I am still having so much fun researching Harold’s life that it is hard to get back to revising. This week I became intrigued by his position on the Citizens’ Sponsoring Committee. This committee was in charge of the Harlem Community Art Center. I am still reading various works (Calo, Dolinar, Gwendolyn Bennett’s letters and diaries) to find out why Augusta Savage was fired and replaced by Gwendolyn. Now Miss Bennett is an interesting person too. See the interview that she gave to the Chicago Defender Jan 5, 1945.
Here is a link to a talk that I gave on how the Negro Press helped to shape the image of the New Negro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJlDw_H32ZM
The Best Man: Harold Jackman and the Harlem Renaissance 
Dear Dr. J.,
My name is Lawrence H. Levens, I enjoyed lecture on Edward, Bessye and Gerri. I wanted to share some additional information on the life of Gerri Dismond, and some other Harlem socialites. I am researching the life and times of Madam Seay aka Mrs. Maude Dixon Myers, the widow of famed musician, composer, bandleader and founding member of the Clef Club Orchestra of New York City, Inc. Also Mrs. Dixon Myers daughter the popular Miss Frankye Dixon Harlem’s leading concert pianist, music educator and private studio lessons.
The following article appeared in the Pittsburgh Courier on October 24, 1925, Page 6. It reads “To the long list of New York social clubs has been added another- the Chicago Club, with Mrs. H. Binga Dismond as president; Mrs. Etna Frye as secretary, and Mrs. Bert A. Williams as treasurer. The thirteen members are either Chicagoans by birth or have spent over fifteen years in the Windy City. The club is purely social, and the monthly meetings will be dedicated to the playing of “500” and to reminiscences of dear old “Chi.” The membership includes, aside from the officers, Miss Rena Branham, Miss Rena Lewis, Miss Lottie Tyler, Mrs. Marie Peck Johnson, Mrs. Estella Castro, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Carrie Payne, Mrs. Maude Meyers and her sister Mrs. Rose Ellis.”
Mrs. Maude Dixon Myers was one of Harlem’s Matron in the social circle of A’Lelia Wlaker, W. C. Handy, Dorothy I. Height and many other artists, intellectuals and political leaders of the day. James Weldon Johnson declared of her late husband Will H. Dixon “The Original Dancing Conductor” circa 1930 in his book titled “Black Manhattan”. I am looking for any photos of any of these women in their social setting.
Sincerely,
Lawrence H. Levens
Bonjour, Thank you for the message. Illness has prevented me from posting more, but I will try to do more in the future. I will let you know if I find any images. Oh, I have an article coming out in Journalism History on Society and Gossip Columnists of the Harlem Renaissance. You can reach me at drjinharlem@yahoo.com. Merci.