Archive Record
Metadata
Accession number |
A2003.092 |
Collection |
Freda Long Collection |
Title |
Freda Long Collection |
Catalog Number |
A2003.092 |
Object Name |
Archive |
Credit line |
Collection of the AAMI - Gift of Freda Long |
Physical characteristics |
scans only |
Dates of Creation |
1960 - 1990 |
Access Conditions |
Open for research - scans only |
Copyrights |
no known restrictions |
Scope & Content |
58 scans of photographs of African Americans in Cedar Rapids from 1960's to 1980's. Majority of photos are of events at Elks club in 1970's and 1980's. |
Biographical History |
Freda Long was born and raised in Cedar Rapids. She attended Cosmotology School in Des Moines and lived briefly in Detroit. She has worked for many years as a beautitican in Cedar Rapids and has collected has framed photos of African Americans from Cedar Rapids in her shop. These scans come largely from the photos in her shop. Freda Carole Blakey Long- born December 16, 1933 in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Freda initially wanted to be a nurse, but as one of the younger children, her parents could not afford to send her to nursing school so she decided to study to be a beautician. She wanted to go to Paris Academy in downtown Cedar Rapids, but they would not accept blacks, so she worked at Armstrong's Department store to save money in order to register at Crescent Beauty School in Des Moines Iowa. (Capri later took over Paris Academy) It cost $150.00 for the entire course and she needed 1800 hours in order to graduate. Freda paid $4.00 a month to stay at the school dormitory. While in school at Crescent, Freda would do Little Richard's hair when he came to Des Moines for concerts. She graduated in 1955 and took her first job with Thelma Price in her shop which was located in the 800 block of 8th Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Freda met Robert "Bob" Long who was a barber and worked with Walt Murray in Murray's. Freda and Bob married and they raised three children: Edwin Montgomery; Carole Long; and Theresa Long. Freda and Bob worked side by side for approximately 10 years and she worked for approximately 18 years on 8th Avenue SE. She eventually moved to her current location on 12th Avenue SE - Freda's Beauty Rama and Gift Shop. At the time Freda started working upon returning to Cedar Rapids in 1964, there were three licensed Black beauticians: Thelma Price, Lucille Farrington and herself. |
Search Terms |
Elks Beauty Dances Social occasions Washington High School Jane Boyd Community House Cedar Rapids Businesses - African American Owned African American business owners Families Appearances Businesses Community centers Education Fraternal organizations High schools |
People |
Long, Freda Blakey Blakey, Andrew Boyd, Jane |
Creator |
Freda Long |