Links to History
Stephen Foster is considered one of the earliest published American composers to write songs based on American themes. His inspirations came from the realities of life in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and throughout the United States in the mid 1800’s, in addition to the same European influences of his contemporaries. The Stephen Foster Story depicts American life at a time that can seem so distant to us now. African American history as it intersects with Stephen Foster’s history is an element where it is important to examine historic context. Some characters and events are based on actual history and others are not. While the people and stories depicted throughout this show are a blend of fact and fiction, the abuse of enslaved people of the United States and the hurtful practice of blackface minstrelsy was very real. Here, we highlight some historic connections to the show and more.
Stephen Foster
1826 – 1864 Composer A prolific writer, Foster composed and arranged over 200 pieces of…
Jenny Lind
1820 – 1887 Connection outside the show Henry Kleber produced concerts with local and national…
Frederick Douglass
1817 to 1895 Abolitionist, Orator, Writer, Statesman Connection outside the show In “My Bondage and…
Jane McDowell Foster Wiley
1829 – 1903 Jane and Stephen were married for 14 years until he died on…
Henry Kleber
1816 – 1897 Henry Kleber immigrated at age 16 from the German city of Darmstadt…