Photograph caption: ‘Photograph of the Jubilee Singers from Fisk University, United States of America, four male figures standing and seven females sitting’, 2 June 1874, Catalogue Ref: COPY 1/25 f.182
Men standing at the back: from left to right Edmund Watkins; I. P. Dickerson; Benjamin M Holmes; Thomas Rutling.
Women seated: from the left to right: Georgia Gordon; Mabel Rosa Lewis; Maggie L Porter; Jennie Jackson [centre] Ella Sheppard; Julia Jackson, Minniver U. Yates.
Look at the photograph.
- How many men and women you can see in this photograph of the ‘Jubilee Singers’?
- Can you describe their hairstyles and clothing?
- Where has the photograph been taken? Give your reasons.
- Why is the group arranged in this way for the photograph?
- How can we date the photograph?
- Why has this photograph been taken do you think?
- What does this picture show us about photography at that time?
- What can a photograph show us which a written document might not?
- Why do you think this photograph is important for learning about Victorian times?
- Find out more about the Jubilee Singers using this video.