Texas native and Shreveport resident Minnie Edwards "Mother" Cope (1880-1962) claimed she won her first fiddling competition at age 18 in Greenville, Texas; which earned her $10. However it was when in her late 60s that her musical prowess, demonstrated at regional "Old Fiddlers" competitions, garnered her public attention.
EARLY LIFE
She was born Minnie Yougenia Edwards on 21-Jul-1880 to Allison Alonzo Edwards and Sarah Susanna 'Sally' Hooten Edwards. The 1900 U.S. Census listed the family, that included older sisters Anna and Lela, living Cass County, Texas; where Mr. Edwards' occupation was stated as logger. In 1902 he was appointed postmaster at Avinger, Texas (a town within Cass) and Minnie worked as a clerk under him. She married James B. Cope in November of that year, and the couple apparently relocated at least briefly to Palestine, Texas where son James Morris was born in in 1911. Mr. Edwards passed away in March 1912, and Minnie was appointed Avinger postmaster, a position she held until 1914. Husband James, only 40 years old, died in October 1912 of an unknown cause.
The next mention found of Minnie is in 1918, where she, then of Orange, Texas; was identified as the new financial secretary for the Louisiana Children's Home; an orphanage in Jennings, Louisiana. For several years she was noted fundraising for the institution, and later was named its superintendent. Seemingly at odds with these south Louisiana activities (though it is clearly her in both places) is the fact that she maintained formal residence in Avinger during this time, per the 1920 and 1930 censuses. By 1940, she and Morris resided at 934 Gary Street in Shreveport (near Stoner and Fairfield avenues, and now the site of an electrical substation), having lived in Dallas five years prior. Her occupation was listed as "saleswoman - mercantile."
FIDDLING CAREER
In a 1949 interview, Minnie stated she had been competing for 51 years, though no early-in-life mention of a fiddling background could be found. She began first playing the organ and got her first fiddle at age 15 when her family made a cattle trade. Left-handed, she learned her instrument through self-study, having never had a lesson, and played by ear and by reading music. Her favorite violin was Italian-made (supposedly in 1590), which was given to her by her late husband James before they were married. She also stated she owned a Stradivarius (presumably a copy).
By her late 60s, she began competing in "Old Fiddlers" contests, then popular events (and still so in some locales), held stand-alone or in conjunction with local festivals and fairs. Contestants were usually divided into divisions by age and/or sex, and typically performed traditional fiddle tunes (e.g., "Turkey In The Straw," "Old Dan Tucker" and "Arkansas Traveler"). In some instances an overall champion would be named.
Competitions found in which she participated and results are listed as follows:
By her late 60s, she began competing in "Old Fiddlers" contests, then popular events (and still so in some locales), held stand-alone or in conjunction with local festivals and fairs. Contestants were usually divided into divisions by age and/or sex, and typically performed traditional fiddle tunes (e.g., "Turkey In The Straw," "Old Dan Tucker" and "Arkansas Traveler"). In some instances an overall champion would be named.
Competitions found in which she participated and results are listed as follows:
1947
Texas Yamboree - Gilmer, Texas: 3rd Place
1948
Yamboree - special prize for oldest fiddle
1949
Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion - Athens, Texas: Grand Prize and First Prize among woman fiddlers
1950
Texas State Fair - Dallas: First Prize, Women's Division and First Prize Husband-calling (apparently a female variation on hog-calling)
Describing her approach in the latter event, she said she imagines that her husband is an hour late for supper and "I have just spied him talking to a pretty woman neighbor. then I'm in the mood for a good husband-calling in a kind of panther moan."
For her accomplishments, she received special recognition on the Shreveport Journal editorial page.
Describing her approach in the latter event, she said she imagines that her husband is an hour late for supper and "I have just spied him talking to a pretty woman neighbor. then I'm in the mood for a good husband-calling in a kind of panther moan."
1951
Texas Fiddlers Association Statewide Competition - Houston: Second Place among combined men and women
Texas Fiddlers Association - Carrollton: Tied for First Place; said to have later appeared in a related parade and performed with both the Chuck Wagon Gang and the Light Crust Doughboys.
Below, she was a hit at Carrollton.
Minnie had appeared with Bob Shelton's Old Barn Dance broadcasted on WFAA in Dallas in 1949. Below she was advertised to appear with the leader of the Shelton Brothers and Sunshine Boys music groups per the November 1951 advertisement below.
1952
Annual Fiddlers Reunion: Oldest woman fiddler
She was a also regular for two years on Hal Burns' variety show on KWKH in Shreveport, and was also a member of the Shreveport Symphony.
During the early 1950s Mrs. Cope was mentioned several times in the newspaper performing for local functions, particularly for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary and "Golden Age" Club, of which she was a member. Lineups varied but often included son Morris on guitar. On occasion noted multi-instrumentalists Dr. Joseph E. Richardson and Otis L. Wheat performed with her. They and others are listed and/or pictured below.
Mother Cope (in center of photo) and her "Dixie Merrymakers." Among the band members is her son Morris (in suit to her left).
Dr. Richardson was a Shreveport dentist and leader of the local old-time fiddlers community..
Below, musician, music instructor, and instrument maker Otis L. Wheat, pictured in 1977.
Sue Shelemi, holding guitar below, shown with part a group of of children performing on radio station KRMD. Other are C. W. Yearwood and Jerry Glenn Kennedy (l-r, back), and Darlene Franks. Jerry later became a professional musician, record producer, and music industry executive. Darlene is the daughter of professional musician and talent manager Tillman Franks.
An occasion where Mrs. Cope, Otis Wheat, and others backed a local country band, Woodie and the Bayou Boys during a VFW performance.
Guitarist Jack Green, one of the Bayou Boys.
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| Jack Green, pictured in 1957 |
LATER LIFE
No further reports of Mrs. Cope's musical activities were found after January 1956, that being a prior month performance at the "Golden Age" Club. Her son, James Morris Cope passed away in July 1960 from a long undisclosed illness. His obituary stated he had lived in Shreveport 23 years with the occupation of school bus driver. It did not however mention his musical background.
Mrs. Minnie Edwards "Mother" Cope passed away 03-Jun-1962, and is interred at Centuries Memorial Park in Shreveport. As was the case with Morris, nothing was stated in her obituary about her wonderful musical story.
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