Charles L. Spriggs (b. 1893 - d. 1942)
MSA SC 5496-050593
Alderman in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Biography:
Charles Lancelot Spriggs was born in Annapolis on August 7, 1893, to Harry E. Spriggs, a mail carrrier, and his wife, Agnes S. Dove. Charles had one brother, Leon, and one sister, Julia E.1 He married Anita Cook around 1913 or 1914, with whom he had three children: Walter (b. 1914), Juanita (b. 1915), and Joseph (b. b. 1916).2 In 1917, he was drafted into the Naval Reserve Force and assigned duty as a mess attendant third class at the Naval Hospital in Annapolis. Spriggs' service ended on April 9, 1919,3 and he began working as a messenger for the Naval Academy. He and his family lived with Anita's mother, Rachel, and her children.4
In July 1925, Charles Spriggs and Charles A. Oliver, both Republicans, were elected as Aldermen of the fourth ward.5 Spriggs sat on the City Council for the next seventeen years, as well as on the Annapolis Water Board. He also worked as a steward at the Naval Academy's health club,6 and served as exalted ruler of the Ancient City Lodge No. 175, Improved Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks [dates still unknown].7
In early February 1932, Spriggs was seriously injured when Walter "Doggie" Queen struck him with a shovel during an altercation with one of Spriggs' sons.8 The police court fined Queen $12.50. The Alderman had recuperated at least by March, when he attended Kermit Simms' birthday party on the 25th.9
Spriggs had lived at 87 Washington Street since at least 1920, and in 1925, he had purchased the house from Wiley H. Bates.10 By 1939, however, Spriggs moved his family to 17 Lafayette Street, although he still owned the Washington Street property. Spriggs lived at the two-story row house on Lafayette Street for the rest of his life.11
On February 10, 1942, the Annapolis Capital published an article on housing for black families in Annapolis. According to the article, Alderman Spriggs "declared that four or five families were living in a four-room house. He said that school teachers could not find quarters here and had to get rooms in Baltimore or Washington." Both Alderman Spriggs and Alderman Alphonse Addison had pointed out the housing issues at the monthly city council meeting with Governor Herbert R. O'Conor.12
Charles Spriggs passed away at home on March 20, 1942 from a heart attack.
He was buried at St. Anne's Parish in Annapolis, although the funeral took
place at Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church. His death certificate
stated that his main occupation was "Naval Athletic Stewart."13
In April, the City Council elected Walter Adams (R) to fill the Spriggs'
seat (4th Ward) for the remainder of the term.14 That month,
the council also passed a resolution honoring the late Alderman Spriggs
as a "prominent and useful citizen" who served "with fidelity and distinction."15
1. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS, (Death Record, Counties), [MSA S1179-7104].
Charles L. Spriggs, March 20, 1942.
DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS, (Death Record, Counties), [MSA S1179-6920].
Agnes Dove Spriggs, July 28, 1941.
U.S. Census
Record (Census Record, MD) for Harry Spriggs, 1900, Anne Arundel County,
Annapolis Ward 3, District 16, Page 27, Line 24 [MSA SM61-376, M 2366-2].
U.S. Census
Record (Census Record, MD) for Harry E. Spriggs, 1910, Anne Arundel County,
Annapolis Ward 3, District, Page 24, Line 99 [MSA SM61-427, M 3253-1].
Continued on Page 25, Line 1.
2. U.S. Census Record (Census Record, MD) for Charles L. Spriggs, 1920, Anne Arundel County, Annapolis Ward 4, District 26, Page 17, Line 25 [MSA SM61-466, M 10102-1].
3. World War I Draft Registration
Card for Charles L. Spriggs, June 1917, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Card 930, No. 86, Page 716.
Regulations
Governing the Organization and Adminstration of the Naval Reserve Force.
Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1919.
4. U.S. Census Record (Census Record, MD) for Charles L. Spriggs, 1920, Anne Arundel County, Annapolis Ward 4, District 26, Page 17, Line 25 [MSA SM61-466, M 10102-1].
5. "Annapolis Aldermen to Get Water Post." Afro Amerian 1 August 1925: A15. ProQuest Historical Newspapers, Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988).
6. U.S. Census Record (Census Record, MD) for Launscott Spriggs, 1930, Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, District 33, Line 17 [MSA SM61-510, M 12915-1].
7. "Will Hold Funeral Rites for Alderman." The Capital 21 March 1942: 1. Access Newspaper Archive.
8. "Capital Man Hits Alderman, Fined." Afro American 13 February 1932: 13.
9. "Annapolis." Afro
American
8 February 1930: A13.
"87 Washington
Street, Annapolis: AA 1572." Maryland Historical Trust. www.mdihp.net.
Polk's City Annapolis (Anne
Arundel County, Maryland) Directory (Boston, MA: R.L. Polk & Co.,
Inc., 1954) 103.
10. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Land Records), Liber 3167, Folio 217, 1979-1979, MSA CE 59-3511. Wiley H. Bates to Charles L. Spriggs and Anita Spriggs, October 26, 1925.
11. "Kermit Simms Honored When Parents
are Hosts." Afro American 16 April 1932.
DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS, (Death Record, Counties), [MSA S1179-7104].
Charles L. Spriggs, March 20, 1942.
"17
Lafayette Street, Annapolis: AA-1896." Maryland Historical Trust.
www.mdihp.net.
ANNE
ARUNDEL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Land Records), Liber RPD 7854, Folio 414,
1997-1997, MSA CE 59-8198. Julia E. Diggs to Anita E. Carroll, January
29, 1947.
12. "Colored Housing." The Capital 10 February 1942: 1 and 6.
13. "Will Hold Funeral Rites for Alderman."
The
Capital 21 March 1942: 1.
DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS, (Death Record, Counties), [MSA S1179-7104].
Charles L. Spriggs, March 20, 1942.
14. No Title. The Capital 13
April 1942: 1.
"Name Adams
Fourth Ward Chairman." The Capital 14 April 1942: 1.
15. "Name Adams Fourth Ward Chairman."
The Capital 14 April 1942: 6.
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