George Mason University
Chnm: The Minstrel Show
This site is from the Center for History and New Media. The information in this article may surprise you. Can you picture a Black man dressing up as a white man posing as a Black man to perform in a minstrel show mocking the Black man?...
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
Banjo Tablatures
This comprehensive site covers many aspects of bluegrass banjo music. It includes bluegrass news, information, history, trivia, and multimedia. Also includes lesson plans for banjo, sample tablatures, bibliographies, workshops, and...
Other
For Many, One: Passing From Light to Dark
This scholarly article looks into the treatment of race and ethnicity in the 1920s and how they were handled in popular culture. Read about stereotypes of African Americans and immigrants from Asia and southern Europe and find out how...
Library of Congress
Loc: American Variety Stage: Forms of Variety Theater
The "variety" in the title of this piece comes in the choices you can make at the top of the page. You can scroll down to the minstrel show, or you can click on the words at the top of the page. The history of the minstrel show is...
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...
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.
Other
Unstrung History of American Guitar: The Guitar and the Birth of American Music
The guitar in America began as an instrument used in popular music in the city and then branched out to minstrel shows, ragtime, and even jazz. Read about the history of this ubiquitous instrument and how it took on its American character.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: The Legacy of Blackface
This site is an NPR two-part report for the Travis Smiley Show explores the history of Blackface and it's impact on society both past and present. There are related stories on Hip-hop and Racial Harassment.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Minstrel Show
An in-depth look at minstrel shows is found in this encyclopedia article from Wikipedia. The site discusses the origins and rise in popularity during the Civil War, how the shows were structured in three different parts, typical stock...
Musicals 101
Musicals101: Minstrel Shows
This site from Musicals 101 is a very good site that focuses on the history of minstrel shows through different eras. Provides pictures as well.
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
The Minstrel Show: Preface
Richard Moody does a fine job with a general description of a minstrel show. He gives background information on the history and development over the years. There are many links in the left-hand column for more information.
Talkin' Broadway
Talkin' Broadway: Minstrel Beginnings
Historical overview of minstrel shows and its evolution onto Broadway. Comprehensive and very accessible to students.