Whitman Sisters

The Whitman Sisters
(l-r) Alberta, Alice, Mabel, Essie
"Bert" and Alice Whitman

The Whitman Sisters were four African-American sisters who were stars of Black Vaudeville.[1] They ran their own performing touring company for over forty years from 1900 to 1943, becoming the longest-running and best-paid act on the T.O.B.A. circuit. They comprised Mabel (May) (b. Ohio; 1880–1942), Essie (Essie Barbara Whitman; b. Osceola, Arkansas, July 4, 1882 – May 7, 1963), Alberta "Bert" (b. Kansas; 1887–1964) and Alice (b. Georgia; 1900–December 29, 1968).[2][3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ Notable Black American Women, Book 2 ed. Jessie Carney Smith, 1996, ISBN 0810391775, pp. 707–709
  2. ^ "Whitman Sisters (biography)", Library of Congress
  3. ^ Vaudeville old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performances in America, Volume 1, ISBN 0415938538, pp. 1199–1200
  4. ^ Bill Reed, Hot from Harlem: Twelve African American Entertainers, 1890–1960, McFarland, 2009, ISBN 0786457260, Section "The Queens of Toby Time: Whitman Sisters", pp. 29–41.
  5. ^ " Alice Whitman and the Whitman Sisters’ Legacy", International Tap Dance Hall of Fame
  6. ^ "Whitman Sisters". Streetswing.com.