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Museum object · Slavery and Freedom Objects

Songs, Sketch of the Life of Blind Tom

ca. 1876

Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A pamphlet containing a summary of Blind Tom's life with lyrics to songs. The pamphlet is printed on off white paper with black ink and has thirty two pages. The front cover reads “SONGS, / SKETCH OF THE LIFE” at the top with a black-and-white image of Blind Tom. “TESTIMONIALS / FROM THE / MOST EMINENT COMPOSERS” is printed on the left side of the image and “AND OPINIONS OF THE / American and English / PRESS” is printed on the right side. Printed below the image is “OF / BLIND TOM / The Marvelous Musical Prodigy, / THE NEGRO BOY PIANIST, / WHOSE RECENT PERFORMANCES AT THE / Great St. James and Egyptian Halls, London, and Salle Hertz, Paris, / HAVE CREATED SUCH A PROFOUND SENSATION.” The back cover has “BLIND TOM'S CONCERTS / PROGRAMME” printed on it with lists of songs performed by Blind Tom in two columns.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2014.3.1

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