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Ivory Winston: Celebrating Black History Month in Iowa
The Gazette is partnering with the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids to celebrate Black History Month. During the month of February, we're featuring information on the people who have shaped black history in Iowa. To learn more about black history in Iowa, visit the museum at 55 12th Ave. SE.
On May 8, 1948, as President Harry S. Truman campaigned across America to be re-elected over Republican challenger Thomas E. Dewey, he was met in Iowa by a crowd of 20,000 on his birthday. There to lead the crowd in a rendition of 'Happy Birthday,' was Ottumwa native Ivory Winston.
Only two years removed from her first vocal recital, Winston already was regarded as 'Iowa's First Lady of Song,' having given dozens of performances across the state.
Born in 1911 to Effie and the Rev. E.P. Green, Ivory initially studied to be a concert pianist. Raised in the Baptist church, she was encouraged to develop her talent for singing, which she did, taking private lessons before going on to study at Ottumwa Heights College, Parsons College and Drake University.
'She has the most scintillating, the most sparkling high C I have ever heard.'
- Meredith Willson
on vocalist Ivory Winston
In 1936, she married Clyde Winston, who later became her manager. The couple had two children — Berta Lou, born in 1937, and Byron, born in 1938.
In 1950, Winston was tops among 3,000 performers in the Des Moines Register and Tribune Cavalcade of Music festival. That same year, she performed an original tune during Iowa's Republican convention, won Meredith Willson's Iowa Greater Talent Search and performed on national radio.
Despite her success, the Winston family encountered racism when attempting to move to a new neighborhood in Ottumwa. A resident circulated a petition to stop the family from moving in, but it went unsigned.
Winston died on Aug. 6, 1996, five days before her 85th birthday.
Though she never was able to record professionally, family members have said there were some recordings of her music, but they were lost over time.
Read about other African-Americans who helped shape Iowa's history:
Ivory Winston is pictured in this photograph from the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. Winston, a native of Ottumwa, was regarded as 'Iowa's First Lady of Song.' (African American Museum of Iowa)
Ivory Winston is pictured in this photograph from the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. Winston, a native of Ottumwa, was regarded as 'Iowa's First Lady of Song.' (African American Museum of Iowa)
Ivory Winston is pictured with her children Berta Lou and Byron in this photograph from the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. Winston, a native of Ottumwa, was regarded as 'Iowa's First Lady of Song.' (African American Museum of Iowa)
Ivory Winston is pictured with her children Berta Lou and Byron in this photograph from the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. Winston, a native of Ottumwa, was regarded as 'Iowa's First Lady of Song.' (African American Museum of Iowa)
Ivory Winston is pictured in this image from the Iowa Women's Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries in Iowa City. Winston, a native of Ottumwa, was regarded as 'Iowa's First Lady of Song.' (Iowa Women's Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City)
Ivory Winston is pictured in this image from the Iowa Women's Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries in Iowa City. Winston, a native of Ottumwa, was regarded as 'Iowa's First Lady of Song.' (Iowa Women's Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City)
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