Hutchinson Family Singers Concert Broadside
-
No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a rare printed broadside advertising a June 2, 1849, concert by the Hutchinson Family Singers in Portland, Maine, and includes a handwritten note on the verso by an unnamed concert attendee. The broadside announces a “Vocal Entertainment” by Judson, Abby, John, and Asa Hutchinson at City Hall and highlights two reform-oriented songs: "Glide on My Light Canoe (The Indian's Lament)" and "Uncle Sam’s Farm." These songs address themes of American Indian displacement, anti-slavery, open immigration, and westward expansion.
The manuscript note on the reverse, penned in a partially legible and critical tone, remarks on the presence of General Samuel Fessenden, a well-known abolitionist and Underground Railroad supporter, who attended the concert with his wife and three African Americans.
Dates
- Creation: 1849
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections.
For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.
Biographical / Historical
The Hutchinson Family Singers, originating from Milford, New Hampshire, were the most celebrated American musical group of the 1840s. Known for their tight four-part harmonies and crowd-pleasing performances, they pioneered the fusion of popular and protest music in the United States. While their early repertoire included sentimental and comic songs set to familiar tunes, they gained national attention with their temperance anthem “King Alcohol.” Recognizing the appeal of reform music, the group quickly embraced abolitionism, women’s rights, labor reform, and other progressive causes.
Their songs made controversial political topics accessible to a broad public. Importantly, the Hutchinsons not only welcomed African American audience members but actively encouraged their inclusion. This inclusive stance endeared them to radical abolitionists such as General Samuel Fessenden of Maine, whose home served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Extent
1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The University of Alabama Libraries acquired the Hutchinson Family Singers Concert Broadside from Read'Em Again Books in 2021.
Processing Information
Processed by Courtney Tutt, April 2025.
- Title
- Guide to the Hutchinson Family Singers Concert Broadside
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Courtney Tutt, April 2025.
- Date
- April 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository