Composed by
Maywood, Geo.
Written by
Bodine, Lester
Published by
S Brainard's Sons Co., American, founded 1837
Printed by
San Francisco Examiner, American, founded 1863, American, founded 1863
Owned by
Sugg, Mary Elizabeth, American, 1839 - 1915
Sugg, Mary Elizabeth, American, 1839 - 1915
McDonald, Vernon Sugg, American, 1906 - 1982
Date
1897
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 13 7/8 × 10 11/16 in. (35.2 × 27.1 cm)
Description
Sheet music for song Ambolena Snow. The front cover of sheet music features an image of a caricatured African American woman in a green dress with a salmon jacket and hat. The woman is holding an umbrella in her proper left hand. Red and black type surrounds her and reads: [AN / AFRO-AMERICAN / MILITARY / BALLAD / BY / BODINE AND MAYWOOD / AUTHORS / OF / "MOLLY ON / THE / TROLLY" / PUBLISHED BY / PERMISSION OF / THE S BRAINARD'S SONS CO / CHICAGO. / COPYRIGHT / SECURED / IN / ENGLAND / SUP- / PLE- / MENT. / TO THE / SAN FRANCISCO / EXAMINER / SUNDAY / DEC. / 5 / 1897. / ALL / RIGHTS / RESERVED]. Underneath the woman a signature in black in reads: [KEANE]. The inside has two pages of musical bars and notes in black ink for the song Ambolena Snow. The credits under the title in black in read: [Words by Lester Bodine / Music by GEO. Maywood]. The song’s musical bars continue on the back cover.
Statement
Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
Place printed
San Francisco, California, United States, North and Central America
Place collected
Sugg McDonald House, Sonora, Tuolumne County, California, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Documents and Published Materials-Sheet music
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Type
sheet music
Topic
Band (Music)
Blackface
Caricature and cartoons
Stereotypes
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Sylvia Alden Roberts
Object number
2014.275.6
Restrictions & Rights
Public Domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd583ec9d17-c007-459b-a95e-d2ba6e3b9616

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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