Renowned Black Baritone Graduated from Butler University's Irvington Campus

    

     On June 15, 1925, Butler University seniors gathered outside under a grove of trees on Irvington's campus to receive their diplomas. Sitting among those hopeful students was Robert Todd Duncan.  He was born in Danville, Kentucky to John and Lettie (Cooper) Duncan on February 12, 1903. Later newspaper accounts noted that his mother named him Robert Todd after Abraham Lincoln's son since he was born on Lincoln's birthday. The family moved to Indianapolis when he was four and he remained in the city until his graduation from Butler University.  His mother was his first music teacher. She taught him how to play the piano beginning at age five. He also happened to be blessed with the most wonderful baritone voice as an adult. His mother, who raised him on Martindale Avenue (later Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue), worked multiple jobs and saved every penny to send him to Butler. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.

      His career after Butler is fabled. He earned a Master's degree from Columbia University and started teaching at Howard University. Everything changed when he auditioned for the role of "Porgy" in "Porgy and Bess" in 1935. George Gershwin, the composer of the opera, had auditioned many other singers before hearing Robert Todd Duncan. Gershwin knew immediately that he had found his Porgy. Mr. Duncan went on to sing in many other operas around the world. He sang on television stations at the BBC in the UK and NBC in the US. He never forgot his hometown and he returned frequently, often giving lectures. Sadly, his mother passed away just as his career was taking off. He lamented in newspaper articles that he wished she could have seen his success. 

     While much is known about his career, little is known about his time at Butler University. I have been contacted by a researcher who is looking into these early years. If you know of any sources or experts, please send me an email linked on this page. If you would like to hear his beautiful voice, click on the link below. 

In 1924, Robert Todd Duncan sat for his photograph for the Butler Drift his junior year. The editors

 of the yearbook placed the three Black students who posed for their shot separate and away from the white students. Robert Todd Duncan was placed as the last student when in reality, he would become the first. No one in that class would achieve such fame. 

In 1924, Robert Todd Duncan sat for his photograph for the Butler Drift his junior year. The editors

Sources:  "Butler Graduates Will Get Degrees Monday Morning," Indianapolis Star, June 13, 1925, p. 2; John K. Shephard, "Ladder to the Stars," Indianapolis Star, February 19, 1950, p. 96; Obituary for Lettia Cambron, Indianapolis Star, April 21, 1935, p. 41. 

  

Robert Todd Duncan singing songs from Porgy and Bess

Important Indianapolis Black-Owned Landmark Discovered in Sumner Images

      For the past several years, a group of local researchers have been busy trying to identify hundreds of images in the Osbert Sumner photo collection. Mr. Sumner, who lived in Irvington, documented many scenes throughout Marion County in between 1898 and 1903. Some of the photos have stymied our faithful researchers as Mr. Sumner was originally from Canada. As you would expect, he also snapped images there. We wondered about a tall three-story structure located on a body of water. Was this in Oakville, Ontario? The answer was no. Last week, historian Deedee Davis, solved the mystery. The Park House sometimes known as the Franklin House stood at 126 North Missouri Street along the Central Canal in what is today, downtown Indianapolis. 

      While the story of this building is still unfolding, here is what we know. The Indianapolis Sentinel recorded that Thomas Nelson took out a building permit for the large house in 1865. An Indianapolis News article indicates that it was Black-owned by at least 1870. Over the next several decades, dozens of black families and individuals moved in and out of the boarding house. Its position along the stagnant and defunct canal and across the street from a large brewery did not make it an ideal location. Numerous additions to the sprawling structure also provided rooms for folks who might not be staying long in the city. If you zoom in on the Sumner image, you will see the word "Hotel" on the sign. We also know that black members of the Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War veterans) held a reunion in the house in 1890. 

     By the late 1890s, a dispute over the ownership and the deterioration of the building led many city officials to call for closing the boarding house.  In 1900, the city condemned the building and ordered that it be demolished. Dozens of people lost their home. Before its removal, a census taker named Frank D. Hester arrived on June 1, 1900, and recorded the last residents. His documentation revealed that 22 people still lived on the property. Many had been enslaved in their younger years. While most could read or write, some of the older residents could not.  Most were from the South and had moved north during the beginning of the Great Migration. George W. Harris managed the house and lived there with his wife, Alice, and several of their children, including Effie Jane, Ida May, Geneva, Susana, Charlotte, Edna, and Jeanette. Mary and Joseph Dobbins leased rooms from Mr. Harris. She was a cook and he worked as a day laborer. Other people to live in the house that year included: Clarabel Huston, 39; Spencer Brown, 60; Abram and Augusta McCallister; Samuel Haddox, 59; William Turner, 28; William Shiflett, 40; John Scott, 56; Perry Fishback, 57; Martha and Florence Neal; and Berry Crabtree 18. 

     Now we have to get to the question as to why Osbert Sumner photographed this landmark. Believe it or not, his maternal grandfather's name was Thomas Nelson! We believe that he was likely documenting a structure built by his grandfather before it was torn down sometime in 1900 or 1901.  How did Deedee Davis solve this mystery? While researching another topic she came upon the Indianapolis News article and photo seen below. Stay tuned as we continue to identify more images from the Osbert Sumner collection. 

