By Mellini Kantayya
The story of Tressie Souders (Unknown – Unknown), or perhaps more accurately, the lack of details about Tressies Souders’ life and work exemplifies the need to research and rescue early film-works of women and women of color.
What led scholars to Souders’ film, A Woman’s Error (1922) was Henry T. Sampson’s book, Blacks in Black and White: A Source on Black Films. We do know that in 1922, Souders was named by the Black press as the first African-American woman director. Sampson also names her as A Woman’s Error’s screenwriter and producer.
Learn more about Tressie Souders on Columbia University’s Women Film Pioneers’ Project website and the book Blacks in Black and White: A Source on Black Films, by Henry T. Sampson.
Citation: Morgan, Kyna. “Tressie Souders.” In Jane Gaines, Radha Vatsal, and Monica Dall’Asta, eds. Women Film Pioneers Project. Center for Digital Research and Scholarship. New York, NY: Columbia University Libraries, 2013. Web. September 27, 2013. <https://wfpp.cdrs.columbia.edu/pioneer/tressie-souders-2/>
Mellini_Kantayya
Related Posts
NYWIFT at Sundance: In Conversation with Ericka Nicole Malone
Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment presents the “Indie Director’s and Creator’s Spotlight” in celebration of diversity in filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival 2023. Featuring a day of education, industry networking and panels, its evening activation will transform into a Neo Soul lounge with the sultry sounds of 3x Grammy Award-nominated R&B/Neo Soul Singer Angie Stone as the headliner.
READ MORENYWIFT Black History Month Spotlight: Taylor Re Lynn
Happy Black History Month! At NYWIFT we are celebrating the Black creators and artists in our membership, while honoring Black culture & cinema throughout history. Today’s spotlight is on our member Taylor Re Lynn, an actor, singer, producer, and philanthropist.
READ MORECynthia’s Picks: Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, let’s shine a light on the artists and changemakers in media.
READ MORENYWIFT Black History Month Spotlight: Brianna Seagraves
Happy Black History Month! At NYWIFT we are celebrating the Black creators and artists in our membership, while honoring Black culture & cinema throughout history. Today’s spotlight is on our member Brianna Seagraves, an actress, writer, and award-winning producer. Brianna shares her acting inspirations and her directorial debut at the Billie Holiday Theater.
READ MORE
2 Comments
Skip McMillen
My name is Skip McMillen and I live in Frankfort,Kansas. I write for the local paper and several years ago I wrote a story about Theresa Souder. I have been trying to get the Kansas History Museum interested in her life and her movie. I’m still trying to get them to acknowledge her place in film history. I have researched her life in Frankfort. It is painful one. She did graduate from high school and is buried in the local cemetery. She did however spend all of her adult years in Los Angeles and San Francisco. If you have information concerning her film “A Woman’s Error” or details about how she was able to write, produce, direct and distribute a film at the age of 24, I would be very appreciative