Anna Johnson Dupree facts for kids
Anna Johnson Dupree (born November 27, 1891 – died February 19, 1977) was a successful businesswoman and a generous person who helped others in Houston, Texas. She is known for giving a lot of her money and time to support her community.
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Early Life and Family
Anna Dupree was born in Carthage, Texas. Her family worked hard picking cotton to earn a living. She grew up hearing stories about what life was like for people who were enslaved, which had a big impact on her. Anna's family was poor, and she lived in a small two-room house with her five brothers and sisters, her parents, and her grandmother. Even though they didn't have much, her mother taught her not to complain and to remember that others might be in a tougher situation.
Moving to Houston
In 1904, when she was a young woman, Anna moved to Galveston, Texas. She worked as a domestic worker, which means she helped with household tasks. People noticed her excellent sewing skills. In 1911, a woman named Mrs. Zula Kyle hired Anna to work for her in Houston. Anna often went back to Galveston to visit her family.
She met her future husband, Clarence Dupree, in Galveston. He was from Louisiana. Anna described Clarence as a "very unusual person." They got married in 1914 and moved to Houston in 1916. The Duprees were very good at saving money by "living simply." They started to invest their savings in real estate, buying land and buildings. During World War I, Clarence went overseas to fight. He saved his money while he was away and returned to the United States with $1,000.
Building Businesses
While Clarence was away during World War I, Anna continued to work and save. She worked as a beautician and manicurist. Later, she started her own business making beauty "house calls," where she would visit clients at their homes. Her business was so successful that some white beauticians in Houston tried to stop her. Anna was prevented from making house calls, but she was determined to open her own shop. In 1936, she built her own beauty salon. This salon was special because it also had a Turkish bath, a sweatbox, and a massage parlor.
Together, Anna and Clarence invested in other businesses. They opened the Eldorado Ballroom in the Third Ward in 1939. The Eldorado was one of the first places where Black people in Houston could go for entertainment and social events. Before that, in 1929, they had also opened the Pastime Theater. They owned several other businesses, including a pharmacy, a men's clothing store, a paint store, and a nightclub.
Giving Back to the Community
Anna Dupree was known for her incredible generosity. In March 1944, she surprised many people by donating $20,000 (which would be worth about $283,000 today). This money was for building a place for children who didn't have many advantages. At the time, this was one of the largest gifts ever given by a Black person in the Southern United States. The building was named the Anna Dupree Cottage of the Negro Child Center and was located in the Fifth Ward.
In 1952, the Duprees opened the Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negros. This home was named in honor of Anna's mother. Anna Dupree gave some of her own property in Highland Heights for the Eliza Johnson Home. She would often make delicious fruit cobblers and fruit and boiled dumplings for the older people living there.
Anna and her husband also gave money to the Houston College of Negroes, which is now known as Texas Southern University. They also supported the United Negro College Fund. In 1946, the couple donated $11,000 to the Houston College of Negroes. This money helped the college build its very first permanent building. They also helped raise money for Camp Robinhood, which was the first Girl Scout camp for Black girls. The Duprees also sponsored the first Little League baseball team for Black children in Houston.
Later Years
After her husband, Clarence, passed away in 1959, Anna Dupree's health began to decline. Eventually, she moved into the Eliza Johnson Home, the very place she had helped create. Anna Dupree died there on February 19, 1977. She chose to donate her body to medical research, continuing to contribute even after her life.
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