Irvington resident, Osbert Sumner, photographed the boarding house at 126 North Missouri Avenue one block from the Indiana State Capitol building c1900 (Irvington Historical Society)

If you look closely, you can see "Park House" printed on the side of the boarding house formerly located at 126 North Missouri Street. You can also see the footbridge that used to cross the canal. (Indianapolis News, December 1, 1900, p. 3)

The 1898 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the exact location of 126 South Missouri Street along the bend in the canal in between Market and Ohio Streets. Across the canal workers toiled in the American Brewery Company, a large brick industrial building. (Library of Congress)

Google satellite imagery reveals that nothing remains of the former neighborhood except the canal where the Park/Franklin House once stood. (Google Earth)

     To See Sumner's images of the Benton House in Irvington, click on the link below:

Benton House by Osbert Sumner

    

I wish to thank Deedee Davis for her tenacious research on the Sumner Collection.

Sources:  Building Permit--Indianapolis Sentinel, March 16, 1865, p. 3; Black owned hotel--Indianapolis News, May 27, 1870, p. 4; Indianapolis News, July 23, 1870, p. 1; Ads for boarding house--Indianapolis News, April 12, 1872, p. 1 and Indianapolis News, November 29, 1872, p. 29; Refurbished A.T. Ramsey--Indianapolis News, June 2, 1874, p. 1 and Indianapolis News, June 12, 1874, p. 1; Reunion for GAR--"Reunion of Colored Soldiers," Indianapolis Journal, September 27, 1890, p. 5; Legal issues--"A Complicated Mortgage Case," Indianapolis Journal, September 11, 1896, p. 8; Condemnation--"Franklin House Condemned," Indianapolis News, November 26, 1900, p. 8 and "Board of Works Routine," Indianapolis Journal, November 29, 1900, p. 8.

Family Posed on Emerson Heights Porch, c1920

     Alonzo and Ada Gordon Shepherd moved into their new home at 729 North Riley Avenue in 1919. The lovely two-story Arts and Crafts house had been built by George J. Adrian throughout the summer of that year. Hundreds of families had already moved into Emerson Heights by the time the Shepherds arrived. A nearby streetcar made it convenient for residents like the Shepherds to get to downtown Indianapolis for work or for shopping.

     Mr. Shepherd worked as a foreman for the Furnas Ice Cream Company formerly located at 133 North Alabama Street. The L. Strauss & Co. Department Store, also located downtown, employed Mrs. Shepherd as a saleswoman. Census records reveal that a variety of extended family members lived with the Shepherds in their Riley Avenue home. In 1920, a census taker recorded that Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd were both 36 years old. Also living with them was Bessie Gordon, age 14. She was related to Mrs. Shepherd. Ten years later, another census taker arrived and recorded that Bessie Gordon, age 25, still lived with the Shepherds. She served as a cashier at an ice cream shop. A nephew, Floyd McDaniel, age 20, worked as an auto mechanic and also resided there. By 1930, the Shepherds had also added a son, Robert Shepherd, who was 9 years old at the time of the census.

     On June 12, 1930, Bessie Gordon married Orville Price at 8:30PM at the Shepherd home. The Indianapolis Star recorded that the family "improvised" an altar of ferns, palms, and garden flowers. Miss Gordon was escorted by Mr. Shepherd down an "aisle" of white ribbon." Mary E. Lawler, a pianist, Mildred Lawler, a violinist, and Robert Shultz, a cornetist, performed "O Promise Me," "To a Wild Rose," and "The World is Waiting for Sunrise." Ruby Fuehrer sang "I Love You Truly," and "At Dawning." Reverend Oscar R. McKay, a baptist minister, conducted the ceremony. The newly-married couple settled nearby on Bancroft Avenue.

     For the next several decades Alonzo and Ada Shepherd continued to reside at their Riley Avenue home. Their son, Robert Shepherd served during World War II. In June of 1943, he received a furlough to visit his parents and it was a good thing because Mr. Shepherd died a little over a year later in 1944. Mrs. Shepherd lived in the house until her death in 1970. Recently, a photograph of the Shepherds appeared on EBAY. That image was donated to the Irvington Historical Society. You can see that image below. 

Ada Gordon Shepherd (upper right), Alonzo Shepherd (lower right) posed with Bessie Gordon (in white) and Doras Gordon Morrow (later Thompson) at 729 North Riley Avenue c1920. 

     I wish to thank Wayne Sharp and Kathleen Price Crawford for their assistance in researching the people in the photo.

Sources:  The 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950 Federal Census Records; Polk's Indianapolis City Directories, 1919-1971; Construction of house--"Building Permits," Indianapolis Star, February 20, 1919, p. 13; Bessie Gordon wedding--"Local Couple Wed in Home Ceremony," Indianapolis Star, June 13, 1930, p. 7; Robert Shepherd furlough during WWII--Indianapolis Star. June 20, 1943, p. 36; Obituaries--"Alonzo D. Shepherd Funeral Saturday," Indianapolis News, September 14, 1944, p. 12; "Ada Shepherd," Indianapolis News, December 26, 1970, p. 14; "Bessie Gordon Price," Indianapolis Star, September 19, 1993, p. 79; "Robert E. Shepherd," Indianapolis Star, March 13, 2001, p. 17.