WARNING: This is a blackface minstrel song, a genre that features demeaning caricatures rooted in racism and white supremacy.

“Oh! Susanna” was submitted for copyright deposit by W. C. Peters & Company on December 30, 1848. It was very likely published between July 15 and August 1 that year, for an advertisement in the Louisville Daily Democrat refers to the song as “recently published” on September 6, 1848. This was not the first edition of the song published. But this is the first edition that was prepared from Foster’s autograph manuscript.

Although the song is referred to as “Oh! Susanna” today, it was originally titled by Foster as “Susanna.” In later correspondence he refers to it as “Oh, Susanna.”

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

A certain Mr. Andrews, dealer in confections, cakes, and ices, being stirred by a spirit of enterprise, rented, in the year 1845, a second-floor hall on Wood Street, Pittsburg, supplied it with seats and small tables, advertised largely, employed cheap attractions,—living statues, songs, dances, &c.,—erected a stage, hired a piano, and, upon the dissolution of his band, engaged the services of Nelson Kneass as musician and manager. Admittance was free, the ten-cent ticket required at the door being received at its cost value within towards the payment of whatever might be called for at the tables. To keep alive the interest of the enterprise, premiums were offered, from time to time, of a bracelet for the best conundrum, a ring with a ruby setting for the best comic song, and a golden chain for the best sentimental song. The most and perhaps only really valuable reward—a genuine and very pretty silver cup, exhibited night after night, beforehand—was promised to the author of the best original negro song, to be presented before a certain date, and to be decided upon by a committee designated for the purpose by the audience at that time.

Quite a large array of competitors entered the lists Morrison Foster sent to his brother Stephen a copy of the advertisement announcing the fact, with a letter urging him to become a competitor for the prize. These saloon entertainments occupied a neutral ground, upon which eschewers of theatrical delights could meet with the abetters of playhouse amusements,— a consideration of ruling importance in Pittsburg, where so many of the sterling population carry with them to this day, by legitimate inheritance, the stanch old Cameronian fidelity to Pres- byterian creed and practice. Morrison, believing that these concerts would afford an excellent opportunity for the genius of his brother to appeal to the public, persisted in urging him to compete for the prize, until Stephen, who at first expressed a dislike to appear under such circumstances, finally yielded, and in due time forwarded a melody entitled, '"Way Down South, whar de Corn grows."

When the eventful night came, the various pieces in competition were rendered to the audience by Nelson Kneass to his own accompaniment on the piano. The audience expressed by their applause a decided preference for Stephen's melody; but the committee appointed to sit in judgment decided in favor of someone else, himself and his song never heard of afterwards, and the author of "'Way Down South" forfeited the cup. But Mr. Kneass appreciated the merit of the composition, and promptly, next morning, made application at the proper office for a copyright in his own name as author, when Mr. Morrison Foster, happening in at the moment, interposed, and frustrated the discreditable intention.

On the margin of Mr. Nevin's magazine article, Morrison Foster has made the following penciled note:

It was at the Court of Judge Thos. Irwin, U. S. District Judge, in whose family I was a frequent visitor. I explained the circumstances to Judge Irwin and the two vagabonds were fortunate in being permitted to leave the court unpunished. I had just previously taken a copyright for Stephen.

The two whom Morrison termed "vagabonds" were presumably Messrs. Kneass and Holman. The following items from 1847 Pittsburgh newspaper columns that recently have come to light at Foster Hall add chapters to the story of the contest in the old Eagle Saloon. The prize song, "Wake up Jake, or the Old Iron City," was afterwards published by W. C. Peters, with authorship credited to George Holman. The following announcement is from the Daily Commercial Journal (Robert M. Riddle, editor and proprietor) of Tuesday morning, August 31, 1847.

ALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE RUSHING TO SEE AND HEAR THE VOCALISTS -UNPRECEDENTED POPULARITY-THIRD ENGAGEMENT-ONE WEEK MORE. SILVER CUP PRIZE! Andrew's Eagle Ice Cream Saloon Admittance 25 cts. The troupe of Vocalists having run two engagements at this temple of Pleasure with the most marked ap- proval of overflowing assemblages every night— at the urgent solicitation of the Manager, have been prevailed upon to remain a few days longer. They will accordingly appear every night this week, in an entirely new selec- tion of Solos, Duettes, Trios, Quartettes, Quintettes, sen- timental, patriotic, comic, &c, with Ethiopian Melodies and Extravaganzas. A PRIZE OF A SILVER CUP will be awarded to the author of such original words of an Ethiopian Melody or Extravaganzas— to be set to music by the present Troupe, as shall be decided the best by the spontaneous voice of the audience at the trial CONCERT, MONDAY EVENING, Sept. 6. Competitors for the prize must hand in their pieces to the Manager, on or before Friday noon, Sept. 3, to afford time for the adaptation of suitable music to each piece which may be offered.

