Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Peter Marks Minstrelsy Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1328
Creators:
Jessee, Mark
Marks, Peter, 1843-1883
Dates:
1800-1915; undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3 Cubic feet
Repository:
The collection documents Marks's years as a harpist on the Midwestern minstrel circuit. It primarily consists of sheet music and song books, theater programs, posters announcing minstrel shows, newspaper articles, and personal papers.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection contains the personal and professional papers of musician Peter Marks dating primarily from the mid to late nineteenth century. These materials provide valuable insight into life before and after the Civil War mainly through correspondence and other primary sources documenting domestic activities. The materials also document how a musician was able to make a living teaching music and performing in classical music concerts, as well as, with minstrel troupes.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1: Personal Papers, 1800s-1909; undated
Series 2: Professional Materials, 1849-1915; undated
Subseries 2.1, Playbills, Programs, Posters, and Advertisements, 1863-1879; undated
Subseries 2.2, Sheet Music, 1843-1901; undated
Subseries 2.3, Publications, 1849-1915; undated

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Peter Matthew Marks was born February 21, 1843 to parents William Augustus Marks and Anne Mooney (Marks) in Ireland. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio learning to play piano, harp, and guitar. Marks performed with various minstrel troupes in and around Cincinnati, Ohio. During the war, he served as a member of the Ohio militia for one month before leaving to continue his music career. Peter Marks met and married Mary "Emma" McKitrick. He ultimately left the minstrel circuit and went on to become a professor at the Cincinnati College of Music. He died in 1883.

Administration

Author
Vanessa Broussard-Simmons
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Archives Center in 2014, by Mark Jessee in honor of the Archie and Camille Jessee Family.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist, 2015.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Peter Marks Minstrelsy Collection, 1800-1915, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Related Materials
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Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 3: African-American Music, NMAH.AC0300
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 11: Entertainment, NMAH.AC0300
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 4: Songwriters, NMAH.AC0300 Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection, NMAH.AC0491
Donald J. Stubblebine Collection of Musical Theater and Motion Picture Music and Ephemera, NMAH.AC1211
Hooker-Howe Company Papers, NMAH.AC1475
Henry "Buddy" Graf and George Cahill Vaudeville and Burlesque Collections, NMAH.AC1484
B. Thomas Smith Minstrel Show Posters, NMAH.AC1490
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
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Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2002 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, CFCH.SFF.2002
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Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Music teachers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Harpists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Minstrel music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Songbooks -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sheet music -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Theater programs -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Theater Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Minstrel shows Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Posters -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Articles -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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