About this project

Kay Kemble (1911-1989) is a character invented for this project. Kay sang on radio commercials as a child and went on to lead Big Bands and swing ensembles in the 30's and 40's. She worked at Scott Air Field as a WAAC enlistee and a civilian. She produced war bond rallies, and her all-female band promoted a popular shampoo brand. In the 80's there was renewed interest in Kay's musical career.

Kay informally adopted the orphaned niece and nephew of her partner Wilmetta "Teeny" Stockton, and in the early 70's the family moved from St. Louis to New Orleans. After Kay and Teeny's deaths, family members remained in New Orleans until displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In 2014, I arranged to archive, organize, and restore Kay's memorabilia. Most items were damaged due to age, hurried packing , and lack of funds for formal archiving.

I've "become" Kay in reproduction radio broadcasts, and created artifacts to represent damaged or destroyed items in the collection.



Friday, July 14, 2023

My father grew up with a fancy icebox, but Kay's farm family didn't have one, I'm sure

 Who would have delivered ice down that rural road? I need to do some research on how 20th century people on small farms or in small towns kept cold food from spoiling. 

This is the type of icebox which my grandparents had. My father, who was born in 1933, remembered the ice man giving him chips of ice, like a slushie with no flavoring LOL. 




at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)