The Black Russian

by Vladimir Alexandrov

  3–4 Columbian Exposition, Panic of 1893: Bogart and Mathews, 394–401, 398–99. Frederick in New York: TT. New York: Wilder, 116–19, 269 n. 29; Sacks, 3–5, 22–23, 26, 32–36, 42–43, 45–46. blacks and Brooklyn: Harris, 279–288.

  5–6 Clarendon Hotel: TT; Brooklyn Daily, 1894, 105. Williams: TT; Slide, 559; Trow’s New York City Directory, 1894, 1506. Herman: TT. Frederick’s singing: Penn, 24–28.

  7 ships, travel abroad: TT; “Marine Intelligence,” NYT, for Sept. and later months, 1894; Baedeker, London, 1898, 2. Frederick’s departure, arrival in England: passport applications; UK Incoming Passenger Lists, Oct. 16, 1894, Ancestry.com; Baedeker, London, 2-3.

  8–9 The English and racial prejudice: “The Negro Abroad,” BDG, Feb. 2, 1902, 44; “Victoria’s Black Knight,” NYTr, July 30, 1893, 18. prejudiced American: “The Negro’s Paradise,” CDT, Sept. 26, 1891, 10. Drysdale: “London Overrun with Dark-Skinned Colonials,” NYT, June 20, 1897, 20.

  10–11 “Conservatory of Music”: TT. Frederick may have been referring to the “West London Conservatoire of Music,” which did provide training in voice as well as instrumental music: The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Aug. 1, 1896, 508. boardinghouse, restaurant: TT. India’s mortgage: CCR E: 282–85.

  12–13 Paris: TT. letter of introduction: Eustis to Police Prefect, July 12, 1895, DP France 588, RG 84. ferries: Baedeker, London, 1898, 5. learning French: Baedeker, Paris, xi. Frederick confident and extroverted: see Lloyd, 47, who makes this point about another black man learning French well. Frederick’s addresses: Frederick’s 1896 passport application, Eustis to Police Prefect, ibid.

  14–15 Johnson: quoted in Lloyd, 38–39. French less class-conscious: Abbott, 27, 8; Life and Labour, 149–50; Elson, 279. romantic possibilities: “Negroes Have a Chance,” EN, Dec. 28, 1898, 7.

  16–17 passport, ambassador and son are southerners: March 17, 1896, Emergency Passport Applications, 1877–1907, NARA microfilm publication M1834, roll 11. “Death of James B. Eustis,” NYT, Sept. 10, 1899, 11. Brussels, Ostend, Cannes, Restaurant Cuba, Germany: TT; Baedeker, Belgium, 193; Baedeker, South-Eastern France, 257–58. German discipline: Vecchi, 20–23, 24.

  18–19 Drysdale in Monaco: his first article that mentions Frederick: “A Glimpse of Monte Carlo,” March 6, 1898 [dated Feb. 10], 16; I repeat some of Drysdale’s turns of phrase verbatim. Drysdale born in Pennsylvania: “William Drysdale Dead,” NYT, Sept. 21, 1901, 7. romanticized South: Sacks, 43–45. Frederick’s real name: evidence that “George” is actually Frederick is compiled from various sources: Penn, 28–30; TT; Frederick’s passport applications and early photographs; Drysdale, “Gambling at High Noon,” NYT, March 20, 1898, 17. Pullman porters: Reed, Black Chicago’s First Century, 194–95. Frederick’s French: Drysdale, “Monaco a Venerable City,” NYT, April 3, 1898, 16. language study: Abbott, 37–38. Frederick about locals’ abilities: Drysdale, “Monte Carlo and Monaco,” NYT, March 13, 1898, 16.

  20–21 Frederick left for Italy: TT; “Monaco a Venerable City,” NYT, April 3, 1898 [dated March 7], 16. grand duke: Penn, 29–30. authoritarian Russian Empire: Heyking, 51–55. Frederick’s passport: May 13, 1899, Emergency Passport Applications, 1877–1907, NARA microfilm publication M1834, roll 14, Vol. 22, NARA.

