Willie Otey Kay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willie Otey Kay
Kay in 1910
Born	Willie Virginia Otey March 17, 1894 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	September 25, 1992 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Resting place	New Hope Cemetery
Education	Shaw University
Occupation	dressmaker
Spouse(s)	John Walcott Kay (1915–1927; his death)
Children	7 {including June Kay Campbell)
Parent(s)	Henry Gaston Otey Josephine Alston
Relatives	Bill Campbell (grandson) Ralph Campbell Jr. (grandson)

Willie Virginia Otey Kay (born March 17, 1894 – died September 25, 1992) was a talented African-American dressmaker. She became famous for creating beautiful wedding dresses and special gowns for young women for almost sixty years. Many people in North Carolina wanted her to design their formal clothes.

Willie Kay started her dressmaking business during a time when there were strict rules about race in the United States. Even so, she made clothes for both Black and white customers. She designed gowns for young women being introduced to society at important events, like the all-white North Carolina Debutante Ball and the all-Black Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Ball. She was often invited to attend these fancy balls herself!

Her amazing work was featured in popular magazines. In 1935, McCall's magazine wrote a story about her. Later, in 1951, one of her debutante gowns even appeared on the cover of Life magazine. Her designs were also shown in The News & Observer newspaper. In 2016, the North Carolina Museum of History created a special exhibit about her life and work.

Willie Kay was also the mother of June Kay Campbell, a well-known civil rights activist. Her grandsons, Ralph Campbell Jr. and Bill Campbell, became important politicians.

Early Life and Learning

Willie Virginia Otey was born on March 17, 1894, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her parents were Henry Gaston Otey and Josephine Alston Otey. She was the oldest of eight children. She grew up in her family's home near Raleigh's African-American Business District.

Her father was a successful African-American businessman. He owned a fancy barbershop in the Yarborough House Hotel. Many of his clients were white business and political leaders. This meant Willie grew up in a world where she saw a lot of important social and political discussions.

Willie learned to sew from her grandmother and mother, who were both skilled seamstresses. She later studied home economics at Shaw University. She graduated in 1912. While at Shaw, Willie won first prize in the school's dressmaking competition.

A Special Career

Willie Kay started her dressmaking business to support her seven children. This was after her husband passed away. She set up her shop right in her family's home. This way, she could work and also take care of her children. Her sisters, Mildred, Chloe, Josephine, and Elizabeth, also became successful dressmakers and helped her.

Willie's father helped her business by telling his important clients about her. Soon, wives and daughters of Raleigh's most important families started asking her to make dresses. Even though there was racial segregation in North Carolina, Willie designed clothes for both Black and white clients.

She was especially known for dressing young women for their "debutante" balls. These were events where young women were formally introduced to society. Willie designed gowns for both the all-Black Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Ball and the all-white North Carolina Debutante Ball. She even received tickets to attend both events! She also designed debutante gowns for her own granddaughters.

Willie Kay was very creative. She was known for changing debutante dresses into wedding dresses for her clients later on. Some of her famous clients included the wives and daughters of North Carolina governors and senators. She also made clothes for Addie Worth Bagley Daniels, a woman who fought for women's right to vote.

Willie Kay made many types of special clothes:

• Christening gowns for babies
• Debutante dresses for young women
• Party dresses and evening wear
• Wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses
• Special robes for religious leaders

Willie and her family did not use store-bought patterns. Instead, she used the sewing methods she learned from her family. She would first sketch her designs. Then, she would make practice versions out of muslin fabric or paper for her clients to try on. She used a Singer sewing machine for stitching seams. But she did all the detailed work, like adding beads or lace, by hand. Her sister, Lizzie, helped by creating beautiful lace and beadwork for her designs. Willie often worked with luxurious fabrics like silk, lace, and satin.

Her amazing work gained national attention. In 1935, McCall's magazine wrote a story about her. In 1951, one of her debutante gowns was even featured on the cover of Life magazine! Her designs were also shown in The News & Observer newspaper.

Family Life

While studying at Shaw University, Willie met John Walcott Kay. He was a medical student there. They got married in Raleigh in 1915. They moved to Wilmington, where her husband started his medical practice. He also helped open the Community Hospital for Black people.

Willie and John had seven children together. Sadly, her husband passed away in 1927 after a surgery. After his death, Willie moved her family back to Raleigh. They lived in her childhood home. She was a very religious person and attended St. Ambrose Church.

Her youngest daughter, June, married Ralph Campbell Sr., a civil rights activist. Willie Kay's home became a safe place for her grandchildren. This was especially true when their own home was threatened because of their family's work for civil rights.

Legacy and Recognition

Willie Otey Kay's work continues to be celebrated. In 2016, the North Carolina Museum of History opened a special exhibit about her. It was called Made Especially for You by Willie Kay. The exhibit showed many of her beautiful creations. These included wedding gowns, evening dresses, and even a christening outfit for her grandson, Ralph.

The exhibit ran from January to September. More of Willie Kay's designs are also on display at St. Augustine's University in Raleigh. You can also see her work at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Ohio. A beautiful stained glass window at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church is dedicated to her memory.

Images for kids

• 

  Willie Otey Kay in 1910