Edmonds and Osborne family papers (MSS-0027)

Biographical/Historical Note

Franklin Edmonds was born in Virginia in 1874 to Mariah Fairfax and Thomas Edmonds, who were both formerly enslaved persons. Ada Russell was born in 1873, also in Virginia. Franklin Edmonds, along with some of his brothers, moved to Rhode Island when the company decided to ship raw cotton to have it processed in the local mills. Franklin eventually found work as a longshoreman.

It is unclear when or how Ada’s family moved to Rhode Island, however she worked as a maid when she first came to Providence. It is also unclear how Ada and Franklin met, but they were married August 13, 1896. The couple resided at 93 Benevolent Street in Providence for some time, and eventually bought, or built, a house, at 139 Leonard Ave in East Providence, moving the family there in the early 1900s.

Ada and Franklin had 10 children: Mable (1898-1953), Clifford (1899-1985), Maude Iolina (1901-1963), Ernest (1902-1902), Norris (1903-1977), Norton (1905-1906), Lindsey (1906-1987), Hope (1907-1949), Marion Ruth (1908-1914), and Dorothy (1911-1986).

Eileene (Grayson Hosley) Osborne was born September 20, 1928 in New Haven, CT, to Maude (Edmonds) Grayson, daughter of Ada and Franklin. Maude and Eileene moved to Providence in 1937. Eileene graduated Hope High School in 1947 and married Royal Hosley in 1949. The couple had two sons, but divorced in the 1950s. Eileene was the first member of the Baptist Church in North Attleboro, Massachusetts and sang in many church choirs throughout Rhode Island. She additionally sang at inaugurations and ceremonies for former Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci of Providence, Rhode Island. In 1971, she married Clay Osborne, a local jazz musician, and the couple were married until his death in 2006. Eileene Osborne died on November 4, 2019.