  22 Dreyfus: Merriman, 810–12. Russian peasants: Riasanovsky, 409–15.

  Chapter Three

  1–2 Arrival formalities, customs, surveillance, uniforms, train to Moscow: Baedeker, Russia, xviii–xxi; Troyat, 13–17; De Windt, 2–3; Holmes, 7 –11; Fussell, 16–17.

  3–4 first year in Russia: TT; B.P.S., “Moskovskii obzor var’ete i tsirka,” Vt, Oct. 1, 1912, 5. St. Petersburg, Odessa, Moscow: Baedeker, Russia, 99, 89, xvi, 395, 277. Moscow’s churches: Putevoditel’ po Moskve, 323. Bonaparte: Tolstoy, 871, gives a historically accurate description. Kremlin, “nothing above Moscow”: Baedeker, Russia, 278.

  5–6 “soundscape”: Williams, xv–xvi; Shneider, 79. electric tramway, horsepower: Il’in and Kagan, 40. Muscovites’ appearance: Baedeker, Russia, 277; De Windt, 26–27; Shneider, 81; Wood, 111. Russians’ Asiatic streak: Schimmelpenninck, 3–4. black people in Russia: see Blakely’s indispensable study.

  7 McKay: McKay, 1924, 114, 115; McKay, 1923, 65. Harris: Talmadge, 247. See also “Episkop-negr”; Drape, 114; Hotaling, 91. For black performers in Russia, see Lotz. “Southern woman”: “Constantinople Cafe Owned by Southern Negro,” CDE, Oct. 7, 1922, 7.

  8–9 Frederick’s addresses, Triumphal Square: Il’in and Kagan, 42; Il’in, 134, 141-42; Frederick’s passport application, June 29, 1907, CPM 534. valet: Marcosson, 44; “Russian Nobility Now Work for Ex-Servant in Turkey,” CDe, April 12, 1924, A1; Kitchen, 88. Hedwig, marriage, children: Frederick’s wedding: TsIAM, f. 1476, op. 2, d. 14, l. 311 ob.; Hedwig’s passport application, Dec. 17, 1909, CPM 534. Chukhinsky Lane: VM 1901, 453, 272, 393, 1112. provincial feel: Il’in and Kagan, 49–50.

  10–11 Aquarium: “Staryi Moskvich”; Dmitriev, 20; Radunskii, 49; Monakhov, 36–38; Kriger, 168; Anisimov, 84–88. Aumont: Uvarova, “Var’ete,” 106; Ruga and Kokorev, 426.

  12–13 Trukhanova: Trukhanova, 23, 48–49, 52, 53, 57, 58–59.

  14–15 Russo-Japanese War, American historian: Riasanovsky, 445–47. Russo-American relations: Saul, 1991, 339–96; 1996, 484–85, 509–11. anti-Chinese racism: Daniels, 3, 12–26. “unbecoming for Americans to criticize”: Herring, 352; Saul, 1996, 476–77, 523–27.

  16–17 1905 Revolution: Riasanovsky, 450–51; Merriman, 789–91. siege of the Aquarium, Moscow: Engelstein, 49, 197–98, 220; Ascher, 315–22. ambassador’s telegram: Despatches from United States, reel 65, Dec. 11, 1905. killings and executions: Riasanovsky, 458; Fitzpatrick, 35.

  18–19 numbers of Americans: Despatches from United States, reel 65, Dec. 26, 1905. Frederick’s explanation a dozen years later: DF. more detailed variant: “Many Ugly Women Still Retain the Veil,” CDM, Aug. 13, 1926, 2. Berlin ties: American Consulate, Danzig, to American Embassy, Berlin: Sept. 13, 1909, CP Danzig 17, p. 25, RG 84. Frederick’s Sept. 14, 1909, passport application has a note explaining his reasons for going to Germany (Emergency Passport Applications, 1907–1910, Vol. 1, Germany, RG 59). Frederick may have had a restaurant in Berlin: “Two Jolts for Jack Johnson,” CDT, Nov. 2, 1912, 8.

