Blackface Minstrelsy

Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)

Date of Birth: 
July 4, 1826
Date of Death: 
January 13, 1864

Stephen Foster (b. July 4, 1826, Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania; d. January 13, 1864, New York) was one of the first American songwriters to earn a living through composition alone. Many of his songs, most of which were for the parlor or minstrel stage, achieved great popularity during his lifetime and continue to be popular today. His songs depicting African Americans, however, have been controversial since they were written.

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Lou’siana Belle

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1847

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

This song was submitted for copyright on October 18, 1847, by W. C. Peters of Cincinnati. None of the early published editions of “Lou’siana Belle” credit Foster as the composer, but an autographed manuscript and a letter from Foster to publisher William Millet prove it. 

The first score below was used for the Foster Hall Reproductions.

Massa’s in de Cold Ground

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1852

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

“Massa’s in de Cold Ground” was submitted for copyright entry on June 29, 1852, and for copyright deposit on July 7, 1852, by Firth, Pond & Co. Clark’s School Visitor republished the song in December, 1859, with the permission of Firth, Pond & Co. The song’s more familiar title, “Massa’s in de Cold, Cold Ground” did not appear until the Oliver Ditson Company issued it under that title in 1867. 

Mighty lak’ a Rose

Artist (Composed By): 
Nevin, Ethelbert
1901

WARNING: Written by white lyricist Frank L. Stanton and composed by white composer Ethelbert Nevin, this song features dialect intended to portray the singing character as Black.

With a text by Frank L. Stanton, this song was published by John Church in 1901. Holograph sketches of the song are found in the Ethelbert Nevin Collection.

My Brodder Gum

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1849

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

“My Brodder Gum” was submitted by Firth, Pond & Co. on October 1, 1949. While the title on page three read “My Brodder Gum” the title page read “My Brudder Gum.” In the text of the song both spelling are used and were probably both included in Foster’s original manuscript.

My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night!

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1853

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

“My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!” was entered and deposited for copyright twice. One occurred on January 11, 1853, with no title page. The second occured on January 31, 1853.

“My Old Kentucky Home” was arranged for guitar and submitted for copyright deposit on August 23, 1853, also by Firth, Pond & Co.

Nelly Bly

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1850

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

“Nelly Bly” was submitted for copyright deposit on February 8, 1850, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York. 

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

Nelly Was a Lady

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1849

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

“Nelly was a Lady” was submitted for copyright deposit on July 18, 1849, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York. A version of the song existed by December 5, 1848 when the title was entered for copyright in Pittsburgh. 

Oh! Boys, Carry Me ’Long

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1851

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

“Oh! Boys, Carry Me ’Long” was entered for copyright on June 24, 1851, and entered for copyright deposit on June 25th, 1851, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York. 

The song was arranged for guitar accompaniment and submitted for copyright deposit on February 4, 1853.

Two holograph manuscripts of the song are held at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.

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