last, I am among the last representatives of the
school to have your attention. This is an opportunity as well as
a responsibility and I feel honored to be here with you. I
arrived in Hamburg very late in your school careers but
perhaps even at this juncture something I say will trigger a
response in you that will make a difference. In preparation for
these graduation exercises, knowing that a brief message was
expected of me, I first spent time deciding what I would not do
this afternoon.
First, I will not go on about your high school experience.
Obviously, I haven't been here and this limitation posed a
problem. More important than that, even if I had been here
what could be said in this setting that would apply
meaningfully to each of you? Focusing on past events tends to
bring to mind in-groups and out-groups — those involved and
those not involved in each event. To go a step further, while
you all experienced Hamburg High School you did it largely
as individuals. Some things you valued, some things you
enjoyed, some things you only endured. Let's celebrate the
completion of high school, I thought, and leave each person
with his or her own recollections.
1. Mary and people like her who influence others show an
unusual commitment to what they do. Whether its raising six
children, arguing a case in a court of law, selling
encyclopedias, or earning a college degree:
3
they don't think of what they do as "a job" or even "work"
rather, it is a responsibility they must fulfill; an obligation
that must be met — it is a calling;
who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to
express it;
who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.
they enjoy what they do and do it enthusiastically;
It is my sincere hope that each of you finds personal
fulfillment and success. Some of you have already
demonstrated these beliefs in what you do; some others could
change easily enough; some may continue to try other less
certain ways to achieve personal fulfillment and success.
Test what I have shared with you, and patiently reap the
rewards.
1. Commit to what you are doing.
2. Demonstrate concern for other people.
3. Understand and accept yourself.
You have just completed a phase of your life that began
at a time you can no longer remember and will continue
through times and in places you can not yet see. You have
heard a simple message drawn from a reflection on a fine
lady's life.
Go forward with confidence and emulate what this
special person has shown us. She can indeed influence
generations and so can any of us!
Donald A. Ogilvie
they find ways to do more; to do things more completely;
they strive to make things better;
they set personal standards which are higher than their
parents, their teachers, their boss...their friends;
2. Mary and people like her who influence others
demonstrate that they care for other people;
they make time for others;
they show concern for the rights and feelings of others;
they show respect, whether by small courtesies or greater
acts of deference;
they are patient and understanding;
they smile more often;
they offer before you can ask.
PRIMARY SOURCES
3. Mary and these people who influence others understand
who they themselves are and are comfortable with who they
are:
Editor’s Note: This 1887 newspaper article was taken from
the Bradford (PA) Daily Era and was donated to the
Association by Clarence Spiller.
they know their strengths as well as their limits;
they put their strengths and limitations in perspective and,
while they grow, they don't worry about perfection;
Thursday, May 5, 1887
they know we are each unique;
JOHN BROWN’S RAIDERS
One of them Says the Slavery Fanatic was too impatient.
they like themselves and are likeable (this is different from
self-worship);
Rather a strange but interesting story is narrated
by Daniel Clifford, a colored citizen of this place.
Clifford who is now lying sick and does not expect to
recover, made the following statement to his physician a
few days ago:
“When I was released from the Western
penitentiary in the spring of 1855 I went to Canada and
enlisted in a company then being organized by John
Brown.
After our little band was organized we
proceeded to Missouri, where Brown’s son was killed in
an attempt to rescue certain slaves who had been sold
and were being taken to Texas. In this conflict several of
the slave owners’ were also killed.
After this we again returned to Canada, where
we remained during the winter. In the meantime Brown
was actively engaged reorganizing our company and
increasing our numbers. In the spring, Brown returned
to the United States and left Richard Reall and myself in
charge of our organization in Canada.
By September 1859, our company in Canada
numbered about seventy five well equipped men, and
they balance hard work and play;
they realize that they are comprised of mind, body and
spirit, and nourish each dimension.
An entire book of the Old Testament, the Book of
Ecclesiastes, was devoted to a discussion of fulfillment, given
that people, whether of great talent or little talent, great wealth
or no wealth, all meet the same fate. The conclusion of the
writer, King Solomon, the world's wisest and richest man at
the time, was that it is best to live joyfully, appreciate your lot
in life, and care for others. There is a poem which has gained
some popularity which reflects on the idea of success.
That person is a success who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;
who has gained the respect of intelligent people and the
love of children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
who leaves the world better than he found it,
whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem,
or a rescued soul;
4
we were prepared to make our way in squads of ten
through Pennsylvania into Virginia to meet Brown and
his little army. Brown was to let us know when and
where we should meet him and was to have everything
arranged for our attack on Harper’s Ferry. The plan was
that the negroes were, at the proper time, to rise up and
come to our assistance. The inhabitants were to be made
prisoners, and were to be exchanged for slaves, and as
the arsenal contained about 100,000 stands of guns, we
could have equipped enough negroes to have killed
every slave owner in Virginia before the United States
troops could have been ready to move.”
We were preparing to start for Virginia by the
first of October, but on account of some difficulties we
were delayed. Brown was a very passionate, hot-headed
man, and as we were to meet him by the 20 th of October,
but did not, I presume he thought if negroes in the
neighborhood would come to his assistance he could
take and hold the arsenal until we arrived. When the
raid proved a failure and there was no rising of the
negroes, and Brown was captured, our organization
disbanded for want of a leader. But had Brown been
prudent enough to have waited until our arrival there is
no doubt that our scheme would have been a success.”
