Watkins Park in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Fisk Jubliee Singers

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, January 2, 2023

1. The Fisk Jubliee Singers Marker

Inscription. Less than five years after its creation, Fisk University was struggling finically. So, in 1871 the school sent a nine-member student chorus on a fundraising tour of the northeastern United States. However, small audiences, meager donations, and the generous decision to gift what little the singers had earned to the victims of the Great Chicago Fire let the school right back where it had started. The group's director, George White, decided that the group needed a name to grab attention and came up with the "Jubilee Singers." From that point on, the Jubilee Singers successfully toured North America and Europe, and raised not only enough money to keep the school in business, but even to fund the construction of Jubilee Hall, which was completed in 1876 as the University's first permanent structure and is now a National Historic Landmark. "Jubilee Day" is still celebrated annually on October 6.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Education. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1871.

Location. 36° 9.74′ N, 86° 48.029′ W. Marker is in Nashville,

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Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Watkins Park. It is on 17th Avenue North, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 616 17th Ave N, Nashville TN 37203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection at Fisk University (here, next to this marker); Coach Cornelius Ridley (within shouting distance of this marker); Pearl High School (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Watkins Park (about 500 feet away); Blue Triangle YWCA (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pearl Sanders Creswell (1912 - 1994) / Creswell House (approx. ¼ mile away); William Edmondson (approx. ¼ mile away);

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, January 2, 2023

2. The Fisk Jubliee Singers Marker

James Weldon Johnson Home (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.