Beautiful Jim Key

by Mim E. Rivas

  Horses: The Story of Equus, IMAX Films.

  Jack Raymond compilation of early minstrel records, including “My Kickapoo Queen,” “Cakewalk in Coontown,” “When You Ain’t Got No Money,” “All I Want Is My Black Baby.”

  Bob Scruggs CD, “Bell Buckle Bob Plays Old Time Gospel Favorites,” Texhoma Music Group.

  Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives; an HBO documentary film in association with the Library of Congress.

  INTERNET RESOURCES AND WEB SITES

  http//www.dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam (5/18/1895 Cleveland Gazette article on treatment of blacks at Atlanta’s Cotton Exposition)

  http://www.165.138.44.13/civilwar/63mb.htm (Allen W. Prather, Civil War Sixth Regiment)

  http://americancivilwar.com

  http://www.animallaw.info/historical/articles (Annual Reports of ASPCA 1889–1904)

  Animal Legal & Historical Center, Michigan University College of Law; Clara Morris, “Riddle of the Nineteenth Century: Mr. Henry Bergh,” 1902

  http://www.bellbuckletn.org/history.shtml

  http://www.bellemeadeplantation.com

  http://www.blackvoices.com (black equestrians, black jockeys)

  http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyM.htm

  http://www.boondocksnet.com (world’s fairs pages edited by Jim Zwick)

  http://chronofhorse.com (Chronicle of Horses)

  http://www.clickertraining.com (horse intelligence and clicker training)

  http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/undergound/opugrr.htm

  http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/saunders/joe/joe-XIX.htm (A Celebration of Women Writers/women’s reading circles, Bands of Mercy)

  http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/ (source of 5/18/ 1895 Cleveland Gazette)

  earlyamericanhorses@yahoogroups.com (posting about early pacers and trotters)

  http://www.guidehorse.org (miniature guide horses for the blind)

  http://www.hall.racingmuseum.org/horse

  http://www.harnessmuseum.com/harness11.htm (Hambletonian, Goshen, New York, as Cradle of the Trotter)

  http://www.imh.org (International Museum of the Horse)

  http://innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html

  http://www.jsfmusic.com/Uncle_Tom/Tom_Article6.html (The Minstrel Show’s Contribution to Folk Music)

  http://www.lib.csufresno.edu/subjectresources/special collections/worldfairs

  http://www.lostmuseum.cuny.edu/class (The Lost Museum Classroom: letters between P. T. Barnum and Henry Bergh of the ASPCA)

  http://www.luckymojo.com (rabbit’s feet and hoodoo)

  http://www.mihumane.org (Michigan Humane Society)

  http://mspca.techevolution.com/About+MSPCA-Angell/ history/107.aspx (The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Historical Time Line; biography and legacy of George T. Angell)

  http://www.mtsu.edu/-library/wtn/wtn-afam.html (African-American women in Tennessee history, Ida B. Wells)

  http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu/coneyisland/articles/coasterlist.htm (background on rides promoted by Rogers, Shoot the Chutes, Loop-the-Loop, etc.)

  http://nyhistory.com/central/loguen.htm (Jermain Wesley Loguen)

  http://www.oakridger.com/stories (“Tennessee horse population third in country” by Joe Edwards, 2/21/2000)

  http://parascope.com/articles/slips/taphorse.htm (“Clever Hans” by D. Trull)

  http://www.politicalgraveyard.com (miscellaneous biographies of individuals in military and elected office)

  http://www.ryman.com

  http://www.state.tn.us/environment/hist/PathDivided.htm

  http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/ung.n.html (Union generals, James Scott Negley, command div. XIV Corps at Stone’s River)

  http://tbheritage.com (Bonnie Scotland at Belle Meade, Luke Blackburn)

  http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/barnum001.html (P. T. Barnum)

  http://www.thoemmes.com/psych/pfungst.htm (Thoemmes Continuum: Classics in Psychology, Robert H. Wozniak, Bryn Mawr College—Oskar Pfungst: Clever Hans)

  http://www.undergroundrailroad.org

  http://www.vetcentric.com (article 9/5/2000, “Exploring the Equine Mind: Researchers Study Cognitive Abilities of Horses” by Wes Alwan, on Evelyn Hanggi, Ph.D., founder of Equine Research Foundation in Santa Cruz)

  http://www.yesterland.com/progress.html (Carousel of Progress, Walt Disney)

