Joyce Jefferson Creates Stories in Song - INTERPRETATIONS

Unlike the rugged "wild west" characters that Joyce Jefferson often portrays, Katherine Davis Chapman Tillman was a refined lady of letters.

Kate Chapman was born February 19, 1870 in Mound City, Illinois.

In 1889 her family moved to Yankton, South Dakota where her father established a dog breeding business and owned a home . Katherine graduated from Yankton High School and attended Louisville State University in Kentucky and Wilberforce University in Ohio. She married George M. Tillman in 1894.

She began writing very early in life. As a teenager, Kate Chapman began writing "to the young women of [her] race" . She noted repeatedly that her goal was to write to uplift her race, especially young women.

Chapman's work was published mostly by A.M.E. Church Review and consisted of short stories, poems and plays.

She wrote in inspirational prose and poetry aimed to teach women ideals of domesticity and affirm women's equality to men.

Her essay written in 1895 “Afro-American Women and their Work,” asserts: “Women have always a mission in the world. Since God made Eve in the fair Gardens of Paradise as a helpmate unto Adam, it has been woman’s task to aid man in his stupendous undertakings.” However, her writings also affirm women’s equality to men.

Her writings reflected her extensive knowledge of historical literature and the politics of her time.

Listen as Joyce Jefferson, reading her works, brings her to life for you.

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*Joyce Jefferson Creates Stories in Song* — *Joyce Jefferson Interpretations*

Joyce Jefferson is a seasoned performer with hundreds of presentations to her credit. She shared billing with Yolonda King and Sally Roesch Wagner. She is also a frequent guest at the Oscar Micheaux Film and Book Festival. Her portrayals of phenomenal women, who throughout history, overcame the most challenging circumstances to accomplish the extraordinary. These sheroes are examples of how each of us has the courage to reach our goals and dreams. Joyce, attired in period costume, takes you back in time - as if you were in Old Custer, Deadwood or the plains. Below meet six of these real-life sheros from South Dakota history! Sarah Campbell (Aunt Sally), Kathryne Reynolds, Mary Kercherval; who lived in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory in the 1800's, Yanktonian Lucretia Marchbanks, Katherine Davis Champman Tillman and Tripp County luminary Orlean Micheaux.

Sarah Campbell - 1824? - 1888 ~ Buried in the little community of Galina near Deadwood, South Dakota is one of the Black Hills most interesting figures, Sarah Campbell, who traveled with the Gen George Armstrong Custer expedition of 1874. Probably born into slavery in Kentucky, Sarah told of having traveled the Missouri River on steam boats for years. She was in Bismarck, Dakota Territory, when Custer was commissioned to survey the Black Hills of Dakota Territory. She signed on as a cook with the expedition. She became known known as Aunt Sally to both soldiers and miners. She is reportedly the first woman to file a mining claim; claim number 7, Custer gulch - Aug 5, 1874. She adopted a 10 year old boy and helped in the care of many other children during a smallpox epidemic. Come celebrate the life of this very facinating woman. ~

	Kathryne Reynolds - 1849 - 1947 ~ Freed from slavery, Kate left the plantation life seeking a new and better life. Once married, Kate traveled through the Cheyenne Gateway to arrive in Dakota Territory. After working in Deadwood as a cook, midwife, nurse, boarding house manager and laundry worker, Kate homesteaded on land along Spearfish Canyon. She sold cord wood to the Forest Service, railroad and mine companies, earning money to "prove up" her claim . ~

Mary Kercherval - 1833 - 1921 ~ Learn about General Custer and his wife, Libby, through the eyes of Mary, his cook and personal attendant. After working for the Custers, Mary joined her family on a homestead on Centennial Prairie in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

	Lucretia Marchbanks - 1832 - 1911 ~ Known to people of Deadwood as "Mahogany Lou," this former slave became one of the most popular and well-respected cooks in the Black Hills region. Lou labored hard to make her way in a sometimes unforgiving boomtown of the west. After working at several hotels and boarding houses, she purchased and operated the Rustic Hotel - located just down the road from Deadwood, South Dakota, home of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. A savvy businesswoman, Lucretia retired comfortably on a homestead in Rocky Ford, Wyoming.

Katherine Davis Chapman Tillman - 1870 ~ Unlike the rugged "wild west" characters that Joyce Jefferson often portrays, Katherine Davis Chapman Tillman was a refined lady of letters. Kate Chapman was born February 19, 1870 in Mound City, Illinois. In 1889 her family moved to Yankton, South Dakota where her father established a dog breeding business and owned a home . Katherine graduated from Yankton High School and attended Louisville State University in Kentucky and Wilberforce University in Ohio. She married George M. Tillman in 1894. She began writing very early in life. As a teenager, Kate Chapman began writing "to the young women of [her] race" . She noted repeatedly that her goal was to write to uplift her race, especially young women. Chapman's work was published mostly by A.M.E. Church Review and consisted of short stories, poems and plays. She wrote in inspirational prose and poetry aimed to teach women ideals of domesticity and affirm women's equality to men. Her essay written in 1895 “Afro-American Women and their Work,” asserts: “Women have always a mission in the world. Since God made Eve in the fair Gardens of Paradise as a helpmate unto Adam, it has been woman’s task to aid man in his stupendous undertakings.” However, her writings also affirm women’s equality to men. Her writings reflected her extensive knowledge of historical literature and the politics of her time. Listen as Joyce Jefferson, reading her works, brings her to life for you.

	Orlean Micheaux - ~ Homesteading on the prairies of South Dakota was hard enough under the best of conditions, but it proved too much for a Chicago lady, Orlean McCracken Micheaux. She met Oscar Micheaux, a 1905 South Dakota homesteader; renowned play write and pioneer film maker, who returned to Chicago on business. Orlean married Oscar in 1910. She came to South Dakota to help him obtain a relinquishment in Tripp County. Hard times on the prairie, loneliness and the death at birth of a baby proved too much for her. Her minister-father brought her back to Chicago. Tragically, she was killed in 1917 by a runaway horse. Relive those tough times with character interpreter Joyce Jefferson.