  20–21 Aumont’s problems: Uvarova, “Var’ete,” 106; Dmitriev, 20; Kriger, 173–74. Yar, Sudakov: Uvarova, “Yar”; Maksimov and Kokorev, 91–92, 125, 127, 195, 196, 200, 209, 211, 213. Frederick moved family: VM 1911, 571; VM 1901, 89; VM 1917, 101. racetrack: Maksimov and Kokorev, 131. airplanes: Palmer, 18. Natruskin: Maksimov and Kokorev, 91–92; Rzh, Nov. 1, 1913, 6; Nov. 15, 1913, 7–9; Dec. 1, 1913, 6–7. Ruga and Kokorev, 414. tribute to Sudakov, celebration: Maksimov and Kokorev, 194–202.

  22–23 Gaisberg: Gaisberg, 34; Moore, 161; Borovsky, 546–48. Gaisberg makes some mistakes about Frederick. extravagant sprees: Maksimov and Kokorev, 223–24. Norton: Roy Norton, “Spendthrifts,” NYTr, July 6, 1913, SM 3–4, 19; quotation from p. 4. Norton makes some mistakes about Frederick.

  24–25 Irma: TsIAM, f. 1476, op. 2, d. 24, ll. 5 ob.–6; Translation, Pastoral Certificate, Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, Moscow, CPI 337 (Corresp. 1921). Hedwig’s death: Report, American Consular Service, Moscow, Feb. 10, 1910, Numerical and Minor Files of the Department of State, 1906–1910, NARA Microfilm Publication M 862, roll 1152, RG 59; Interview, June 18, 2009; Frederick’s descendants did not know the real name of his first wife. Garrigues, “Abnormal Labor,” 376 ff; Wilcox, 197–206.

  26–27 Valli: TsIAM, f. 1476, op. 2, d. 22, ll. 255 ob.–256; her relations with Frederick are documented extensively in DV. The spelling of her first name varies in the documents, depending on transliteration. terrorism and violence: Tuminez, 140–41.

  Chapter Four

  1–2 Aquarium’s reopening: As, Nov.–Dec. 1911, 5; Serpoletti, 54/56; P, July 1912, 10–12; As, May 1 [?], 1911, 11–12; As, Sept.–Oct. 1910, 18; Dmitriev. Aumont’s curse: As, June [?] 1911, no. 5, 14. As appeared irregularl
y; when the month is uncertain, I give it with a question mark. Martynov’s first name and patronymic: VM 1901, 273; VM 1917, 319. Tsarev was maître d’hôtel: As, July–Aug. [?] 1911, no. 15, 7. Frederick’s trip: Am, Feb. 1912, 1, 2; Am, March 1912, 2; Frederick’s passport application, 7 March 1912, DP Berlin 352, RG 84. His trip very likely resembled that of Yakov Shchukin (owner of the Hermitage Garden in Moscow, and Aquarium’s only real competitor [Uvarova, “Ermitazh,” 764–65]), described by Monakhov, 117–21. Frederick paid too much: Gamma, “Akvarium,” P, July 1912, 11–12. Duncan and Brooks: CDe, Feb. 3, 1923, 13.

  3–4 Aquarium’s first season: Am, May 1912, 3, 17. journalists covering Moscow theatrical life: Am, June 1912, 2, 3; Gamma, “Akvarium,” P, July 1912, 10–12; Vt, Oct. 1, 1912, 4. other entertainment venues in Moscow: Baedeker, Russia, 273–74.

  5–6 frequent visitor: Rezh, May 15, 1913, 4.

  7–8 Lockhart: Lockhart, 70–72; he mistakenly refers to Frederick as “British.”

  9–10 Frederick rich: Am, Sept. 1912, 5. Gamma on Frederick’s race: “Akvarium,” P, July 1912, 10–12. Chicagoans: “Two Jolts for Jack Johnson,” CDT, Nov. 2, 1912, 8.