  COLLECTIONS

  David Hoffman Collection:

  1. Original newspapers/photography; four editions of A. R. Rogers’s “Beautiful Jim Key: How He Was Taught”

  2. Jim Key postcards, souvenir buttons, pins, coins

  3. Program Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Inaugural Event (September 7–9, 1939)

  4. Shelbyville Times-Gazette historical editions, 1969, 1988

  5. Horse Sense flyer, endorsement brochure of Amberg Imperial Cabinet Letter File

  The Johnson Collection: Dr. William Key/Jim Key steamer trunks:

  1. souvenirs as buttons, postcards, photos, statues, and pamphlets

  2. Jim Key chalkboard

  3. original newspapers kept by Dr. Key

  4. tintypes for photographs, promo materials

  5. ledger for Keystone Liniment sales and county fair directorships

  6. template for Keystone Liniment bottle label

  7. college diploma, Maggie Davis Key

  8. personal correspondence Dr. Key and Lucinda Davis Key, M.D.

  9. tickets and stubs (thousands)

  Annie Mott Whitman Collection of Jim Key Materials, Manuscripts Section, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

  1. Patent medicine materials, flyer for Dr. W. C. Fair; “Bell’s Handbook of Veterinary Homeopathy,” 1885 edition

  2. Letter from George Angell to Wm. Key, 11/1/1901, presentation of gold medal from AHES, MSPCA, Parent American Band of Mercy

  3. Letter from Wm. Key to A. R. Rogers, 11/18/1905

  4. Address of Booker T. Washington to National Educational Association, St. Louis, Mo., Thursday, June 30, 1904

  5. Mayor Richard Dudley, handwritten notes describing Wm. Key payoff of mortgage on farm of John and Martha Key

  6. Jim Key schoolhouse bell

  7. Beautiful Jim Key equine honorary membership documents: American Humane Association/MSPCA, Bands of Mercy of the World, Pen and Pencil Club

  8. Dr. William Key honorary membership documents and gold medal document for Band of Mercy Service to Humanity Award (bestowed 11/1/1901)

  9. 1905 Robinson-McGill Mfg. Co. logo “Jim Key Brand” (order forms)

  10. Jim Key Band of Mercy organizing forms (National Organizer Miss Agnetta Floris)

  11. Personal reading/general clippings: “Securing Homes for Homeless Children Number,” WCTU Tidings, Charlotte, N.C.; April 1903; subjects of African-American interest, root medicine, horses, women’s suffrage; 1909 ad for Falkenfels No. 1899, German Coach Horse in stud service in Shelbyville c/o J. C. Jackson; flyer on land for sale in Chattanooga, 1890

  12. Personal notes: various financial lists of costs; 1900/1901 handwritten notes on plans for Philadelphia, Washington, Pan American exhibit, carved trunk

  13. Letter from Archie Rogers to Essie Mott Lee, 10/10/72

  Annie Mott Whitman Collection of Jim Key Materials, Manuscripts Section, to Tennessee State Library and Archives. Albert R. Rogers scrapbooks, correspondence, souvenirs, promotional materials.

  1. Marketing letters: from B. F. Keith’s Amusement Ent., 8/19/1897; from American Institute Fair, fall 1897; from Allen Williams, Chief, Press Bureau Madison Square Garden, 9/13/1897; to Secretary, Danbury Fair, 9/17/1897; to Mr. Fitzpatrick from Rogers in Minn., 4/4/1906, on season; West Pennsylvania Exposition Society, 10/9/1897; Merchants Fall Festival, Springfield, Mo., 9/12/1906; letter of introduction for Rogers from J. Heekin, Heekin Coffee of Cincinnati, 10/13/1897; to T. J. Fitzpatrick, Pittsburg Exposition, pricing and misplaced props; letter of introduction for Rogers from HDC of the World, 11/21/1903.

