Pearl Bailey was born in Virginia and spent her childhood in Washington, DC. She first lived in the city as a child in the 1930s, first in an apartment on Florida Avenue and then on Irving Street. She returned to DC in her late 60s to study theology at Georgetown University, earning a BA degree in 1985. She published six books about her life, education, and cooking.
Bailey is best known as an actress and singer, winning Tony and Emmy awards for her acting, and appearing in such films as Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess. In later years, President Gerald Ford named her special ambassador to the United Nations and President Ronald Reagan awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Her books include the memoirs The Raw Pearl (1968), Talking to Myself (1971), Duey’s Tale (1975), Hurry Up America and Spit (1976), Between You and Me: A Heartfelt Memoir on Learning, Loving and Living (1989), and the cookbook Pearl’s Kitchen (1973).
The Homes
1428 Irving St. NE, Washington, DC
1300 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Pearl Bailey
1428 Irving St. NE
Located in Brookland neighborhood, Northeast
Pearl Bailey
1300 Florida Avenue NW
Located in Shaw/Logan Circle neighborhood, Northwest - East of Rock Creek