Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Handbill for a performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers

African American Museum

This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

    Object Details

    Printed by

    Tucker Printing House, American

    Subject of

    Fisk Jubilee Singers, American, founded 1871
    Frederick Douglass, American, 1818 - 1895
    Mark Twain, American, 1835 - 1910

    Description

    A paper handbill advertisement for a performance by the Jubilee Singers on March 23, 1875 at City Hall in an unnamed location. One side of the handbill has the printed title [A SONG FROM FREDERICK DOUGLASS] at the top and then recounts a visit of the Jubilee Singers with Frederick Douglass where he shared a spiritual that he sang while enslaved that inspired him to seek freedom in the North. The lyrics of the song are printed in the center of the handbill. The details for the upcoming performance are printed at the bottom center in large text [CITY HALL / ON THE EVENING OF / TUESDAY, MARCH 23D, 1875. / Tickets now on sale at Stockbridge's]. At the bottom left corner in small print is [Tucker Printing House, Portland.]
    The other side of the handbill has printed a letter to [Theo. F. Seward, Esq.] from Samuel Clemens recounting how much he enjoys performances by the Jubilee Singers. At the top of the page in large text is printed [MARK TWAIN / AND THE / Jubilee Singers]. At the bottom center of the page is the text [CITY HALL, / TUESDAY EVENING!].

    Transcription Center Status

    Transcribed by digital volunteers

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Date

    1875

    Object number

    2011.57.1

    Restrictions & Rights

    Public domain
    Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    handbills

    Medium

    ink on paper (fiber product)

    Dimensions

    H x W: 8 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. (22.2 x 15.9 cm)

    Place printed

    Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, United States, North and Central America

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Classification

    Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Amusements
    Folk (Music)
    HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
    Resistance
    Singers (Musicians)
    Slavery
    Spirituals (Music)

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52a1ad4a4-744c-4d73-93a5-80191cd664f7

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2011.57.1

    Discover More

    Roots of African American Music

    arrow-up Back to top
    Home
    • Facebook facebook
    • Instagram instagram
    • LinkedIn linkedin
    • YouTube youtube

    • Contact Us
    • Get Involved
    • Shop Online
    • Job Opportunities
    • Equal Opportunity
    • Inspector General
    • Records Requests
    • Accessibility
    • Host Your Event
    • Press Room
    • Privacy
    • Terms of Use