Clifford is about sixty years of age, tall, erect
and a’most white. In 1853 he and several other negroes
were tried and convicted in this county for the murder
of Lily Zimmerman.
Clifford with the rest was
sentenced to five years imprisonment. Although his
story is not believed by many, yet there are many things
that go to corroborate it. His description of Brown and
many things that occurred while he was in the West are
accurately told, and the ho’d and reckless character as
well as the checkered life of Clifford go far toward
corroborating his story. -----Pittsburgh
FIRST EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS
At its May 2008 Annual Business Meeting, the
AAHANF elected its first emeritus board members. The body
elected Wanda Hackney and Gwendolyn Greene as emeritus
members of its board of directors. The body amended its
constitution to allow senior and longtime members of its board
of directors to serve for life as advisors to the organization.
Hackney, a former president, and Greene have both served
with distinction for many years.
Mrs. Wanda Hackney
Ms. Gwendolyn Greene
5
Join the team that’s working to preserve New York State’s African American History
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6
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MARY TALBERT
Mrs. Talbert was chosen president of the National
Association of Colored Women’s Clubs from 1916 to
1920. In September, 1920, she was a delegate to the
International Council of Women, held in Christiania,
Norway. From Norway she made a trip of Europe. Her
fame as a worker in the political and cultural fields was
spreading and she was invited to speak at gatherings
that included the best minds in the world. At Haddon
Hall, England, Mrs. Talbert was the guest of Lord and
Lady Aberdeen, who remained in touch with her up to
her death. Queen Wilhelminia honored her by inviting
her to stay at the royal palace while in Holland.
(missing text)
D.C., in 1922, after vain attempts had been made by
Booker T. Washington and other prominent men of her
race. Mrs. Talbert was the only woman to receive the
Spingarn medal. Her last great effort was the launching
of the anti-lynching crusade to aid in the passage of the
Dyer anti-lynch measure.
Although the bill was
defeated last year, it will come up before the House of
Representatives again in December.
According to
Representative Dyer, who visited Mrs. Talbert at her
home last spring and congratulated her on her valiant
efforts, the bill will become a law before the year was
passed. During the intensive campaign, Mrs. Talbert
traveled thousands of miles throughout the country and
spoke to audiences of white and colored people. Her
motto was “A Million Women United to Suppress
Lynching”, and she was successful in raising her quota
as a result of her speaking tour.
Mrs. Talbert was an authority on the Bible and was
instrumental in training several hundred young women
to become Sunday School teachers in Buffalo. She was
scheduled to lead a party of more than 200 colored
clergymen of the United States on a tour of the Holy
Land and Egypt, but was forced to hold the matter in
abeyance until her health had become improved.
Because of her death, this tour has now been indefinitely
postponed.
Editor’s Note: The following is the verbatim reprint of a crumbling and badly
deteriorated news article from the collection of Mrs. Estelle Anderson. The
article is probably from a local newspaper and was probably published during
the week of Mrs. Mary Talbert’s death in 1923
MRS. TALBERT CHAMPION OF A RACE,
DEAD
Probably most noted negro woman
In the world passes
FAME WAS WORLDWIDE
Cultured and able, she worked incessantly for the
negro’s best interests.
Mrs. Mary B. Talbert, one of the most prominent
negro women in the world, died suddenly at her home,
No. 118 Northland avenue, yesterday. She had been
suffering from heart disease since June. Yesterday she
took a turn for the worse and died before aid could be
summoned. The funeral will take place tomorrow
afternoon at 3 o’clock from the Michigan Avenue Baptist
Church. Burial will be in the family plot at Forest Lawn
Cemetery.
Mary Burnett Talbert was born in Oberlin, O., on
September 18,1866. She was the daughter of Cornelius J.
and Caroline Burnett. She was graduated from Oberlin
College at the age of nineteen. She then took the post of
assistant principal of Little Rock High School, a position
she held for several years.
On September 8,1891, she married William H.
Talbert of Buffalo. Continuing her studies, she received
the degree of B.A. from Oberline College in 1894, and a
few years later received the degree, Ph.D., from the
University of Buffalo.
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_________ Student (grade & high school $15)
NOTE: All Memberships entitle the member to a one-year subscription to Afro-Americans in New York Life and History.
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Surviving are her husband, William H. Talbert; a
daughter Mrs. Sarah T. Keelan; a granddaughter Mary
Yvette Keelan; and three sisters, Mrs. David Perez of
Buffalo; Mrs. Carrie B. Mills of Ft. Smith, Ark.; and Mrs.
Clara B. Hardy of Saint Paul, Minn.
Hundreds of messages of condolence have been
received from all parts of the country, among them
being telegrams from nation characters.
She was a frequent contributor to the Express and
many of her letters published in its columns aroused
much favorable comment and did much to further the
cause of her people. Mrs. Talbert was a vice president of
the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, and one of its directors. She was also
chair of the anti-lynching committee of the United
States, president of the Frederick Douglass Memorial
Association, former president of the Colored Women’s
Clubs, Governor of the Household of Ruth, past
president of the Phyllis Wheatly Association, and
organizer of the Christian Culture Congress.
Afro-American Historical Association
P.O. Box 63
Buffalo, NY 14207-0063
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Buffalo, NY
Permit No. 4839
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