The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1922-12-23
NINE. HACKIH,
SINGER, Dies
IN DETR ROT
Celebrated Musician succumbs a
Home of Sister; Noted as
Pageant Producer

Madame E. Azalia Hackley, the
greatest producer of pageants and
recognized as the races leading
teacher of vocalism, died at the home
Of her sister in Detroit, Mich, on
Wednesday, night, December Is, after
an illness which extended over q pc
Rod of six years. Madame Hackley
was one Of the most remarkable
women in the public life Of our peo-
pie. For many years her time was
devoted to uplift work, her efforts
being specially centered in concerts
and pageants for the financial bene-
fit of schools, churches and other
classes of institutions vital to the
welfare of the race, and there are
many thriving enterprises which can
trace their present success to her aid.
Highly Educated u
Madame Hackley was born in Muir
freesboro, Tenn, and was 81 years
of age at the time of her death. She
was readed and educated in Detroit,
taught in the public schools of that
city for: a number of years and took
very prominent place in social and
musical circles. Her maiden name
was Smith. She married Edward
Hackley in Denver, Colo, and later
went to Europe, where she completed
her: musical education. For several
years she made her home in ePhila-
delphia, Pa, and later she moved to
Chicago, where she established a
studio on Calumet avenue. In her
line as a producer she had no equal.
It was common for her to enter a
community, assemble 500 or 600
"green" voices, train them in folk
songs and choruses in an unbeliev-
ably short time and present them in
pageant along with soloists, duos and
larger groups, all selected from
among them. Her power over these
groups was almost uncanny. and the
members Of her classes" often
ranged in age from to 10 years.
Her activities covered the entire
United States and her name and fame
has been a household word all over
this country for years.
Al Author
Madame Hackley was the author
of several volumes touching on social
and musical matters. Most promi-
nent among her books was "The Col
ored Girl Beautiful" which had a
large sale, and her ""Book on Pag-
eants,' containing a complete de-
scription Of her methods. She was
beautiful woman, physically and
morally, and was one of the few tai
ented individuals in public life who
scorned the press agent method of
gaining publicity. For years Madame
Hackley taught modestv in dressing.
Despite the fact that she was album
dainty able to patronize the best
modistes she was always plainly
though neatly Clad. and was often
referred to as s'The Lady in Gray on
account Of her prediction for that
color in both her private and profess
sional@ costumes. 49, ! - "a -
e. >s A Composer
Madame Hackley was one of the
most accomplished pianists of her
time, and her compositions were nu-
merous and Of a sort which demon
strated to a great extent her sympa-
thetic temperament. She was men,
her of the Detroit MUSICAL Society
and Of other organizations and was
graduate Of the Denver (Colo.) In
stitute of Music. Aside from other
relatives she is survived by her sis
Ter. Mrs. Marietta E. Johnson. 212a
Clinton avenue. Detroit. Mich. at
whose home and under whose loving
care she spent her last three years.
a letter from Mrs. johnson stated
that "AZalia was so lovable and sweet
IN her illness: her last words were:
! am tired; I a mgoing to Sleep
She closed her eyes and went to her
final rest" ~ =. T. =. -. : :