Myra Hemmings
Encyclopedia
Myra Lillian Davis Hemmings (August 30, 1895 – December 8, 1968) was an American
actress and teacher
, and a founder of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Incorporated.
. At Howard University
in Washington, D.C.
, Davis was a part of the group of seven who were newly initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
in 1912, where she was elected president. A dichotomy ensued within the group of seven newly initiated women and the current establishment of Alpha Kappa Alpha, with the younger women, led by Davis, becoming progressively more dissatisfied with the sorority.
The seven women along with fifteen others voted to reorganized Alpha Kappa Alpha and formed Delta Sigma Theta. She was later named first president of Delta Sigma Theta's Alpha Chapter. In 1913, Hemmings graduated from Howard University. After graduation, Davis began teaching in 1913 in San Antonio, Texas. In 1922 Davis married John W. Hemmings, a former actor on Broadway
.
tragic drama film Go Down Death: The Story of Jesus and the Devil, she starred as the martyr
Sister Caroline. In addition to acting, Hemmings co-produced and co-directed the film. In the 1943
film Marching On, she played Mrs. Ellen Tucker. In Girl in Room 20 (1946
), she played Sarra Walker.
teacher, Hemmings directed plays from the 1920s to the 1950s at the Carver Community Cultural Center in San Antonio. Hemmings was elected as vice-president of Delta Sigma Theta in 1933 as well as the organization's historian in 1948. In 1947, Hemmings received her Master of Arts
degree in speech
from Northwestern University
. Hemmings also continued to teach in San Antonio for fifty-one years. She was also a member of the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women
and the Alpha Phi Literary Society. Hemmings died in 1968 in San Antonio.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, and a founder of Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
Sorority, Incorporated.
Early life
Hemmings was born to Henry and Susan (Dement) Davis. In 1909, she graduated from Riverside High School in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. At Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Davis was a part of the group of seven who were newly initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
in 1912, where she was elected president. A dichotomy ensued within the group of seven newly initiated women and the current establishment of Alpha Kappa Alpha, with the younger women, led by Davis, becoming progressively more dissatisfied with the sorority.
The seven women along with fifteen others voted to reorganized Alpha Kappa Alpha and formed Delta Sigma Theta. She was later named first president of Delta Sigma Theta's Alpha Chapter. In 1913, Hemmings graduated from Howard University. After graduation, Davis began teaching in 1913 in San Antonio, Texas. In 1922 Davis married John W. Hemmings, a former actor on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
.
Acting
Hemmings was active in amateur theater and participated in the San Antonio Negro Little Theater by directing productions. She and her husband helped to organize Phyllis Wheatley Dramatic Guild Players. In her career, she appeared in three films. First, in the 19411941 in film
The year 1941 in film involved some significant events.-Events:Citizen Kane, consistently rated as one of the greatest films of all time, was released in 1941.-Top grossing films :-Academy Awards:...
tragic drama film Go Down Death: The Story of Jesus and the Devil, she starred as the martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
Sister Caroline. In addition to acting, Hemmings co-produced and co-directed the film. In the 1943
1943 in film
The year 1943 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 3 - 1st missing persons telecast * February 20 - American film studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor films....
film Marching On, she played Mrs. Ellen Tucker. In Girl in Room 20 (1946
1946 in film
The year 1946 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*November 21 - William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives premieres in New York featuring an ensemble cast including Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell.*December 20 - Frank Capra's It's a...
), she played Sarra Walker.
Later life
As a dramaDrama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
teacher, Hemmings directed plays from the 1920s to the 1950s at the Carver Community Cultural Center in San Antonio. Hemmings was elected as vice-president of Delta Sigma Theta in 1933 as well as the organization's historian in 1948. In 1947, Hemmings received her Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in speech
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. Hemmings also continued to teach in San Antonio for fifty-one years. She was also a member of the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women
National Council of Negro Women
The National Council of Negro Women is a non-profit organization with the mission to advance the opportunities and the quality of life for African American women, their families and communities. NCNW fulfills this mission through research, advocacy, national and community based services and...
and the Alpha Phi Literary Society. Hemmings died in 1968 in San Antonio.