Azalea Festival Parade on South Battery

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Description:

Photograph of the Jenkins Orphanage Band traveling west on South Battery past Villa Margherita house during the Azalea Festival Parade. Paine noted on reverse, "Jenkins Orph. Band - Photo by M.B. Paine."

The Jenkins Orphanage was founded in 1891 by Reverend Daniel Jenkins. At that time, it was the only refuge for Black orphans in the state of South Carolina and was soon filled to capacity. Realizing the yearly stipend the City of Charleston allotted him was not enough to cover expenses, the Reverend decided to find another avenue for raising money. Requesting old instruments from the locals and asking the Citadel for cast off uniforms, he hired musicians, P.M. Logan and Francis Mikell to instruct the youngsters on playing music. Initially playing on street corners for donations, the Jenkins Orphanage Band was soon touring the U.S. and abroad. By the 1920s, the orphanage had not only become the place for up-and-coming musicians to go and play, it had also become the training ground for top performers. One such performer was jazz trumpeter William Alfonzo "Cat" Anderson who would go on to play in Duke Ellington's orchestra from 1944 to 1971.

At the time this photograph was taken, band revenues had began to decline. The trips continued until the 1950s when they ended altogether.

Today, the orphanage has become the Jenkins Institute for Children and continues to provide services and activities for boys and girls in the community.