Blondie Robinson collection of African-American Minstrel and Vaudeville photographs (MS.2015.018)

This collection contains 77 late 19th-century and early 20th-century studio photographs, the bulk of which date from circa 1915 to circa 1925. These photographs were formerly owned by African American vaudeville performer, Blondie Robinson, whose career on stage began no later than 1909, most likely peaked around the mid-1920s and began to wane a few years thereafter. The heart of the collection comprises studio portraits of Robinson himself, alone and with others, and offers substantive visual documentation of his life on stage--his song and dance routines, the variety of costumes that he wore, including his use of blackface caricatures, and the physicality of his comedic skits which often incorporated acrobatics, contortions, and other theatrical antics. Also included in this collection are images of other vaudeville performers, studio portraits of Robinson’s circle of friends and associates, as well as a few photographs of Robinson’s extended family that may include images of his wife and daughter among them (see Series 5 and 6). Some of the photographs in this collection also include informative inscriptions, signatures, and occasional annotations, the sum total of which helps to contextualize Robinson’s professional life within early 20th-century African American vaudeville theatre.

Series 1. Blondie Robinson (Solo Portraits), comprises the heart of this collection as it features Robinson as a solo performer and documents his theatrical versatility and dynamic stage presence. It offers a visual overview of the various acts that he performed and the variety of costumes that he wore on stage. These photographs include Robinson donning formal attire, a cowboy outfit, and a bellhop uniform. The dates of these photographs mostly likely range from 1915 to 1925.

Series 2. Blondie Robinson and Bisette, documents Robinson’s comedic pairing with Bisette, a female African American vaudeville performer and singer. It includes two sets of promotional portraits highlighting their comedic interplay, the costumes they wore, and the various props they used. This series also illustrates Robinson’s numerous antics on stage, his whimsical stage presence, and the overall physicality of his comedic performances. They were most likely taken around 1911.

Series 3. Blondie Robinson and Bille McCarver, comprises a set of professional photographs of Robinson’s collaboration with Billie McCarver, a fellow vaudeville entertainer. Illustrated here are glimpses of their comedic skits, their choreographed song-and-dance routines, and the costumes they wore, which include images of Robinson in blackface. They were taken mostly likely around 1918.

Series 4. Blondie Robinson and Other Identified Persons (Duos), and Series 5. Blondie Robinson and Other Unidentified Persons (Duos/Groups), comprise additional documentation about Robinson’s life on stage, especially in terms of additional information about Robinson as a collaborative performer. The two photographs that comprise Series 4 for example, capture images of the narrative interplay between Robinson and two of his stage partners: Harry Bowen and a performer identified as “Williams," respectively dated circa 1912 and circa 1910-1915. Series 5, which is wider in scope, includes photographs of Robinson performing with a variety of other unidentified personalities, both male and female, in a variety of costumes and comedic skits, the sum total of which offers a glimpse into his stage presence and versatility as a vaudeville performer. Some of these include Robinson in blackface.

Series 6. Blondie Robinson Family (Group Portrait) , is comprised of only one informal photograph presumed to be of Robinson’s extended family, posing on the front steps of what is presumed to be the Robinson homestead. It includes Robinson--and possibly his daughter. Although undated, it was probably taken around the 1920s in Stockton, California.

Series 7 through 11 are made up of photographs of friends and associates of Robinson. None of these include images of Robinson.

Series 7. Miscellaneous Identified Persons (Solo Portraits), comprises a small collection of headshots of various friends and associates of Robinson, most likely taken between the years 1915 and 1925. They include vaudeville performers Harry E. Daly, Eddie Kellie, and Billie Ward.

Series 8. Miscellaneous Identified Persons (Duos/Pairs), comprises two studio portraits of two couples who are presumed to be friends and/or associates of Robinson (the first is undated and the second has an inscription date of 1918).

Series 9. Miscellaneous Unidentified Persons (Solo Portraits)), contains an assortment of portraits of unidentified persons, including one of a baby taken in San Francisco who could possibly be Robinson's child. It also includes formal headshots of Robinson’s associates, friends, and quite possibly some of his relatives. The dates of these photographs range from 1890 to 1925 approximately.

Series 10. Miscellaneous Unidentified Persons (Duos/Pairs), contains three double portraits of unidentified vaudeville performers and associates of Robinson. One of them is a montage of a vaudville duo, friends and associates of Robinson. Series 11. The Serenaders (Vaudeville Group), comprises a series of studio photographs of the vaudeville ensemble, the Serenaders. It includes images of their song and dance routines together with the various costumes that they wore. These photos were most likely taken between the years 1915 and 1925.

Series 12. Supplementary Materials, contains four files, arranged chronologically, of reviews and advertisements of Robinson’s worldwide performances published in newspapers. These files were compiled by Brown University staff during 2016 in order to provide basic information about Robinson’s life and career, and to help establish a timeline of key events in Robinson’s professional life.