Esther M. Anderson

Esther (Essie) M. Anderson (nee Hogue, born in Alabama c.1905 - died in Los Angeles, California, 1964), wife of Rev. George E. Anderson (1891-1957).
Essie came from a religious rural background. She was born not far from Marion, Alabama. Her father, Elias Hogue, was involved in church life, "First Annual Session of the Proposed New Organization (for Negroes)." The Marion Times-Standard [Marion, Alabama], 5 Nov. 1909, p.5. and moved family to St. Louis, Missouri, where he became a Pastor of St. Andrew Baptist Church. In 1920, at sixteen, Essie married George E. Anderson. "Marriage Licenses." The St. Louis Star and Times [St. Louis, Missouri] 14 Dec. 1920, p.23. 
She became a mother of two and a step-mother of one: George Anderson had a son from a previous marriage. During the Great Depression Andersons moved to Los Angeles, California, were George worked as an automobile mechanic. 1930 United States Federal Census, California, Los Angeles, District 305, p.64. 
In Los Angeles Andersons attended Mt. Olive Missionary Church where Essie became a good asset to the music program, excelling in Gospel songs. Montgomery, N. L. “Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church.” The California Eagle [Los Angeles, California], 7 Feb. 1933, p. 7. 
Fitting into established, better-educated African-American community of Los Angeles was not an easy task for a timid young woman who was born and raised in a provincial Alabama town and finished only four years of grammar school. Cox, Bette Yarbrough. “The Evolution of Black Music in Los Angeles, 1890–1955.” Seeking El Dorado: African Americans in California, edited by Lawrence B. De Graaf at al., Seattle; London, University of Washington Press, 2001, pp. 249–78. Catherine Parsons Smith. Making Music in Los Angeles: Transforming the Popular. University of California Press, 2007.
There, however, she made a historically significant contribution to Gospel music. In 1931 Essie authored a song "This Little Light of Mine" for which she was praised and encouraged by Rev. H. D. Prowd who reported to a local newspaper: 
"It was Communion Day, and we had a joyful time. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Prowd, the newest 	bridegroom and bride were in attendance, and the whole church, led by Deacon Peace, gave them a sincere and hearty welcome. Deacon Price using Deaconess Anderson's song - "This Little Light of Mine" gave us a real blessing. Our Brother Lewis will be on the track, very soon, with this song."Prowd, Henry D. “Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church.” The California Eagle [Los Angeles, California], 8 May 1931, p. 7.	
Composing a song that would become a banner of the Civil Rights movement,Jackson-Brown, Irene. “Developments in Black Gospel Performance and Scholarship.” Black Music Research Journal, vol. 10, no. 1, 1990, p. 36. did not help Essie to establish her name in a music world. DjeDje, Jacqueline Cogdell. “Los Angeles Composers of African American Gospel Music: The First Generations.” American Music, vol. 11, no. 4, 1993, pp. 412–57. Darden, Robert. Nothing but Love in God’s Water (Volume 1: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement). 1st ed., Penn State University Press, 2014.
Essie, not familiar with the copyright logistics, almost immediately lost control over her song. Vézina, Brigitte. Moral Rights: Copyright’s Poor Relation. Centre for International Governance Innovation, 2020, pp. 3–7, Ensuring Respect for Indigenous Cultures: A Moral Rights Approach, www.jstor.org/stable/resrep25328.7. Accessed 28 Nov. 2021.
"This Little Light of Mine," eagerly adapted by the traveling preachers and missionaries, soon fell into a public domain. Radio performances promoted the song's popularity. The African-American singing group "The La France Jubilaires," based in Texas, introduced "This Little Light of Mine" to the wide radio audiences as early as September of 1933.
 "Jubilaires." The Dallas Morning News [Dallas,Texas], Sep.8, 1933, p.7.
Essie's husband George, encouraged by Rev. H. D. Prowd, transformed himself from a Deacon and an occasional preacher into a full-time Baptist minister. At first he took charge of the Bethel Baptist church, and several years later founded the Third Baptist Church of Los Angeles. "Third Baptist Church to Celebrate 24th Year." The California Eagle [Los Angeles, California], 1 Nov. 1962, p.6. 
The Andersons couple continuously supported Gospel music, hosting an array of events, from recitals to the choir "battles." "Noted Musicians Appear in Gospel Song Concert." The California Eagle [Los Angeles, California], 14 Aug. 1947, p.16. As a "First Lady" of a church, Essie became member of the inter-denominational Minister's Wives Council of Los Angeles were she served as a Treasurer. 
 "Minister's Wives Close Successful Term Here." The California Eagle[Los Angeles, California], 30 Dec. 1943, p.3.
Even though Essie's dream of writing a history of the Third Baptist Church was never fulfilled, she left an imprint in history of Gospel music that should be never forgotten or minimized. Popov, Irina G."'This Little Light of Mine:' to the Headwaters of a Song," paper presented at 5th Annual History Symposium at Tuskegee University, February 12, 2021. 
Category:1905 births
Category:1964 deaths