LaDeva Davis

LaDeva M. Davis (1944 – September 8, 2022) was an American television presenter and food educator who starred in the American public television series What's Cooking?[1] She was the first African-American woman to have her own nationally syndicated public TV cooking show in the United States on the Public Broadcasting Service. She was awarded the Mary McLeod Bethune Award in 2015.

LaDeva Davis
BornMarch 22, 1944
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died (aged 78)
Alma materPhiladelphia Musical Academy
Occupation(s)Cook, television presenter, teacher

Education

Davis attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, alongside Lola Falana and Judith Jamison.[2] She earned her bachelor's degree in music education at the Philadelphia Musical Academy (now the University of the Arts) while studying piano with Natalie Hinderas.[2]

Teaching career

Davis first started teaching at Bartlett Junior High (now the Academy at Palumbo) in 1965.[2][3] She taught at Bartlett for 12 years before becoming a core faculty member of the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) since its opening in 1978.[2][4] As CAPA's dance director and choreographer, Davis helped write the dance curriculum at the school.[3] Davis also planned "CAPA Kids" – an artistic showcase that is part of Philadelphia's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.[2] Among the students that she mentored at CAPA included the members of Boyz II Men.[5]

Davis was also an associate in performance and dance instructor at Swarthmore College.[6][7]

What's Cooking?

Davis starred in What's Cooking?, a nationally syndicated PBS cooking show that was the first broadcast on January 21, 1975.[1][8][3][9][10] Davis was not a professional chef before the show but was recruited for her charisma and humor.[1][11] What's Cooking? was produced by Lynn Lonker and featured low-cost, nutritional meals that could be made usually for no more than $2.25.[1][12] On being the first African-American woman to have her own nationally syndicated public TV cooking show on PBS,[12] Davis said, "There was no black woman cooking [on TV]. There were no black cooks period."[13]

In 1976, she was a repeat guest on the American daytime talk show The Mike Douglas Show to demonstrate her cooking.[14][15]

Davis was featured in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History's exhibit "Food: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000" exhibit.[12] Some of Davis' aprons are in the Smithsonian collections as well.[16]

Awards and recognition

In 2015, Davis was awarded the National Council of Negro Women's Mary McLeod Bethune Award for leadership, excellence, and achievement in education.[17]

Death

Davis died on September 8, 2022, after having a stroke.[18][19]

References
  1. Kennedy, Shawn G. (March 26, 1976). "Everyone's in the Kitchen With La Deva". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  2. Roberts, Kimberly C. "LaDeva Davis to spotlight in July 4 parade". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  3. Graham, Kristen (December 26, 2015). "An 'old school' treasure celebrates 50 years in Philly classrooms". Inquirer.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  4. Writer, Chanel Hill Tribune Staff. "Students' love for the arts shines at CAPA". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  5. "Boyz II Men return to Philly high school for show". USA Today. Associated Press. October 14, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  6. AWMA, Jonathon C. Leise CFP (April 26, 2016). Plan to Live Forever: Get Better with Age, Live a Life You Love, and Leave a Lasting Legacy. WestBow Press. ISBN 978-1-5127-3859-9.
  7. "LaDeva Davis". www.swarthmore.edu. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  8. "TV Chefs, 1946–2018". National Museum of American History. June 28, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  9. Media Report to Women. Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press. 1976.
  10. Smith, Andrew; Kraig, Bruce (January 31, 2013). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. OUP USA. ISBN 978-0-19-973496-2.
  11. Stewart, Claire (April 1, 2017). As Long As We Both Shall Eat: A History of Wedding Food and Feasts. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-5714-6.
  12. Bailey, Samaria. "LaDeva Davis part of 'Food' exhibit at Smithsonian". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  13. Collins, Kathleen (May 1, 2009). Watching What We Eat: The Evolution of Television Cooking Shows. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-8264-2930-8.
  14. "Sarasota Herald Tribune Archives, Feb 18, 1976, p. 18". February 18, 1976. Retrieved July 28, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  15. 'The Mike Douglas Show' Episode #15.218 (TV Episode 1976), IMDb, retrieved July 28, 2021
  16. "Collections Search Results". National Museum of American History. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  17. Clifford, Patricia. "National Council of Negro Women holds luncheon". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  18. "Noted Philadelphia instructor and choreographer LaDeva Davis dies". The Philadelphia Tribune. September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  19. Graham, Kristen A. "LaDeva Davis, beloved Philadelphia dance teacher at CAPA, music producer and entertainer, has died at 78". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
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