Josephine Dennee

Other Events:

• Web Address: https://digitalharrisburg.com/commonwealth/100names/davidson/
• Name: Josephine Bibb
• Name: Josephine Davidson
• Name: Josephine Denny
• Residence: 1850, North Ward, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
• Residence: 1880, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
• Obituary: 1 Apr 1936, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA

Notes:

My Contribution: I was the oldest living member at Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church in the 1930s having been a member for 68 years. I was a prominent member of the Household of Ruth and made significant speaking contributions to Harrisburg’s cultural community.

My Legacy: I was an exemplar of women’s activist work and a voice in the community, whether I was speaking at Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church or serving the Household of Ruth. Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church still exists today, thanks to my investments.

About Me: “Don’t forget this evening to go to West Street A.M.E. Zion Church to hear the Sabbath school concert and to hear Madame Josephine Dennee-Bibb, one of the finest elocutionists of her race. If you hear her once you will want to hear her again. She can move you to tears or to laughter. In rendering the ‘Black Regiment’ she is truly eloquent and sublime and sways her audience at will.” - Carlisle Evening Herald, March 2, 1894.

Full Name: Josephine L. Dennee Bibb Davidson

Birth Date: 1849

Death Date: March 31, 1936

Place of Birth: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Sex: Female

Race: “Mulatto” (Federal Censuses of 1880 and 1910), Black (Federal Census of 1920), and “Negro” (Federal Census of 1930)

Places of Residence: Hamilton, Ontario (early childhood); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (late 1800s/early 1900s); Harrisburg residences: 514 South Avenue (1880), 113 Cowden St. (1892, 1893), 503 Cowden St. (1910), 109 Anna Street (1916-1936).

Connection to the Old Eighth Ward: I lived in the Eighth Ward, spoke in the Eighth Ward, and belonged to organizations in the Eighth Ward.

Family Members: Father: Charles Dennee. Mother: Mary Dennee. Husband: M1: William H. Bibb (until 1894). Husband: M2: Jeremiah Davidson (1895-1936). Son: Alexander Dennee Bibb.

Education: Educated in Ontario.

Occupations: Dressmaker. Homemaker. Elocutionist.

Church Membership: Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church

Activism: Miriam Household of Ruth No.1, Judith Household of Ruth, Woman’s Relief Corps Convention, A.M.E. Zion Sunday School Conference, Secretary of Pennsylvania Afro-American Convention.

Connections: William Howard Day, A. Leslie Marshall (nephew), Alexander Dennee Bibb (son), John Quincy Adams, Joseph Bustill, Jacob C. Compton, George H. Imes, James Auter, John W. Simpson, J.W. Grant, David Stevens, Joseph Thomas, and Anne E. Amos.

Buried:
Lincoln Cemetery

Family/Spouse: William H Bibb. William was born in 1851 in Kentucky, USA; died in 1894. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Josephine married Husband Unknown Davidson in 1895. Husband was born in 1845. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Veteran: WWI: 351st
• Web Address: https://digitalharrisburg.com/commonwealth/100names/bibb/
• Musician: 1911; Composed the alma mater song for Lincoln University in 1911. In My Words: “And for thee with our might / We will ever toil / That thou mightiest be supreme. We’ll raise thy standard to the sky, Midst glory and honor to fly.”
• Findagrave Profile: 1934, 201 South 30th street, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
• Residence: 2 Feb 1934, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA

Notes:

My Contribution: I invested in my community and sought office to represent the Seventh Ward. I was chairman for the Booker T. Washington memorial service at Bethel A.M.E. Church.

My Legacy: After serving in World War I, I came back to Harrisburg and studied at Dickinson Law School while working as a patrolman. I composed the alma mater song for Lincoln University in 1911. In My Words: “And for thee with our might / We will ever toil / That thou mightiest be supreme. We’ll raise thy standard to the sky, Midst glory and honor to fly.”

- A. Dennee Bibb, Lincoln University Alma Mater Song, 1911

Full Name: Alexander Dennee Bibb

Birth Date: April 12, 1887

Death Date: May 3, 1934

Place of Birth: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Sex: Male

Race: Black (1920 Federal Census), “Negro” (1930 Federal Census)

Places of Residence: 631 Boas Street, Harrisburg (1920 Federal Census); 606 Forster Street, Harrisburg (1930 Federal Census).

Connection to the Old Eighth Ward: I lived and worked in the Eighth Ward.

Family Members: Mother: Josephine L. Dennee Bibb Davidson. Step-father: Jerry Davidson. Cousins: A.L Marshall, W.E. Marshall.

Education: Harrisburg High School, class of 1904; Lincoln University, class of 1909. I studied law under W. Justin Carter and attended Dickinson Law School.

Occupations: Police Officer. Served in World War I with the 351st Field Artillery.

Church Membership: My mother was an active member of Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church.

Activism: I was a candidate for Republican nomination for the Seventh Ward; local NAACP executive committee member; and commander of Buffalo Post.

Connections: Son of Josephine L. Dennee Bibb Davidson. A cousin of A.L. Marshall and W.E. Marshall. Studied under W. Justin Carter. Served with J. Steward Davis in WWI.

Buried:
Lincoln Cemetery