The Jubilee Singers, Original Company from Fisk University, 1871-1882

  • Creator: Allen and Rowell, 25 Winter Street, Boston
  • Title: The Jubilee Singers, Original Company from Fisk University, 1871-1882
  • Date: 1882
  • Description: Eleven elegantly dressed African Americans (7 women and 4 men) surround an organ, with two of the women seated. Text below notes this is the 11th season of the group's performance and gives name and address of photographers studio: Allen and Rowell, 25 Winter Street, Boston.
  • Historical Note: This photograph shows the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Excelling in popular sacred music, they toured the United States, including a performance for President Ulysses S. Grant, and Europe, highlighted by a performance for Queen Victoria, raising awareness and money to support Nashville's Fisk University, one of the earliest Historically Black Colleges. Proceeds from a tour of Europe in 1873-74 paid for the university's first permanent building. The handsome building, named Jubilee Hall, is still standing today. Each year, Fisk celebrates Jubilee Day on October 6 in remembrance of the first concert of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Their a cappella spiritual music raised awareness of the musical genre as well as raising funds for Fisk University.
  • Institution: Tennessee State Library & Archives, Merl Eppse Collection
  • Publisher: Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University
  • Rights: Images reproduced on this website are intended for individual, educational use only. For research inquiries about specific objects or requests for high resolution images, contact the Tennessee State Library & Archives.
  • URL: http://cdm15838.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/shades
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