  11–12 September 1912: Am, Sept. 1912, 5. “Skating-Palace”: advertisement, P, Oct. 1912, 24. “Chanticleer” and Adel: Serpoletti, 57/59; P, July 1912, 15; Am, Sept. 1912, 12; Tg, Feb. 9, 1914, 12; Vt, Feb. 28, 1914, 8–9. Muscovites cheered: Am, Sept. 1912, 12; As, May [?] 1912, No. 10, 16; Vt: Oct. 1, 1912, 6; Oct. 27, 1912, 5; Nov. 10, 1912, 6. “Maxim,” renovations: Am, Oct. 1912, 2; “Ob otsenke vladeniia, prinadlezhashchego sukonnoi i kozhevennoi fabriki ‘Alekseia Bakhrushina Synov’ia,’” TsIAM, f. 179, op. 62, d. 16118, l. 10; “Maksim,” 1912, TsIAM, f. 179, op. 63, d. 16142, ll. 1, 3; by mid-October interior ready: Vt, Oct. 14, 1912, 6. Duncan and Brooks: CDe, Feb. 3, 1923, 13. October 20 opening: Vt, Oct. 20, 1912, 5; Am, Oct. 1912, 2. The original Russian jingle reads “Poidu k Maksimu ia, / Tam zhdut menia druz’ia.”

  13–14 complication: Vt, Oct. 14, 1912, 6. churches: 1902 and 1914 maps of Moscow. church hierarchs: e.g., Vt, April 6, 1914, 12. Moscow’s secular authorities: Mv, Sept. 11, 1913, 2. Adel’s difficulties: Rezh, Sept. 13, 1913, 7; Rzh, June 13, 1910, 395. Adrianov: Dzhunkovskii, II, 65. “someone” not named: Rezh, Sept. 13, 1913, 7; Kitchen, 89–90, reports that Frederick told him of friendly relations with several grand dukes. Maxim’s opening: Rzh, Nov. 11, 1912, 9; Am, Nov. 1912, 7. “first-class variety theater”: Am, Nov. 1912, inside front cover.

  15–16 Frederick’s ads: e.g., Rzh, Nov. 25, 1912, 3. “Salon Café Harem”: Shneider, 85; Rezh, Sept. 13, 1913, 7; Tg, Sept. 29, 1913, 2. one commentator: Rezh, Sept. 13, 1913, 7; April 1, 1913, 8.

  17–18 pneumonia: P, June 1912, 14. Frederick’s relations with Valli: Interviews, Nov. 8, 2006, and June 16, 18, 2009. The Thomass family’s oral history differs significantly from what can be reconstructed about Frederick’s life on the basis of published and unpublished documents. wedding: there are somewhat different dates, and Moscow is the location, in different sources: Jan. 5, 1913, TsIAM, f. 1476, op. 2, d. 22, ll. 255 ob.–256; Jan. 22, 1913, DV. photograph: Valli to Ravndal, Feb. 13, 1922, CPI 352.

  19–20 moved family: the addresses were 39 Bolshoy Kozikhinsky Street: VM 1913, 575; and a building belonging to the Saint Ermolay Church, Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya Street: Spravochnaia kniga o litsakh, 273. eight-room apartment: Sa, Feb. 15, 1915, 15; Dunn, 421; VM 1916, 361; VM 1917, 491. education in Russia: Thurston, 158, 160. foreign languages, servant beating: Interview, Nov. 8, 2006; the Thomass family history has the servant die as a result, with Frederick covering it up, which seems implausible.

