Archive Record
Metadata
Accession number |
A2003.018 |
Collection |
Louis Dade |
Title |
The Louis Dade Collection |
Catalog Number |
A2003.018 |
Object Name |
Archive |
Credit line |
Collection of the AAMI - Courtesy of Louis Dade |
Physical characteristics |
Boxed documents span two linear inches. |
Dates of Creation |
1908-2001 |
Access Conditions |
Open for research. |
Copyrights |
no known restrictions |
Scope & Content |
The Louis Dade papers date from 1908 to 2001 and measure 2 linear inches. The general papers include biographical information, personal correspondences, newspaper clippings, and a program on Lawrence Oliver Memorial. In addition, there are a variety of photographs of Louis, golfing, and family members. |
Biographical History |
Louis Phillip Dade was born in Canton, Missouri on February 10, 1908. His parents names are Den and Etta, and siblings Robert, Hazel, Glades, and Elizabeth Dade. Louis went to school till about the age of 14 completing the seventh grade. Mr. Dade left school either at the end of 7th grade or during his 8th grade year. The segregated school in Canton only went to the 8th grade. If he had wanted to continue his schooling, he would have had to go to Hannibal, over 40 miles away, the closest town with a high school for African Americans. He did odd jobs for various firms from age 14 to age 17 including working for Carrol Clay, a local lawyer's son on his farm, working on the railroad. However, they let him go because they felt that he was too young, and in addition he had his own shoe shine stand. He came to Fort Madison at age 17 in 1927 with a cousin, as they knew some people in the area. The cousin soon returned to Canton. For one year, Dade worked in the Anthes Hotel first in the barbershop brushing clothes and shining shoes and then as a bell hop. Later that year, on August 31 1928, he married Francis Holder. Louis then quit working at the hotel and started working for Schaeffers. He performed a variety of task for the family, first as chauffeur then doing general butler work, finally performing direct care work for Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer as they aged. The Schaeffers Pen Company was well known for their exquisite pens, as well as one of the first ball-point pens. Dade had played on an integrated football team in Canton. He became interested in golf when the Mr. W.H. Shaffer installed a driving range in the basement. Mr. Shaffer played at the local country club in Fort Madison. Dade never played with or caddied for Shaffer. At first, Dade had great difficulty finding courses to play on. On one occasion in the late 1920's, he did talk to a local attorney about not being allowed to play on the Fort Madison course. During WWII, Dade left the Shaffer's working first at Wisconsin Steel in Chicago and then going to Santa Monica, California where he was able to obtain a job at Douglass Aircraft through his brother-in-law. While in Santa Monica, Shaffer's son called and asked Dade to return as his father was ill. Dade did so and took care of first Mr. Shaffer and then Mrs. Shaffer until their deaths. Dade has remained in close contact with the Shaffer family attending a Shaffer family reunion in 2003 at the families request. After Mrs. Shaffer's death in 1961, Dade began to teach golf. He would spend his winters in Arizona and his summers in Iowa teaching golf. He taught one day per week at a variety of courses. They are as follows: Spring Lake 1961-1997, Mt. Pleasant Count Club 1965-1985, Burlington Flint Hills - circa 1990, New London 1965-1985. Since 1985, there has been a tournament in Dade's honor at Spring Lake. At age 82, he shot an 80 while winning a senior's tournament at Wapello Indian Hills near Morning Sun. At age 89, he shot an 81. He has played golf with Tennessee Ernie Ford, Willie Mays, and Bobby Bonds. Louis ended up remarrying because his first wife pasted away at an early age. He married Violet Horan on April 11, 1979. Louis retired from teaching golf in 1996. One year later his second wife passed away. |
Finding Aids |
Box no.___Description__________ Box 1 Louis Dade, Collection Biographical Information Correspondence, 1997-2001, and undated Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1989, and undated W. Lawrence Oliver Memorial, 1997 Photographs Family and Friends, undated Louis Dade, 1908-1969, and undated Unidentified Louis Dade with Wife, undated Golf, 1965-1999, and undated Tony Dade Family, 2000 and undated OS Collection Photographs (believed to be Dade's) Oval portrait of young girl, undated Oval portrait of young man, undated |
Search Terms |
Fort Madison Sports Golf Tournaments - Golf Golf instructors Golf pros Golf tournaments |
People |
Dade, Den Dade, Etta Dade, Robert Dade, Hazel Dade, Gladys Dade, Elizabeth Clay, Carrol Holder, Francis Schaeffer, William A. Ford, Tennessee Ernie Mays, Willie Bonds, Bobby Horan, Violet Dade, Frances Oliver, Lawrence Dade, Tony Dade, Louis |