Photographs of Sissieretta Jones, also known as the “Black Patti,” often show her wearing a chestful of medals pinned to the bodice of her gown. She earned many of these medals during two tours of the West Indies and South America before her career took off in the United States in 1892. She was obviously quite proud of these medals.
She made her first trip to the West Indies and South America at the age of twenty as star of the Tennessee Jubilee Singers. That tour, which began in August 1888 and finished at the end of January 1889, took her to countries that included Jamaica, Panama, Barbados, Trinidad, British Guiana (now Guyana), and perhaps Brazil. She was well received and given jewelry and eight medals, seven of which were reportedly solid gold, from grateful citizens and government officials.
She made her second trip to the West Indies (under different management) in March 1890 and remained there until July 1891. Once again, people turned out to hear her magnificent voice in countries and colonies that included Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, British Guiana, Antigua, St. Kitts, and Haiti. And again, her adoring fans and government dignitaries gave gold medals and jewels to the young soprano.
One of the medals she received during her second tour came from the people of Haiti a few days before she and her company left for St. Thomas. This medal must have had special meaning to her because it was one of the few she kept for the rest of her life.
This is the second of what I hope will be a weekly blog about Sissieretta Jones, leading up to the publication of my book, Sissieretta Jones, “The Greatest Singer of Her Race,” 1868-1933, on May 15, 2012 by the University of South Carolina Press.
These blogs will contain short bits of information about this great soprano. Of course, there will be much more about her life in the book. It has taken me eight years to research and write the story of this fascinating woman. I hope you will enjoy reading about her as much as I enjoyed discovering many of the details of her life. Unfortunately, she did not leave letters or diaries to tell us her most inner thoughts and feelings. Instead, I’ve had to rely on hundreds of newspaper clippings from around the country and Canada to help me describe her career. As you’ll see from future blogs this early prima donna was one of the greats.
2-1-2012
Maureen D. Lee