Shropshire, Louise

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Louise Shropshire was born Louise Jarrett on February 15, 1913 in Coffee County, Alabama to a family of sharecroppers. Her grandparents had been slaves. In 1917, her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Louise married Robert Shropshire Sr. who was a bail bondsman.

Shropshire was a choral director and composer of religious hymns. While attending the 1935 National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in Cincinnati, she was discovered by Reverend Thomas A. Dorsey. Shropshire went on to publish several gospel compositions and co-wrote some with Rev. Dorsey. Her compositions include: I Know Jesus Pilots Me, Are you Worthy to Take Communion, Come on, Jesus Will Save You Right Now, Crucified for Me, and His Precious Blood . The song, If My Jesus Wills, which she wrote sometime in the 1930s or early 1940s is argued to be the base of the Civil Rights Movement hymn, We Shall Overcome .

From the guide to the Louise Shropshire family papers, 1921-2002, (University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Luvenia A. George Collection, 1905-2003, bulk 1935-1998 Indiana University Archives of African American Music & Culture, AAAMC
creatorOf Louise Shropshire family papers, 1921-2002 University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith George, Luvenia A., 1930- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Choruses, Sacred
Occupation
Composers
Activity

Person

Birth 1915-02-15

Death 1993

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SNAC ID: 57190539