Singer. She gained fame as a 19th-century African-American singer as well as a music teacher and abolitionist. She is known as "The Black Swan." Born into slavery, little is recorded about her early life except that she had a sister. She was owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Greenfield, who moved to Philadelphia and became a Quaker. At one point, Mrs. Elizabeth Greenfield gave her slaves freedom. Although free, she decided to stay until the elderly Mrs. Greenfield's death. She met racial prejudices, which included a formal education. In 1851, she made her professional singing debut in Buffalo, New York, which was shortly followed by the highly publicized Jenny Lind tour. She had a keen business sense. Traveling to Europe by ship, she had a first-class cabin. She subsequently toured Great Britain and performed a command for Queen Victoria in 1854. She toured in Famine-era Ireland and sang in the most prestigious venues in the highest of society. She died from a paralyzing stroke.
Singer. She gained fame as a 19th-century African-American singer as well as a music teacher and abolitionist. She is known as "The Black Swan." Born into slavery, little is recorded about her early life except that she had a sister. She was owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Greenfield, who moved to Philadelphia and became a Quaker. At one point, Mrs. Elizabeth Greenfield gave her slaves freedom. Although free, she decided to stay until the elderly Mrs. Greenfield's death. She met racial prejudices, which included a formal education. In 1851, she made her professional singing debut in Buffalo, New York, which was shortly followed by the highly publicized Jenny Lind tour. She had a keen business sense. Traveling to Europe by ship, she had a first-class cabin. She subsequently toured Great Britain and performed a command for Queen Victoria in 1854. She toured in Famine-era Ireland and sang in the most prestigious venues in the highest of society. She died from a paralyzing stroke.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Gravesite Details
Originally buried on April 3, 1876, in Philadelphia's now defunct Olive Cemetery before being interred here.
