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Burns, Hi-Brown Bobby. Minstrel Show Collection, 1821-1959, (bulk 1860-1940).

Title: Minstrel Show Collection, 1821-1959, (bulk 1860-1940).

The Minstrel Show Collection documents the form of entertainment known as the minstrel show and, to a much lesser extent, other entertainments that used blackface makeup. The Companies and Performers series comprises the bulk of the collection and contains photographs, prints, letters, sheet music, clippings, programs, playbills, scrapbook leaves, and a small number of tintypes for over 700 minstrel show companies and performers. This series also includes photographs of motion picture actors and variety performers from the 1920s and 1930s who utilize blackface makeup in their routines, as well as female impersonators and banjoists. Series II contains playbills and programs, mostly for New York City theaters. The Scrapbooks series contains photographs and clippings mounted in two intact scrapbooks, one disbound scrapbook, and about 50 loose scrapbook leaves. The bulk of the Printed Music series comprises sheet music for ca. 500 songs, most of which were popularized by white minstrel show performers. The Songsters, Jokesters, and Miscellaneous Booklets series is divided into two subseries: A. Songsters, 1833-83, nd, and B. Jokesters and Miscellaneous Booklets, 1870-1908, nd. The Songsters subseries comprises about 240 booklets of lyrics of songs which were popularized by comedians and minstrel show performers. The Jokesters and Miscellaneous Booklets subseries contains several booklets with the texts of jokes used in minstrel shows as well as a dozen booklets on miscellaneous topics, such as books of sayings, the texts of speeches, and acting manuals. The Miscellaneous series contains letters, programs, clippings, and prints pertaining to the banjo, female minstrels, McDonough's Opera House in Middletown, Conn., and other topics.

ArchivalResource: Approximately 4000 items (3000photographs, 500 prints, 500 programs and playbills).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/145405927 View