  2. Huma
ne groups letters: to George Angell, 11/8/1897; John Haines of American Humane Society, 11/19/1897; to Frank Connelly, 11/23/1897; from National Humane Society Officers, 2/1899, on change of date due to cold weather; 1901 Angell to School Supt. Boston about closing schools; AHES/ MSPCA, Secretary Stevens, 2/18/1905, for Angell; from New York State Convention of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals, 1/27/1905; from American Humane Ass., 10/26/1905, commending his help; from American Humane Ass., 11/1/1905; from Minn. student organizer to Uncle Bert, 11/22/1906; from Missouri Humane Society, 9/1906; from Rogers to Angell on ideas for network of groups, 1906; from Rogers to Angell, 2/13/1906, on April Mercy Day ideas; from Angell to Rogers, 11/10/1906, on letter from San Antonio; from National Humane Alliance, 1/22/1907; Angell to Rogers, 1/31/1907, on opening New York office; Rogers to Angell on funding outreach for Bands of Mercy, 2/7/1907; from ASPCA secretary to Rogers, 2/19/1907; Rogers to Angell on fund-raising, 11/6/1907; Mr. Richardson of MSPCA/AHES to Rogers on election of valuable service, 11/20/1907; Rogers to Angell on need to unite societies, 1/6/1908; Rogers to Angell, 3/24/1908, on show at Hippodrome; Richardson to Rogers, 4/1/1908, on commendation of contribution; Rogers to Angell on lack of cooperation from Richardson, 4/1908; Rogers to Boston School Committee on Angell Memorial Fund, 3/29/1909; from secretary of Boston School Committee, 4/8/1909, circular about raising money for memorial approved

  3. Letter from National Cash Register Co. (Dayton, Ohio), 1906, to J. Hazuka, Omaha, Nebraska; ads with Metropolitan Cash Register

  4. Personal letters: Ida Sheehan to Rogers, 5/23/1896; formal dinner invitation from Senator Palmer, Detroit, 1905; E. S. Porter, Windsor Farms, Richmond, Va., on a “wonderful little mare,” 8/12/1927; letter to Mrs. Colby from Rogers, Boston, 1/13/1909

  5. Letter from Albert to “Louise,” Raleigh, N.C., 10/25/1898

  6. Letter from Wm. Key to A. R. Rogers, 5/3/1898, Atlantic City; from Key to Rogers noting dimensions of racks, Shelbyville; from Wm. Key to A. R. Rogers, 3/12/1900, on terms, Jim’s condition; from Wm. Key to A. R. Rogers, 11/18/1905, on financial misunderstanding; from Wm. Key to Rogers, 12/9/1907, on Jim’s health, interest in travel

  7. Letter from St. Louis World’s Fair to Rogers over legal settlement, 11/21/1904

  8. Correspondence with Dr. Stanley White Davis; Davis to Rogers, 2/13/1913 and 3/10/1913, reporting Jim’s death September 18, 1912

  9. Letter of complaint from Rogers to American Humane Educational Society board of directors, including correspondence, 4/13/1909; note on National Jim Key Band of Mercy 1906 (700,000 members), on financial losses, 1/17/07; and letter, 1/19/1907 (posted to 1,000,000 members), on illness of Miss Floris; 2/9/1907 report on need for funds for Bands of