On Wednesday morning, September 8, 1847, the Daily Commercial Journal carried the following item under "Local Matters."

THE EAGLE SALOON was crowded on Monday night by a brilliant audience, to hear the songs offered for the silver Prize Cup. Ten songs were offered to the audience, some of them exceeding clever. The audience, by a large majority, awarded the prize to a song written and set to music by Mr. Holman, the tenor singer, whose vocal talents we have had occasion, heretofore, warmly to commend. It should be a satisfaction to the disappointed to know that they, at least, have been defeated by a gentlemanly and excellent man, aside from his professional merit. The cup was presented by Mr. Shanon, with appropriate remarks, to which Mr. Holman replied pithily as follows: "Ladies and Gentlemen: With your approval, I believe I take the cup, and hope I could take many such without taking a cup too much." [The newspaper does not tell us what sort of a prize the audience awarded "Mr. H." for his pithy acceptance speech!]

The same issue of the paper prints the Eagle Saloon's advertisement, giving their own version of the presentation of the prize cup.

FOUR NIGHTS MORE! AND POSITIVELY THE LAST OF THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE VOCALISTS!! ANDREW'S EAGLE ICE CREAM SALOON Admittance 25 Cents. This and every Evening this Week. GRAND MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT! Public desire continuing very great to hear the new Prize Song of "THE OLD IRON CITY," written by Geo. Holman, Esq., which took the silver cup by the almost unanimous voice of the audience, the same will be sung every evening this week during the entertainments, together with one or two other of the pieces submitted for the prize, and which have been stamped by popular approval— all of which songs have been copyrighted, and can only be heard, as originally produced, at the Eagle Saloon. The entertainments of every night will be choice and amusing.

In the Daily Commercial Journal for "Saturday Morning, Sept'r 11, 1847," the Eagle Saloon's advertisement announces the possible presence of a distinguished visitor, and, in spite of the late unpleasantness in Judge Irwin's courtroom, two of Stephen's compositions are listed for presentation.

Last Night of the Vocalists. GRAND GALA CONCERT! Vice President Dallas!! ANDREWS' EAGLE ICE CREAM SALOON. Admittance 25 Cents. This evening, Saturday, Sept. 11, will appear for the last time Mrs. Phillips, Miss Bruce, Mrs. Sharpe, Mr. Kneass, Mr. Holman: When will be produced— "The Old Iron City"— Prize Song; Away down Souf: Allegheny Belle; SUSANNA— A new song, never before given to the public; Picayune Butler; The Floating Scow; The gal wid the blue dress on, &c; With a choice selection of other songs, &c. Vice President Dallas is expected to be present.

Whether Vice-President George M. Dallas put in an appearance or not, I have not learned, but Morrison undoubtedly was there, as he would have been eager to hear Stephen's songs performed in public, even by The Vocalists who had tried to claim the copyright for one of them. Morrison was staying alone in Pittsburgh at the St. Charles Hotel, and was there from June 25 to November 29. He spent many evenings with friends of "the S. T." in places such as the Eagle Saloon, for the mild entertainment they afforded, a way of "frittering away his time" deplored by Ann Eliza; but Mit's diary shows that he devoted plenty of time to reading such worthy works as The Battle of Life, and Thiers' history of France and Napoleon which should have met with his sister's approval. And maybe The Vocalists at Mr. Andrews' Eagle Saloon rendered the last stanza of "Oh! Susanna" the way I never have heard anyone sing it in these days, but the way Stephen intended it to be sung, and as it was sung by the young members of the Knights of the Square Table in 1845 and '46 before the public took "Susanna" to their hearts.

I soon will be in New Orleans, And den I'll look all round, And when I find Susana, I'll fall upon the ground. But if I do not find her, Dis darkie'l surely die, And when I'm dead and bear-i-ed, Susana, dont you cry.