Roberta Dodd Crawford facts for kids

Roberta Dodd Crawford (born August 5, 1897 – died June 14, 1954) was an amazing African-American singer. She was a lyric soprano, which means she had a high, clear singing voice. Roberta also taught others how to sing. She performed in many places across the United States and in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s.

Roberta was born in Bonham, Texas. She studied singing in Nashville, Chicago, and Paris. While living in Paris, she married Prince Kojo Tovalou Houénou. He was a prince from Dahomey, a kingdom in Africa. After Prince Houénou died, Roberta faced tough times. She returned to Paris and lived there during World War II. She passed away in Dallas, Texas, in 1954.

Early Life and Education

Roberta Dodd Crawford was born on August 5, 1897. Her family lived in a part of Bonham, Texas, called Tank Town. She was one of eight children born to Joe and Emma Dodd.

From a young age, Roberta loved music. She sang in her church choir. She also took part in any other musical activities in Bonham. In 1914, she worked at the Curtis Boarding House. There, she often sang songs for the people staying there.

Because of her wonderful singing talent, five women in her community helped her. They paid for her to attend Wiley College. Later, she moved to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1920, she went to the Chicago College of Performing Arts. At these schools, she learned from famous singers. These included Roland Hayes and vocal coach Hattie Van Buren. While studying in Chicago, she married William B. Crawford. He was a captain in the U.S. Army.

Singing Career and Marriages

Roberta's first big performance was on April 15, 1926. It took place at Kimball Hall in Chicago. She sang songs in five different languages. Her show also included music by African-American composers. One of these was N. Clark Smith. Roberta was one of the few opera singers of her time who sang in Spanish.

After this show, she performed many more concerts. She sang in Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, and Texas. She even had a concert in her hometown of Bonham. Around the late 1920s, her marriage to William B. Crawford ended. Some reports say she became a widow. Others say she got a divorce.

In 1928, Roberta moved to Paris, France. There, she studied with a famous singer named Blanche Marchesi. In Paris, in 1931, she met Kojo Tovalou Houénou. He was an important African lawyer and writer. He was also related to the royal family of the kingdom of Dahomey. Today, Dahomey is known as Benin.

Crawford and Houénou married on March 6, 1932, in Paris. They lived in the city for the first few years of their marriage. The couple was very involved with the African and African-American communities in Paris. They were active in the art and culture scenes of the 1930s. During this time, Roberta was known as Princess Tovalou Houénou. She continued to perform in Paris.

However, later on, they spent much time outside Paris. They traveled to Dahomey, Senegal, and other parts of West Africa. This was because French officials often bothered Prince Houénou. He was arrested many times for his political work. He died on July 13, 1936, while in a French prison.

Life During World War II

After Prince Houénou died, Roberta faced a difficult situation. She could not get her money or shared property. French officials had taken control of it all. This included the money she earned from her concerts.

She returned to Paris and lived with friends. In the late 1930s, she worked for the National library of Paris. But she had very little money. This meant she could not leave Paris when Nazi Germany took over the city. This happened at the start of World War II in 1940.

Because she was an African-American, her life and freedom were very limited. She was sometimes kept under house arrest. She was also held in internment camps for periods. It was very hard for her to get work permits. She was a prisoner for a time during the war.

When Allied soldiers entered Paris, she started singing again. She also worked for the Red Cross. She entertained the troops. But she became very sick with anemia and malnutrition. These health problems stopped her from working regularly. She returned to Texas around 1950.

Roberta Dodd Crawford died on June 14, 1954. She passed away from a heart attack in Dallas. She is buried in Gates Hill Cemetery in Bonham. Her grave does not have a headstone.