  Mercy 10. Flyers, programs: Orange Riding and Driving Club, 9/21–22/1897; program for The Scholar and a Model Office Boy, 10/18/1897; program for the Star Theatre Broadway bill, 12/1897; Scenic Theatre, Atlantic City; Pittsburg Exposition Sousa bill with Jim Key; Eagles Exposition/MDSPCA; Atlanta Humane Society program at 80 Whitehall St., Opera House in Shelbyville, Tenn., 1/27–28/1899; 1900 Esplanade, Export Exposition; Alhambra Pet Show and Fair, Women’s Auxiliary SPCA pass; Fitzhugh Hall 12/1–6/1902, Rochester, N.Y.; Negro Day at the Exposition (Charleston 1/1/1903); Cooperstown, 9/21–23, Otsego County Fair, “McGuire’s Educated Horses”; 1900 flyer for new play The Horse of the Twentieth Century, at the Jefferson; 1904 purchase form for “The Story of Beautiful Jim Key”; 1905 White City flyer; flyer, program (paid advertising) Omaha Auditorium, 3/26–28/1906; Columbus Memorial Hall, 3/6–8/1906 (pages of paid advertising); 4/2–7/1906 Auditorium pass for Minneapolis Humane Society; Cleveland Grays’ Armory, 4/30–5/5/1906; various ads for 1900 street railway journals, children’s discount tickets, press and VIP passes; First Annual Pure Food, Drug and Confectionery Exposition Cincinnati, Bonner the Great ( Jim Key Band of Mercy); Toledo Humane Society to local clergy on Valentine Theatre benefit with famous horse Cresceus, owned by George Ketchum; National Jim Key Band of Mercy promotion of gold stars and copies of Black Beauty; newspaper composition contests; Rogers business card, “Director of Amusements”

  11. Promo materials: Albert R. Rogers stationery, special promotions, letters from Uncle Bert, Jim Key Band of Mercy; Jim Key dictated letter to George Angell (10/1901); souvenir buttons “I Have Seen Jim Key”; Souvenir Young’s Pier, season 1901, Albert and Albert Palmists & Astrologers; composition medals (Women’s Pennsylvania SPCA); flyer for Riverview Park, Baltimore; pass for union members at the New Bijou Theatre; “Jim Key” Special Train to San Antonio, 10/29 (1905); bill for Fighting the Flames for 9/10/1906 Cincinnati Fall Festival

  12. Misc. testimonials: letter from Senator T. W. Palmer (Detroit, 5/1/1906); from W. L. Lykens (leading theatrical booking agent); W. L. Tomkins, president of the New Jersey State Fair; Mayor James M. Seymour; editors Newark Evening News, Newark Daily Advertiser, 1897; Wm. R. Riddle, Commander of Ohio United Boys Brigade; 10/7/1897, from M. Jenkins of New Jersey School for Deaf Mutes; 11/11/1897, Ohio Humane Society, S. Ritter, secretary; Nashville Board of Education president, Edward E. Barthell; 11/3/1899, Women’s PA SPCA president Caroline Earle White; T. M. Porter, Sec., Western Pennsylvania Humane Society; Harvard president Charles Eliot, 1901; from School District Board St. Paul, Minn., schools closed for two days, 5/23/1906; Toledo Humane Society, 5/23/1906

  Bob Womack Collection: loan of personal writings and clippings for research, sample formulation Keystone Liniment.

  Dick Poplin Collection: various writings including article by Dick Poplin, “The Civil War in Bedford County”; letter from Marie Davis Harris (daughter of Dr. Stanley Davis) to Poplin, 2/6/1985.

  VITAL RECORDS AND ARCHIVED MATERIALS

  Anne Chunko, USTA: pedigree information on Rysdyk’s Hambletonian.

  Gail C. Cunard, director, Harness Racing Museum, Goshen, N.Y.: information on background of National Association of Trotting-Horse Breeders; “The Standard of Admission to Registration est. 1879, rev. 1887” and report on “Time Trials”; racing paper page on Trotting/Pacing, The Horseman, 12/13/1894; copy of “Standard Horses,” reg. 2784, Kentucky Volunteer (sire Volunteer 55, dam Kentucky Girl, by Blue Bull 55) bred by John S. Biggs of Cincinnati, Ohio.

  Joseph Ditta, New-York Historical Society: research on Jim Key’s New York press appearances; on Rogers as director of Grand Central Palace and 1935 appointment to Connecticut Tercentenary post.

