Headstone Dedication Event | Gladys Mae Sellers aka Madame Goldye Steiner
Schedule
Tue, 06 Aug, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Location
Mt. Olivet Cemetery RSVP for detailed location info https://linktr.ee/madamegoldye | Milwaukee, WI
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RSVP for detailed location info https://linktr.ee/madamegoldyeGrave marker dedication for the previously unmarked grave of Gladys Mae Sellers, aka Madame Goldye Steiner
Madame Goldye Steiner was a trailblazer. Born Gladys Mae Sellers, she was a pioneering vocalist & fixture in early 20th century Wisconsin known as “Milwaukee’s Bronze Melba.” She then went on to become a sensation in New York’s Yiddish theater, debuting in 1924 as “Madame Goldye Steiner,” the only Black woman who sang Jewish prayer music as part of the golden age of khazones--the art form of Ashkenazi Jewish cantorial signing.
With partners including Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum, Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, and Edot Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity and Racial Justice Collaborative, The Madame Goldye Steiner Project is working to "rematriate" Madame Goldye's narrative, reintegrating her story into the fabric of Milwaukee's Black history, Milwaukee's Jewish history, and the city's thriving contemporary Black arts community.
In 2023, the project located Madme Goldye's unmarked grave in Milwaukee, and coordinated a successful fundraiser with Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum to purchase a grave marker. The marker has been placed, and there will be two August in-person events to dedicate the marker. These events are free and open to the public.
Tuesday, August 6 at noon there will be a grave marker dedication ceremony at the cemetery, near the intersection of 35th Street and West Morgan Avenue in Milwaukee. Shahanna McKinney Baldon of the Madame Goldye Steiner Project will speak, as well as Rabbi Tamar Manasseh, the first woman ordained as a rabbi by the Israelite Rabbinical Academy.
Wednesday, August 7 5:30-7:30 PM there will be a celebratory reception followed by a theatrical presentation featuring Shahanna McKinney-Baldon and Aviv Kammay at Gallery 507, 507 West North Avenue in Milwaukee, as part of Milwaukee Bronzeville Week. Special thanks to the office of Alderwoman Milele Coggs for supporting the idea of including a Madame Goldye Steiner program as part of the official calendar of events for Milwaukee's 2024 Bronzeville week!
It is unknown at this time whether these events will be livestreamed. If there will be livestreaming, that information will be posted here. There will also be a future online marker dedication event.
A designated fund to receive tax-deductible donations for these activities has been established through Edot, an organization that does important work lifting up the stories and leadership of Black Jews. Donate to the fund at https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjAxMTgw
What an exciting way to celebrate the centennial year of Madame Goldye Steiner!
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Where is it happening?
Mt. Olivet Cemetery RSVP for detailed location info https://linktr.ee/madamegoldye, 3801 W Morgan Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53221-5701, United States,Milwaukee, WisconsinEvent Location & Nearby Stays: