A. Grace Lee Mims facts for kids
A. Grace Lee Mims (born July 17, 1930 – died October 3, 2019) was an amazing African-American singer and a popular radio personality. She was a very important person in the arts community in Cleveland, Ohio. Many people knew her for hosting and producing radio shows for 43 years on the classical music station WCLV.
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Early Life
A. Grace Lee Mims was born in Snow Hill, Alabama on July 17, 1930. Her parents, Arnold Wadsworth and Alberta Grace Edwards Lee, were both very talented musicians. Her father played the cornet and directed the band at Florida A&M University. Her mother was a classical pianist and a teacher.
Three of Grace's six brothers and sisters were also musical. Her sister was Consuela Lee. Her brothers were Bill (who was the father of famous director Spike Lee) and Clifton. Together, they formed a music group called The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe. They played jazz and folk music at churches and schools. The group's name honored two of their family members from long ago who were enslaved. They even recorded an album called "A Spirit Speaks."
Education
Grace attended the Snow Hill Normal and Industrial Institute. Her grandfather had founded this school. She was the best student in her class when she graduated.
She then went to Hampton University. There, she earned a degree in English with a focus on singing. While at Hampton, she met her future husband, Howard Mims. Later, she earned a Master of Science degree in Library Science from Western Reserve University.
Career
Working in Education
Grace started her career working in libraries in Cleveland and Detroit. She later became the head librarian at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. At Glenville, she created a fantastic library collection focused on African-American culture.
She also started the first course about Afrocentrism in the Cleveland Public Schools. This course taught students about African history and culture. Grace also created the Black Arts Festival. Famous guests like Muhammad Ali came to this festival. From 1980 to 2018, she taught singing at The Music School Settlement in Cleveland.
Her Music Career
For 20 years, Grace was a lead singer (soprano) at the Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights. She also sang with the William Appling Singers and Orchestra. They performed at famous places like Lincoln Center and the Newport Jazz Festival. She also sang with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.
In 1981, she recorded her own album called "Spirituals." These are religious songs created by African Americans. Many people thought she was a top expert on solo Spiritual music.
Her Radio Shows
In 1976, Grace had an idea for a radio show. She talked to Robert Conrad, the president of WCLV radio station. She wanted to host a show about African-American classical music and jazz.
For 43 years, she hosted the "Black Arts" show. She did a lot of research to share stories about artists like Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington. Starting in 1980, she also hosted a short interview show called "Artslog." This show was on WCLV for 30 years.
Accolades
Grace Mims cared deeply about the arts community. She served on the boards of many important organizations. These included the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Cleveland Museum of Art. She also helped with the Black History Archives at the Western Reserve Historical Society.
In 2011, she received the Martha Joseph Prize. This award honored her for her great service to the arts. It recognized her dedication to music, family, and the contributions of African Americans to culture and history.
Other awards she received include:
- An honorary doctorate degree in Music from Cleveland State University in May 1999.
- Recognition at the 2007 Women of Vision Luncheon.
- The Theodore J. Horvath Award from the Rainey Institute. This award honors people who show how art can change lives.
- The Outstanding Musical Alumnus Award from Hampton University.
Death and Legacy
In 1971, Grace Mims helped start the African American Archives Auxiliary. This group helps guide the collection of African-American history at the Western Reserve Historical Society.
In 2010, she created the A. Grace Lee Mims Vocal Scholarship. She did this with The Cleveland Foundation. The scholarship helps keep the singing of Negro spirituals alive. It supports people who perform or teach this special art form. She and her husband also started the Cleveland chapter of the Hampton University Alumni Association. This group also gives scholarships to local students.
Grace Mims passed away at her home on October 3, 2019. She was 89 years old.
