Georgine E. Upshur [Willis], 1943 University of Pennsylvania Graduation

Item

Tags

Joy Relationship and Community Building Status Resilience Sororities Celebration Opportunity Generations Access Play Advancement Black is Beautiful Style Excitement Graduation Parties Dress Up Cultural Celebrations
Title
Georgine E. Upshur [Willis], 1943 University of Pennsylvania Graduation
Description
This photograph features Georgine Elizabeth (née Upshur) Willis posing for her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania in 1943.
Georgine Elizabeth Upshur Willis (1921-1998) was born to William Arthur Upshur Jr. (1894-1963) and Agnes (née Chew) Upshur (1896-1984). The Upshurs were a prominent, affluent African-American family with connections in Philadelphia politics, community, education, and culture.

Georgine graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1943 receiving a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts. As noted in the Diary of the Women of the Class of 1943 (found on page 140 of the Georgine E. Upshur Willis collection), Gene lived at the time on 817 S. 21st Street, attended the College for Women, and was a member of both Delta Sigma Theta and Pi Gamma Mu. She proceeded to become an undertaker following in her father’s footsteps, passing the state mortician’s exam in or around 1949.
See the entire Georgine E. Upshur Willis collection at The Library Company of Pennsylvania
Map to Gene’s home during college at 817 S. 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA
Contributor
The Library Company of Philadelphia
Date Created
1943
Creator
Willis, Georgine Upshur
Rights
This work is not in copyright, but commercial uses of this digital representation are limited. For more information, contact printroom@librarycompany.org and see http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-NC/1.0/
Identifier
P.2022.16.20
Language
eng
Format
Image
Extent
1 image
Spatial Coverage
Philadelphia, PA
Publisher
The Library Company of Philadelphia
Is Part Of
Stevens-Cogdell/Sanders Venning Collection - Upshur Willis Collection_Georgine E. Upshur Willis collection_P.2022.16.20
Subject
University of Pennsylvania--Students
Graduation gowns
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Morticians