Members of the choir

It has been a long time since the last post, this is not for lack of information...as I have discovered so much since September. I appologise for the lack of a recent post, life just doesn't seem to allow me the time.

I have decided to list the names I currently have linked with the choir, in the hopes that someone will find someone they know.

From the 1912-1913 Tour we have:

• William George (31yr) - Newport, Wales
• William Davies (26yr) - Pontypridd, Wales
• Thomas William (30yr) - Risca, Wales
• Ernest Orlidge (32yr) - Newport, Wales
• Stanley Brewer (25yr) - Newport, Wales
• Henry Edwards (28yr) - Newport, Wales
• George F. Davies (40yr) - Newport, Wales
• Arthur A. Smith (17yr) - Newport, Wales
• George Lane (23yr) - Newport, Wales
• John Mc Donald (27yr) - Newport, Wales
• James Harries (28yr) - Newport, Wales
• William Jno Thomas (31yr) - Newport, Wales
• Henry Parry (29yr) - Newport, Wales
• William H. Roberts (27yr) - Newport, Wales
• Benjamin Gibbs (23yr) - Blackwood, Wales
• Reginald Thos. Weight (32yr) - Newport, Wales
• Francis Sargent (33yr) - Newport, Wales
• William Sargent (45yr) - Newport, Wales
• Herbert Jones (26yr) - Newport, Wales
• Walter Martin (32yr) - Newport, Wales
• Dewi Michael (35yr) - Cardiff, Wales

The ship was The S.S. Cedric, and sailed from Liverpool to New York on October 17th 1912.

From the 1913 Tour we have the following:

• David T. (Taranlais) Hopkins (24yr) - Pontygwaith, Wales
• William J. Jones (22yr) - Blaina, Wales
• William C. Lydford (32yr) - Cardiff, Wales
• Ike Jones (26yr) - Pontnewydd, Wales
• John L. Bebb (30yr) - Abertysswg, Wales
• David Griffiths (26yr) - Bargoed, Wales
• Bew Davies (26yr) - Blaina, Wales
• George F. Davies (41yr) - Newport, Wales
• Dewi Michael (36yr) - Cardiff, Wales
• Geo Henry Williams (27yr) - Risca, Wales
• Tho. John Williams (30yr) - Pontymister, Wales
• Harry Edwards (28yr) - Newport, Wales
• George Price (28yr) - Blaina, Wales
• Arthur A. Smith (18yr) - Newport, Wales
• Harry Astle (27yr) - Wolverhampton, England

The ship was the S.S. Celtic and sailed from Liverpool to New York on October 30th 1913. During this tour, the choir also performed with the famed Morgan Kingston.

All of the above information has been taken from original ships manifests at Ellis Island, spellings, locations or approximate ages may be incorrect. 

100 years...

Yes, it has been 100 years to the day since the choir performed their very first tour date in America, in Carnegie Hall supporting the young violinist, Cristeta Goni.

Here's a copy of the poster advertising that performance:

Their first tour...

Well, yes. I've been going through paper after paper from across the pond to try and put together a tour route. It's tough and long winded, but below is what I have so far:

1912 - 1913 TOUR (9 month tour)

·         Leave Liverpool on the Cedric - October 17th 1912

·         Arrive in New York - October 26th 1912

o   October 28th 1912 - Carnegie Hall, New York

o   November 1st 1912 - Association Hall, Trenton, New Jersey

o   November 4th 1912 - St Paul's Church, Meriden, New York

o   November 5th 1912 - Colonial Club, Meriden, New York

§  MISSING DATES

o   November 22nd 1912 - State Armory, New York

§  MISSING DATES

o   December 15th 1912 - Central Congregational Church, Brooklyn, New York (2,100 audience)

o   December 19th 1912 - The Outlook Club, Montclair, New Jersey

o   December 24th 1912 - Xmas Tree, Madison Square, New York

o   December 25th 1912 - Xmas Tree, Madison Square, New York

§  MISSING DATES

o   January 4th 1913 - Andrew Carnegie Residence

§  MISSING DATES - somewhere between New York and Monessen? Newspapers state a prolonged stay in New York from October to the latter part of January

o   February 20th 1913 - Normal School Chapel, California/Charleroi, Pennsylvania

o   February 21st 1913 - Opera House (Cambrian Literary Society), Monessen, Pennsylvania

§  MISSING

o   March 5th 1913 - Baptist Tabernacle, Atlanta, Georgia

§  MISSING

         §  March 12th 1912 - Gressen Theatre?, Tampa, Florida

o   March 29th 1913 - Stone City Opera House, Bedford, Indiana

o   April 1st 1913 - Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton, Indiana

§  MISSING DATES

o   April 21st 1913 - Grand Opera House, Spencer, Iowa

o   April 24th 1913 - Guild Hall, Racine, Wisconsin

§  MISSING DATES

o   April 31st 1913 - Grand Opera House, Spencer, Iowa

o   May 1st 1913 - Kymric Club, Racine, Wisconsin

o   May 7th 1913 - First Christian Church, Bedford, Indiana - James McDonald had Typhoid

§  MISSING DATES

o   May 16th 1913 - Methodist Episcopal Church, Uniontown, Pennsylvania

o   May 20th 1913 - Waynesburg College, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

o   May 22nd 1913 - High School Auditorium, Uniontown, Pennsylvania

o   May 23rd 1913 - The White House (President Woodrow Wilson & Cabinet of United States), Washington, District of Columbia

o   May 24th 1913 - Exposition Music Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Closing Concert

o   May 25th 1913 - New Theatre, New Castle, Pennsylvania

o   May 27th 1913 - New Castle First Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Pennsylvania

o   May 30th 1913 - Laird Opera House, Greenville, Pennsylvania

o   June 3rd 1913 - Ithica First Methodist Episcopal Church, Ithica, New York

           §  MISSING DATES

·         Leave New York on the Mauretania - July 1913 - only 10 members listed on boat.

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As you can see there are quite a few gaps, but I'm still working on it. The listing for Florida was found in a newspaper from New York area, but I have yet to find any Florida based papers containing information so I cannot confirm it. It would fit in with their route down through Georgia though.

If you know of any other dates or come across anything, please email me, I would love to know!

Singers at the White House

Yes, they performed for President Woodrow Wilson, his wife and the Cabinet in 1913 (by the President's Request!). He also asked them to perform at his daughters wedding at a later date, which sadly they couldn't attend as they were in another part of the United States.

Welcome

Yes, welcome to this ongoing research. I've added this blog so I can try to update things as I find them, before I put them on the website.

If you think you can help in any way, please contact me!