  Catherine Medich, New Jersey State Archives: research on Albert R. Rogers and family-owned home Glenmere (Ridgewood, South of Montrose Ave.); 1904 listed in name of mother, 1911 in name of Clara Rogers; drawing of village of South Orange and Glenmere (from Atlas of the Oranges, Essex County, N.J., copyright 1911, by A. H. Mueller, Philadelphia); Mercy Adelia Reynolds Rogers genealogy, “The Life and Times of Samuel Gorton” (Rhode Island founding family); Hamilton County, Ohio, censuses for Hiram Rogers family in 1870, 1880; 1910 Boston, Mass., census for Albert Rogers and family; 1920 census for Albert Rogers in New York.

  Marilyn Parker research on Dr. William Key: will of Captain John Key of Winchester, 1838; from John W. Key to Jeptha Minter, bill of sale Negroes, 10/19/1843 (William, age “about eleven,” Caroline, Jack, Nancy for $1,500); 1/3/1866 property deed from William Brown of two and a half acres on Shelbyville and Murfreesboro Turnpike Rd., bought 9/22/1865; 1870, 1880 censuses Keys, Davidsons, Davises; cemetery record book Dr. Key mother-in-law Arabella Davidson (1800–9/17/1882), wife Lucy Davidson (2/1832–8/17/1885), sister Nancy McClain died 10/30/1885, Wm. Key and Lucinda Davis marriage 4/23/1888; death certificate Mrs. Lucinda Davis Key published 8/27/1896; marriage license w/Maggie Davis 3/14/1904: will of Dr. Wm. Key 3/14/04.

  Marilyn Parker genealogy of Keys and Davises: cemetery records; “Colored section of Willow Mount” (Dr. William Key, Trainer of Jim Key, 1833–1909, Lucinda Davis Key, M.D., 2/24/1859–8/21/1896; Maggie Davis Key 1865–1935; funeral program for Dr. Stanley W. Davis 11/11/1967 (died 11/10/1967).

  Marilyn Parker research on Strother K
ey: “Tennesseeans in the War of 1812”; records of service as a Volunteer Mounted Gunman; divorce of Strother and Margaret C. Graham (married 1/12/1812 in Sumner County, granted privileges of a feme sole in 1831 in Tennessee Divorces 1797–1858; Strother Key cemetery record 1787–1842).

  Marilyn Parker research on John W. Key and family: genealogy of descendants of John Key Sr. of Albemarle, Va. (marriages of Goochland County, Va., 1733–1815, John Key of Albemarle and Nancy Ford); John W. Key born 1813; John Key Sr. will in will book, Sumner County, Tenn.; daughter Polly Bibb Key Blaydes and son Jesse Bibb Key “take it or leave it”; slaves deeded to sons Strother, Captain John, Richard; will of Richard Key, 1820; will of Captain John Key of Franklin County, 1838; 3/25/1840 John W. Key marriage to Martha; chancery court item 1841, a debt involving John W. Key; 1843 legal action involving John W. Key, Jeptha Minter, all of Davidson County; 1851, mother of John W. gives slave to John W. (records in court); 1852 Bedford County Court trade plus cash between John W. and Jeptha Minter, William Key returned to John W.; 7/12/1865 John W. Key Trust Deed to J. M. Minter (242 acres); offspring of John W. Key, Merit Key (M. P. Keys) and Alexander Key (A. K. Keys) in Civil War records, Eighteenth Tennessee Infantry Reg., Co. F.; 1850 census, Merit P. nine years old, Alexander W. seven, John F. five ( John Franklin Key became major, died 1904 in Washington City), Louisa three; 1860 census: John W. Key forty-seven, Martha forty, M.P. nineteen, A. seventeen, J.F. fifteen, L.A. twelve, M.E. (female) eight, E.F. (female) five, W.J. (male) three, Margaret C. sixty-five (no slaves listed).

  Marilyn Parker horse research: “Bell Buckle Horse History” by Betty Sain and Benvis Beachboard, compiled by Parker, Bell Buckle, Tennessee, 1986.