William
Christopher
(W. C.)
Handy
Born in Florence, Alabama, United States
Son of Charles Handy
and Elizabeth (Brewer) Handy
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Elizabeth Virgina (Price) Handy
— married
19 Jul 1896 in Henderson, Kentucky, United States [uncertain]
Descendants [uncertain] 
Father of
Lucille (Handy) Springer, Katherine (Handy) Lewis, William Handy, Elizabeth Virginia Handy and Wyer Owens Handy
Died
at age 84
in New York City, New York, United States
Profile last modified
| Created 30 Jul 2017
This page has been accessed 2,102 times.
| W. C. Handy is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage |
Biography
W. C. Handy is Notable.
W. C. was a Freemason.
W.C. Handy was an American composer and musician, known as the "Father of the Blues". Handy released "Memphis Blues" in 1912 and "St. Louis Blues," in 1914. Handy also compiled a collection of blues tunes, which he released in 1926 as Blues: An Anthology. He later published Unsung Americans Sung (1935) and Negro Authors And Composers of the United States (1935). (1944). In 1941, his biography, "Father of the Blues" was published. [1]
William Christopher Handy, son of Charles Barnard Handy and Elizabeth Brewer, was born on 16 Nov 1873 in Florence, Alabama.[2]
William married Elizabeth Virgina Price (~1876 - 1937) on 19 Jul 1896.[3] Their daughter was Lucille Handy (1900 - ).
In the 1900 US Census William was working as a musician and was living with Lizzie as the married boarder in the household of Mattie Jordan in Florence, Alabama.[4]
By 1902, Handy had settled in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as a married man approaching the age of 30. Today, the city and its sister city over the river, Helena, Arkansas, have produced a slew of legendary Delta bluesmen and women, including Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, and many more.[5]
In 1910, William (age 36), Band Master, and Lizzie lived in Memphis, Tennessee, Ward 19, with their four children.[6]
In the 1920 census W (age 46), Conductor, was the married head of household in Manhattan Assembly District 21, New York, New York.[7]
In the 1930 census William (age 56), Composer, was the married head of household in EDGECOMBE. AVeNue, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States.[8]
In the 1940 census William (age 66), Publisher, was the widowed head of household in New York, New York, New York.[9]
In 1943, he lost his balance and fell from a subway platform, permanently blinding him
After the death of Elizabeth, he married Louise Logan in 1954 when he was 80. [3]
Handy died on 28 March 1958 at New York City and was buried at Plot: Cosmos section, Block 203/198, Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, Bronx County, New York.[3] [10]
W.C. Handy's birthplace in Florence, Alabama is part of the Mississippi Blues Trail. [11]
Sources
- ↑ https://www.una.edu/library/collections/w.c.-handy---biography.html
- ↑
Newspaper Biography: Free View of Clipping
"Alabama, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current"
The Florence Herald; Publication Date: 7/ Mar/ 1941; Publication Place: Florence, Alabama, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/553470817/?article=5de23a2d-6db4-4f00-ae84-13d57e49b003&xid=5501&terms=Elizabeth_(_Brewer_)_Handy
Ancestry Record 50005 #4350655976 (accessed 30 October 2023)
Name: Elizabeth Brewer Handy; Topic: Arts and Culture; Residence Date: 7 Mar 1941; Residence Place: Florence, Alabama, USA; Newspaper Title: The Florence Herald. - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 W. C. Handy at Wikipedia.
- ↑
1900 Census:
"1900 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1900; Census Place: Florence, Lauderdale, Alabama; Roll: 24; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0056; FHL microfilm: 1240024
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #9926242 (accessed 28 March 2022)
Wm Handy (26), married boarder, Musician, in household of Mattie Jordan (48) in Florence, Lauderdale, Alabama. Born in Alabama, USA.Name Age Relation Mattie Jordan 48 Head Charle Handy 9 Nephew Wm Handy 26 Boarder Lizzie Handy 25 Boarder - ↑ https://memphismusichalloffame.com/inductee/wchandy/
- ↑
1910 Census:
"1910 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1910; Census Place: Memphis Ward 19, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1521; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0235; FHL microfilm: 1375534
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #27514481 (accessed 28 March 2022)
William C Hardy (36), married, Band Master, head of household in Memphis Ward 19, Shelby, Tennessee, USA. Born in Alabama.Name Age Relation William C Hardy 36 Head Lizzie V Hardy 34 Wife Lucile M Hardy 9 Daughter Katherine E Hardy 7 Daughter William P Hardy 5 Son Lizzie V Hardy 0 Daughter Charles E Handy 20 Brother - ↑
1920 Census:
"1920 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1920; Census Place: Manhattan Assembly District 21, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1224; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 1436
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #86026367 (accessed 28 March 2022)
W C Handy (46), married, Conductor, head of household in Manhattan Assembly District 21, New York, New York. Born in Alabama.Name Age Relation W C Handy 46 Head Elizebeth Handy 42 Wife Lucile Handy 19 Daughter Catharine Handy 17 Daughter William Handy 14 Son Elizebeth Handy 10 Daughter Wyer Handy 4 Son - ↑
1930 Census:
"1930 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1930; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 1020; FHL microfilm: 2341312
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #41608021 (accessed 28 March 2022)
William C Handy (56), married, Composer, head of household in EDGECOMBE. AVeNue, Manhattan, New York, New York, USA. Born in Alabama.Name Age Relation William C Handy 56 Head Elizabeth Handy 55 Wife Catherine Handy 27 Daughter Elizabeth Handy 20 Daughter Wyer Handy 15 Son - ↑
1940 Census:
"1940 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02671; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 31-1935
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #7882177 (accessed 28 March 2022)
William Handy (66), widowed, Publisher, head of household in New York, New York, New York. Born in Alabama.Name Age Relation William Handy 66 Head Homer Lewis 33 Son-in-law Katharine Lewis 38 Daughter Homer Lewis Jr 5 Grandson Sarah Smith 55 Lodger - ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/441/w-c-handy : accessed 30 April 2022), memorial page for W. C. Handy (16 Nov 1873–28 Mar 1958), Find A Grave: Memorial #441 citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Find a Grave .
- ↑ Mississippi Blues Trail, WC Handy Birthplace on Mississippi Blues Trail.
- Okocha, Victor "W.C. Handy (1873-1958)" Black Past website, March 19, 2007
- Prince Hall Freemason inductee, https://www.chicofreemasons.org/lodge-news/2019/2/21/black-history-month-celebrating-famous-black-freemasons
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H > Handy > William Christopher Handy
Categories: Mississippi Blues Trail | Alabama, Notables | Florence, Alabama | Blues Hall of Fame | USBH Notables, Needs Connection | Prince Hall Freemasonry | Clarksdale, Mississippi | Memphis Music Hall of Fame | Blues Musicians | Jazz Composers | Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York | African-American Notables | US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles | United States of America, Notables | Notables