  21–22 Elvira: Valli to Ravndal, Feb. 13, 1922, CPI 352; Elvira to Allen, March 8, 1933, CPI 443; TT; Reynolds, 52; “In the Days of the High Commissioners,” Asia, Dec. 1923, 952; “Turkish Delight,” Outlook, Oct. 25, 1922, 329; Argus. dancer and singer: “Negro Lost Fortune in Russia,” BDG, May 14, 1926, 7; “Russian Princesses and Duchesses Earn a Living in Constantinople,” Syracuse Herald, Oct. 7, 1922, 3. Gerlach: http://www.tpa-project.info/body_index.html. American cowgirl: Vt, Dec. 25, 1913, 10. Elvira’s languages: Elvira to Allen, March 8, 1933, see above, and July 22, 1935, DPT 629; ON, June 16, 25, 1920, 4; “Spectacles et Concerts,” S, June 17, June 20, July 8, 1920, 3; Elvira’s announcement of Frederick’s death, S, June 13, 1928, 3. Frederick and Elvira’s affair: the birth of their first son in September 1914 indicates that the affair began no later than Jan. 1914: Frederick’s Passport Application, Sept. 15, 1921, DF. Frederick Jr.’s birth date: ibid.; and Dept. of State to American Consul, Istanbul, Jan. 17, 1931, DPT 430. Bruce’s birth date: given as April 12, 1915, in Frederick’s Passport Application, Sept. 15, 1921, DF, and in Dept. of State to American Consul, Istanbul, Jan. 17, 1931, above. But this must be a mistake if Frederick Jr.’s birth date is correct, because there is less than nine months’ time between them.

  23 businesses with Tsarev: Rezh, May 15, 1913, 3, and June 10, 1913, 6; Tg, Sept. 29, 1913, 2. Martynov: Vt, July 1, 1913, 3; Am, Sept. 1913, 4. Theatrical Stock Company: Rezh, June 10, 1913, 6; Jan. 15, 1914, 7-8; Tg, June 1, 1914, 6–7; “Svedeniia,” RGIA, f. 1276, op. 17, d. 345, l. 135 ob.

  24–25 Kitchen: Kitchen, 87–90.

  26–27 music agreement, Konsky: Konsky’s pursuit of Frederick is detailed in letters that he wrote to his employer during the period 1913–1917: CADN, Fonds Saint-Pétersbourg, Série cartons et registres, Numéro d’article 538, pp. 204–7, 212, 213, 244–47, 249, 251, 279–85, 287, 302, 303, 347, 372, 378, 401, 402, 406, 407, 458.

  28–29 “the most famous,” Jack Johnson: Ken Burns in his documentary film Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2005), quoted in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_(boxer). Johnson and the Mann Act: Langum, 179–86. Frederick’s offer: “Moscow, Russia, Offers Jack Johnson His Only Chance to Fight Again,” SFN, Oct. 30, 1912, 13; “Jack Johnson Wants to Leave City of Chicago,” DNT, Nov. 1, 1912, 1; “This Is Tough on Chicago,” Kansas City Star, Nov. 1, 1912, 5B; “Johnson Will Go to Russia,” Grand Forks (North Dakota) Daily Herald, Nov. 2, 1912, 2; “Two Jolts for Jack Johnson,” CDT, Nov. 2, 1912, 8; “Johnson’s Saloon Closed,” NYT, Nov. 2, 1912, 1; “Jack Johnson Signs for Fight in Russia,” EN (San Jose, California), Nov. 1, 1912, 5. Klegin, “in the hands of”: “Johnson Would Go to Russia,” LAT, Oct. 25, 1912, III3 (dispatch dated Oct. 23). picked up by the foreign press: e.g., “Jack Johnson Charged with Abduction,” MG, Oct. 19, 1912, 18; “Attempt to Lynch Jack Johnson,” Observer (England), Oct. 20, 1912, 9; untitled note, Le Figaro (France), Oct. 19, 1912, 1. “negro named Thomas”: “Two Jolts for Jack Johnson,” ibid.

  30–31 Johnson in Russia: Johnson, 92; Mv, July 12/25, 1914, 4. It is possible that Frederick met Johnson earlier in Western Europe: Tg, March 23, 1914, 12. Johnson mistakenly refers to “George” rather than “Frederick.” In addition to Johnson’s own mistakes and exaggerations about Frederick, even more egregious ones are reported by deCoy, 180–83.

