From Converse’s Analytical Banjo Method, published 1887. Andrew Leavitt (1822 - 1901) performed in Boston and Albany.

Good old 19th c. banjo tune from Buckley’s 1860 book.

I just posted the American Experience episode of Stephen Foster from 2001, which I found on YouTube.  I was trying to include the text, "I saw this 20+ years ago. I never understood why, when other episodes of American Experience are available for online purchase, this one is not. This morning, I was surprised to stumble upon it on YouTube, however. "  I don't know what went wrong and don't know how to correct or delete it.  SorrySee More

On July 4, 1826, as America celebrated its fiftieth birthday, local patriots and politicians in a small village east of Pittsburgh, read the Declaration of I...

From S. S. Stewart’s “The Minstrel Banjoist” 1881.

Old Johnny Boker, Briggs 1855Jim Along Josey, Howe 1851Backside of Albany, Howe 1851Old Zip Coon aka Turkey in the Straw, Briggs 1855

I'm working on an old banjo that has unusual shoes. The pot is 3 1/3" deep, the shoes are 2 1/4" long, and the bottoms of the shoes have hooks that grab the bottom of the all-metal (non-ferrous, looks like nickel over brass) pot. As a result, there are no penetrations of the pot, similar to the Whyte Laydie construction. The upper part of the shoes are threaded into the side of the tension hoop. The exterior of the tension hoop has decorative, knurled "frames" between the j-hooks.Does anyone…See More

I just got this email message through banjohangout... maybe someone can get this poor fellow's application here approved?:This message was sent to you from jlawjr (jlwebb@colby.edu) via Banjo Hangout:---------------------------------------Hi, Strumelia,I have been trying to join the minstrelbanjo.ning group. It has been a couple of months and I haven't received a response from the administrator in charge of the…See More

From Elias Howe’s Complete Preceptor for the Banjo, 1851.