A picture of the female quartet was published that had a caption with their names helped us discover some details about
the four women. With their names, an obituary was found of their father's death, listing all of the sisters and their
married names. Let this essay start with their musical journey as found in our research.
In November 1934, a musical program was given at Richland Park in Nashville under the direction of Mignon Garfinkle.
Music was to be provided by the Three Musketeers, specialty dances by Lillian Hall and Corrine and Aline Morris, solos
by Marjorie Jones and Margaret Cope, a quartet number by the Sweeney Sisters. Other musical numbers were done by
Jennie Stewart and Reba Sweeney, the Rose Brotehrs and Phillip Rose and His Revue.
The Sweeney Sisters may have gotten a reputation from being on the radio. The Lions Club hosted Frank A. Chase, a director
of the field service for the Federal Home Loan Bank Board at a meeting in March 1934. "Special entertainment" included
musical numbers by the Sweeney Sisters and "Freckles" who was a star in the "Our Gang" comedies.
About a week later, they were part of the entertainment at a monthly meeting of the Nashville
Retail Credit Association in the Chamber of Commerce Building. The speaker was J. C. Griffin from
Atlanta, the manager of the Southeastern territory of the National Credit Reporting Corporation.
The meeting was attended by over 100 people. In addition to the Sweeney Sisters, H. L. Brice
also was on the program.
In April 1934, seven troops with a membership of 175 scouts held their annual banquet at the Tennessee Industrial School Gymnasium.
A variety of entertainment was offered. Jimmy Burns and Ruth Miller, Helen McBride, the Vagabonds, Velma, Dean and Bobby
Tucker, tricks by the Magic Circle Club, the Sweeney Sisters and the high school orchestra.
A picture of the female quartet was published that had a caption with their names helped us discover some details about
the four women. They were all born in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
The newspaper radio logs for WSM first mentioned the Sweeney Sisters as part of an Opry
segment on Saturday November 3, 1934 at 10:20pm and 11:40pm. Using their birthdates,
Mildred was 32 years old, Hazel 29, Ruby 22, and Anna(Annie) was about 27 when they
appeared on the Opry.
The Sweeney Sisters appeared every Saturday night at 10:30pm and 11:40pm from November 3, 1934
through March 16, 1935. On their last appearance, they were only seen in the newspaper
logs for the 10:30 segment.