Title

Violin played by the enslaved man Jesse Burke, 1850-1860. Creator: Unknown.

Caption

This violin was originally owned by a slaveholder named Elisha Burke, who owned the Mount Pleasant Plantation in Phillips County, Arkansas. Before the slaveholder died in 1860, he gave the violin to an enslaved man on his plantation, Mr. Jesse Burke (b. 1834 – d. 1909). According to the family oral history, during slavery Jesse was charged with playing the violin for entertainment for the slaveholder and his guests.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art

Reference

HRM21A73_034

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

144,0Mb (5,0Mb) / 29,0in x 19,3in / 8688 x 5792 (300dpi)

Keywords

agriculture people black music education arts country museum color plantation location century musical instrument musical instruments violin African American African-American afro-american slavery stringed instrument United States of America Colour Smithsonian Institution fiddle 19th century Educational Institution nineteenth century heritage American America USA scientific institution object united states Unknown cultural heritage Black History Heritage Art National Museum of African American History and Culture NMAAHC wood steel and mother of pearl