  Chapter Five

  1–2 aftermath of 1905 war: Riasanovsky, 472–74, 479–82; McMeekin, xvi–xviii. Sarajevo, war: Merriman, 964 ff; Riasanovsky, 464. “blood and faith”: Mv, July 16/29, 1914, 3.

  3–4 Frederick’s petition: RGIA, f. 1284, op. 247, d. 26. 1914–1915. Adrianov’s note: RGIA, Departament obshchikh del (1811–1917 gg.), f. 1284, op. 247, d. 26. 1914–1915. form at heart of petition: RGIA, Sovet ministrov (1905–1917 gg.), f. 1276, op. 17, d. 345, l. 135 ob. Nicholas’s approval: RGIA, f. 1276 (Sovet ministrov), op. 17, d. 345, ll. 45, 46, 47, 50, 134, 135 ob.

  5–6 Frederick’s passport renewal: June 24, 1914, Emergency Passport Applications Filed at Diplomatic Posts Abroad, RG59. Thomas family history: Interviews. youngest sons recognized: State Department to Consul General, Istanbul, Sept. 17, 1935, Decimal File, 367.1115–Thomas, Bruce and Frederick/2, RG 59. Valli’s 1916 application: July 27/Aug. 9, 1916, DV.

  7–8 Moscow demonstrations: Mv, July 16/29, 1914, 3. German economic ties: Raffalovich, 311. benefit evening: Rzh, Aug. 16/29, 1914, 1, 4; T
g, Aug. 17/30, 1914, 2.

  9–10 Germans outside Paris: Merriman, 975–77, 986–88; Riasanovsky, 464. trainloads of prisoners: “Austria’s Heavy Losses,” Scotsman, Sept. 9, 1914, 6.

  11–12 prohibition, U.S. Senate request: Kurukin and Nikulina, 224–30; Herlihy, 64–65; Johnson, Liquor, 194–95, 202–4. observers concluded that Russians embraced sobriety: “One Man’s Work Sobers Russia,” NYTr, Nov. 19, 1914, 3; “Exit Vodka,” Mg, Dec. 7, 1914, 5; “Russia Without Vodka,” Mg, March 10, 1915, 12; “Russians Sell Last Belongings for Liquor,” HC, Nov. 15, 1914, 3. Muscovites’ legal method: “The Truth About Vodka,” Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular, March 25, 1915, 391. illegal stills: “Russia Without Vodka,” Mg, ibid.; “Russia Totally ‘Dry,’” WP, Jan. 2, 1915, 3.

  13–14 bribing, bootlegging, drinking: Al’perov, 381–82; Maksimov and Kokorev, 237–39. Zhichkovsky: Kurukin and Nikulina, 228–30; name and patronymic are from VM 1917, 181. French champagne: Alekseev, 89. Frederick’s success: Am, Aug. 1915, 2; Ti, June 28, 1915, 463.

  15–16 January 1915, Przemyśl: Griffiths, 54. Ottoman Empire, Constantinople: Riasanovsky, 464–66. “For the Russian Army”: Rzh, Jan. 18, 1915, 8; Feb. 1, 8, 1915, 3; Tg, Feb. 8, 1915, 5. Maxim shut: Am, April 1915, 4. Maxim had also been briefly shut down in the fall of 1914, but by January 1915, it was back in business and reported doing very well: Am, Jan. 1915, 5. Frederick continued to “prepare energetically”: Am, April 1915, 4. Bruce’s birth: Frederick’s Passport Application, 15 Sept. 1921, DF.

  17–18 Serpoletti: Am, April 1915, 7–8. Serpoletti’s story: I. Yadov [the surname derives from “poisonous”], “‘Evropeets.’ Direktor iz Petrograda,” Am, April 1916, 8.

  19–20 German advance, “mad bacchanalia”: Merriman, 988; “Tobacco for the Soldier”: Rzh, May 19, 1915, 10; Mv, May 20, 1915, 3; May 21, 1915, 3 (Frederick’s surname mistakenly given as “Tomson”); Sa, June 2, 1915, 9, 12. merchants’ philanthropy: Ul’ianova and Shatsillo, 22.