Viola's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Vann family tree.

+ Add

Viola's Family

Agnes Ethel Williams

Unknown

Viola Rosalee Vann

Harvey Gerald Vann

Parents:

Bio

Agnes Ethel Williams

Jul 4, 1897 - Dec 8, 1996

Siblings:

Bio

Harvey Gerald Vann

Feb 17, 1922 - Feb 27, 2012

Photos and snapshots taken of Viola Rosalee Vann, her Vann family, and locations and places or events from her life.

Viola Rosalee Vann

Leave a comment to ask questions, share information, or simply to show that you care about Viola.

Post

Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Viola's lifetime.

In 1920, in the year that Viola Rosalee Vann was born, speakeasies replaced saloons as the center of social activity. After the 18th Amendment was ratified and selling alcohol became illegal, saloons closed and speakeasies took their place. Speakeasies, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, were "so called because of the practice of speaking quietly about such a place in public, or when inside it, so as not to alert the police or neighbors". There were a lot of them and they were very popular. And where saloons often prohibited women, they were encouraged at speakeasies because of the added profits.

In 1934, Viola was just 14 years old when on June 6th, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was formed as a response to the stock market crash of 1929 and the continuing Great Depression. Previously, the states regulated the offering and sales of stocks - called "blue sky" laws. They were largely ineffective. Roosevelt created a group (one member was Joseph Kennedy, father of the future President Kennedy) who knew Wall Street well and they defined the mission and operating mode for the SEC. The new organization had broad and stringent rules and oversight and restored public confidence in the stock market in the United States.

In 1961, at the age of 41 years old, Viola was alive when on August 13th, East Germany began erection of what would become the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin. In one day, they installed barbed wire entanglements and fences (called Barbed Wire Sunday in Germany). On August 17th, the first concrete elements and large blocks were put in place.

In 1981, when she was 61 years old, on August 1st, MTV debuted. It was the first music video TV channel. The first music video played was the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" - the second was Pat Benatar's "You Better Run".

In 1991, she was 71 years old when on November 7th, legendary basketball player Magic Johnson announced that he had HIV. In 1991, the public was confused about the difference between HIV and AIDS (HIV is a virus that can lead to AIDS) and there was little treatment for either. Most thought that Johnson would die within a year or so. Also, the transmission of AIDS wasn't understood so he had to retire from basketball. Magic Johnson is still alive and well.