University of Pittsburgh
The Old Folks at Home
This website provides in-depth information on "The Old Folks at Home," a song written by Stephen Foster and performed by Christy's Minstrels. Includes information on the meaning and significance of "Old Folks at Home" and a history of...
University of Pittsburgh
Center for American Music Stephen Foster's Career
This University of Pittsburgh site provides a wealth of information about American songwriter Stephen Foster. This link discusses his professional career with various other links within the text about minstrel shows, etc. Return to the...
University of Pittsburgh
Center for American Music: Minstrelsy
This site explains the origin of the minstrel show and how it evolved over the decades.
Other
Bobjanuary.com: Stephen Collins Foster
This a great, well-organized website about the life, family, career, and music of songwriter Stephen Foster. Includes good images, links to other websites, and locations of "Foster Related Places of Historical Interest To Visit Today."
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame: Stephen Foster
This resource provides information about Stephen Foster.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
American popular culture was many-faceted prior to the Civil War. Find out about the explosion of the number of newspapers and magazines, the many kinds of popular entertainment, and even phrenology as entertainment.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
A description of many different forms of popular culture in the first half of the 19th century ranging from sensationalized newspapers to dime novels to pseudoscience. Read about Stephen Foster's music, theatrical productions, and even...
University of Virginia
University of Virginia: Uncle Tom's Cabin & American Culture: Old Folks at Home
Here are the lyrics to Stephen Foster's song "Old Folks at Home" which was performed by Christy's Minstrels. Includes general information about the song, specifically concerning what "dramatic productions" it was included in.
University of Pittsburgh
Center for American Music: Stephen Foster Chronology
This is a timeline of the life of songwriter, Stephen Foster. Very good as a quick reference to the major events of his life, as well as major events that were going on during his time. Also provides events that are not during Foster's...
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Stephen Foster
A website that accompanies a film on Stephen Foster. Students can listen to the famous songs, view a timeline of his life, and find information about Foster's contemporaries.
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh:frequently Asked Questions About Stephen Collins Foster
This website has answers to common questions about songwriter, Stephen Foster, including "Where can I get recordings of Stephen Foster's music?" and "How much money did Foster make from his songs?" Very useful for basic information about...
Other
David Holt: The Roots of Mountain Music
This is a short history of the major influences that have combined to create mountain music, one of which is minstrel music. Provides a good decription of minstrel music in general. Includes names and descriptions of specific songs,...
Other
Public Domain Music: The Music of Stephen Collins Foster
This website provides a biographical sketch of songwriter Stephen Foster. It has many music files and lyrics to nearly all of the songs Foster wrote during his career.
Other
Early 1900s Southern Music Recordings From Victrola
This website provides several sound files of popular southern music of the Early 1900s. The site includes songs written by Stephen Foster such as "Old Folks at Home."
Other
Stephen Collins Foster: American Dreams
This site provides a wealth of information about the American songwriter, Stephen Foster. This link leads you to the biographical information which is divided into five sections: beginnings, his life's work, the legend, the problems, and...
University of Toronto (Canada)
University of Toronto: Gwine to Run All Night
Lyrics to the song "Gwine to Run All Night," also known as "Camptown Races." Includes general information on the song and notes on specific parts of the lyrics.
University of Toronto (Canada)
University of Toronto: My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night
This website provides lyrics and general information for the song "My Old Kentucky Home," written by Stephen Foster. Includes in-text notes about specific parts of the lyrics.
University of Toronto (Canada)
University of Toronto: Selected Poetry of Stephen C. Foster
This website provides selected poems (song lyrics) of Stephen Foster, along with a brief summary of his life and career.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Stephen Foster
The life of songwriter Stephen Foster is chronicled in this encyclopedia article from Wikipedia. The article discusses his numerous works and his attempt to make a career as a professional songwriter.
Other
Minstrel Show: Contribution to Folk Music
Interesting essay page on the influence of minstrel shows on folk music. Provides historical connections and is accessible for research purposes.
Other
Bobjanuary.com: Stephen Collins Foster: Foster's Last Years
This page discusses the last few years of folksong writers Stephen Collins Foster's life. It provides a few photgraphs of the Bowery Theater in the 1800s and 1900s. (This theater was built by Tony Pastor, a proponent of Vaudeville style.)
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Famous Americans: Stephen Foster
Learn brief information from the National Postal Museum on Stephen Foster, American music composer, who was featured on the one cent postage stamp.