Black Families in 20th Century Grinnell

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Black Families in 20th Century Grinnell

PRIMARY TOPIC:
The family history of Black families in 20th century Grinnell (specifically the Thomases and the Tibbses)

OTHER SUBJECTS or BRIEF SUMMARY:
Black population, Black birth records, family, children, local businesses

Post title: Born Black in Grinnell: Overlooked No More

Date published: February 28, 2023

Link to blog post: https://grinnellstories.blogspot.com/2023/02/born-black-in-grinnell-overlooked-no.html

Summary: Despite records of Black births during and before the 20th century being scarce across the country—especially in Grinnell, where the Black population was already small—there were some families who made Grinnell their home that we have records of. The Thomases were one such family, and the post details Carl and Anna Mae Thomas’s lives together, their children, residences, and business (with some background on Anna Mae’s family, the Brooks, as well). Additionally, the history of the Tibbs family is also explored in the same areas, with information of how they knew each other.

411 First Avenue
707 Sumner Street
712 Elm Street
714 Center Street
723 Sumner Street
729 Center Street
733 Main Street
1003 Prairie Street
1031 Elm Street
Brobyn, Thomas
Brooks, Leonard
Brooks (Harrelson), Sallie
Brooks, William
Davis Elementary
Davis, Evelyn Jean
Dudley, Lewis
Elks’ Lodge
Grinnell Washing Machine Company
Hollingsworth, Hazel
Juarez, Anna
Juarez, Roberto
Korfmacher, Edwin
Palmer, Cynthia
Palmer, Dorothy Tarleton
Redrick, Carrie
Renfrow, Eva
Sister Pauline
St. Francis Hospital
Sumner Brothers Seed Company
Thomas, Andrea
Thomas, Anthony
Thomas, Carl Eugene
Thomas, Gregory Eugene
Thomas, Jeffery C.
Thomas, Kenneth
Thomas, Leonard “Lennie” Macey
Thomas, Pearl
Thomas, Ricardo Brooks
Thomas, Sheila Ann
Thomas, Steven
Thomas Juarez (Brooks), Anna Mae
Tibbs, Albert S.
Tibbs, Albert, Jr.
Tibbs, Barbara
Tibbs, Larry
Tibbs, Mamie
Tibbs, Robert (Danny)
Tibbs, Virginia
Washington, Mary Tessel