Published by
Caesar, Irving Music, Inc., American, 1930s - 1970s
Created by
Caesar, Irving, American, 1895 - 1996
Lerner, Sammy, Romanian American, 1903 - 1989
Marks, Gerald, American, 1900 - 1997
Herbert, Jean, born 1905
Date
1936
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 12 3/8 × 9 3/16 in. (31.4 × 23.3 cm)
Description
Sheet music for “Is It True What They Say About Dixie?” The cover has a black background with white printed text. The title [Is It True / What They Say About / Dixie / ?] is at the top of the front cover. There is a drawing of a man in a black suit, white gloves, and blackface standing in the center of the cover with his arms outstretched. The bottom right corner has the composers [IRVING CAESAR / SAMMY LERNER / GERALD MARKS]. There are three (3) pages, printed on both sides. The back of the front cover has [Try this over on your Piano / The Rooster’s Crowin’] by Irving Caesar, Jean Herbert, and Gerald Marks. “Is It True What They Say About Dixie?” begins on the loose middle page and continues onto the interior back page. The back cover has an excerpt of [Dust Off That Old Pianna [sic]] inside a decorative border. There is chipping and loss around the edges of all the pages.
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 made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Documents and Published Materials-Sheet music
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Type
sheet music
Topic
American South
Blackface
Caricature and cartoons
Minstrel (Music)
Stereotypes
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Stokes/Washington Family
Object number
2017.14.12
Restrictions & Rights
© Irving Caesar
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd582383e95-096f-4ff4-a7c9-72d0e447d064

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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