Banjo 1879 - 1889

Hercules McCord created this banjo around 1880, during a period of complex social and cultural exchange in the United States. The banjo itself, while popularized in minstrel shows and later country music, has deep roots in African musical traditions. Enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and the Americas created instruments that resembled the banjo from gourds and other materials. By the late 19th century, the banjo became a popular instrument across racial lines. Yet, it also became associated with blackface minstrelsy, performances in which white performers used racist stereotypes. The presence of this banjo in a museum invites us to consider how musical instruments can carry layers of social and cultural meaning, reflecting both creativity and the complex politics of representation. Understanding the banjo's history requires us to consider the social conditions of its production and reception, using resources like historical recordings, sheet music, and accounts of musical performances.