Songs of Free Men | National Museum of African American History and Culture

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On View: Musical Crossroads Gallery; Museum Maps; Objects in this Location

Exhibition: Musical Crossroads

Recorded by: Robeson, Paul, American, 1898 - 1976; Brown, Lawrence, American, 1893 - 1972
Published by: Columbia Records, American, founded 1888
Illustrated by: Steinweiss, Alex, American, 1917 - 2011
Written by: Robinson, Earl, American, 1910 - 1991; Eisler, Hanns, German, 1898 - 1962; Dunaeyevsky, Isaak, Russian, 1905 - 1955; Dzerzhinsky, Ivan, Russian, 1909 - 1978; Blitzstein, Marcus, American, 1905 - 1964; Hayes, Alfred, American, 1911 - 1985

Date: 1942-1947

Medium: vinyl , ink on paper (fiber product) and cardboard
Dimensions: H x W x D (2019.70a closed): 10 3/8 × 12 1/16 × 13/16 in. (26.3 × 30.6 × 2 cm); H x W x D (2019.70a open): 10 3/8 × 24 7/16 × 13/16 in. (26.3 × 62.1 × 2 cm); Diameter (2019.70b): 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm); Diameter (2019.70c): 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm); Diameter (2019.70d): 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm); Diameter (2019.70e): 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm)

Description: A cardboard album book (2019.70a) with four 10” 78 rpm records (2019.70b-e) recorded by Paul Robeson and Lawrence Brown. The front cover of the album book has a mottled white background bordered in wide black ink. The upper right reads [paul robeson] in bold black ink, above a dark gray arm. The dark gray hand of the arm, with thick black wrist detail, is wrapped around a white dagger. The tip of the dagger slices through a coiled gray-striped black snake with orange swastika and eyes. Through the dagger’s piercing, the snake bleeds an orange puddle below the bulk of its body. In white bold letters, on an orange background angled like a stamp across the dagger [SONGS OF FREE MEN] is written in serif font. Opposite the snake’s tail, on the proper right of the album book cover, written in orange script, is: [Set M=534]. Below the snake are bold lowercase letters: [columbia records]; between the two words are two entangled round symbols, the left featuring a beamed white sixteenth note on a black background, the right featuring an insignia of black “CBS” acronyms on a white background. In the upper right of the cover, read vertically in white script, is the name of the album artist, Steinweiss.; The inside of the album book’s front cover features: contextual background on the four records included in the album book; a centrally placed black and white photograph of Paul Robeson; a short statement written by Robeson; a short biography of Robeson, adjacent to his picture. At the bottom, inside a thick black border written in white bold ink, is: [YOUR COLUMBIA RECORDS DESERVE COLUMBIA NEEDLES]. Thick green tape divides the inside of the album book from the gray sleeves that hold a set of four black 78-rpm vinyl records. The inside of the back cover of the album book features a list of [15 TEN-INCH / COLMBIA / MASTERWORKS RECORDS / that should be in every home]. At the bottom, separated by a thin black line stretching from green tape to the red end of the album book, is a use notice, the two intersecting circular symbols of the Columbia Recording Corporation, and North American company information. The back of the album book is red and blank.; Overall, the record case has light wear, especially at the corners and edges. There are spots of water damage on the back cover and corresponding mildew spots (inactive) on the interior. The upper right corner of the back cover has a rectangular area of discoloration/fading. On the inside, the second and fourth sleeves are ripped along the side edge. The records are in good condition with minor dust, fingerprints, and some spots of mildew.; 2019.70b: On the M 534-1 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.]. Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-1 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / FROM BORDER TO BORDER / (From “Quiet Flows The Don”) / Sung in English and Russian –Dzerzhinsky- / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17356-D / (CO 32361)]. On the M 534-2 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.]. Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-2 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / OH, HOW PROUD OUR QUIET DON / (From “Quiet Flows The Don”) / Sung in English and Russian -Dzerzhinsky- / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17356-D / (CO 32362)].; 2019.70c: On the M 534-3 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.]. Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-3 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / THE PUREST KIND OF A GUY / (“Joe’s Birthday Song” from “No For An Answer”) / Sung in English –Blitzstein- / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17357-D / (CO 32364)]. On the M 534-4 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.]. Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-4 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / JOE HILL / Sung in English -E. Robinson-A. Hayes- / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17357-D / (CO 32365)].; 2019.70d: On the M 534-5 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.]. Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-5 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / THE PEET-BOG SOLDIERS / (“Moorsoldaten”; Song From A German Concentration / Camp) Sung in English and German –Arr. Eisler- / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17358-D / (CO 32366)]. On the M 534-6 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.].; Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-6 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / THE FOUR INSURGENT GENERALS / (Spanish Loyalist Song) / Sung in English and Spanish / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17358-D / (CO 32367)].; 2019.70e: On the M 534-7 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.]. Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-7 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / SONGS OF THE PLAINS / (Red Army Song) / Sung in English and Russian -Arr. Knipper- / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17359-D / (CO 32369)]. On the M 534-8 side of the record, a blue and gold paper label with type reads: [COLUMBIA / MASTERWORKS / Licensed by Mfr. Under U. S. Patent Nos. 1625705 and/or 1702564 (and / other patents pending) only for non-commercial use on photographs in homes. / See detailed trade mark and patent notices on envelope. Made in U. S. A.]. Below the record information, from the center of the label and leading down, are the album’s title and track information, which read: [M 534-8 / SONGS OF FREE MEN / NATIVE LAND / Sung in Russian and English -Donayevsky- / PAUL ROBESON (baritone) / accompanied by Lawrence Brown / at the piano / 17359-D / (CO 32368)].

Place made: United States, North and Central America

Classification: Record Albums

Type: record covers; 78 rpm records

Topic: Folk (Music); Freedom; Language; Music; Opera (Music); Spirituals (Music); World War II

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Edward L. Bell in memory of Ruth G. Bell

Object number: 2019.70a-e

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown – Restrictions Possible; Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

GUID

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