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Museum object · Racist and Stereotypical Objects

Down In Memphis -They're Wearing Out Their Shoes, Dancing To "The Blues"

1916

Sugg McDonald House, Sonora, Tuolumne County, California, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Sheet music for the song Down in Memphis. The front cover for the sheet music features an illustration of an African American man dancing while several other people look on and play instruments. The scene takes place on a dock at night and a boat can be seen in the water. Red and white type on the front cover above the image reads: [DOWN IN MEMPHIS / -THEY'RE WEARING OUT THEIR SHOES, DANCING TO "THE BLUES"]. Below the image, red type reads: [The / great "levee" / song of the South / by / HI WILSON / HALE BYERS]. A text box logo in blue ink on the bottom of the front cover reads: [CHAS. L. JOHNSON / MUSIC COMPANY / GORDON-KOPPEL BLDG. / LIVE-WIRE / MUSIC / MUSIC COMPANY / KANSAS CITY, MO.]. The front inside cover has sheet music in black ink for additional songs.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2014.275.3

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