Cotton Chronology 1890-1908

Presented in this exhibit is the third and concluding section of a logbook of primary records chronicling the life of Benjamin Allen Cotton (1827-1908), a 19th century blackface minstrel. The bulk of the entries reference what were then contemporary materials documenting his performance career - a career spanning 60 years between 1845 and 1905.  

The materials that are referenced, or displayed, include hotel registrations, journal entries, cemetery transcriptions, posters, tax records and scrapbooks. 

To access the full log for any particular year(s), click the link "Cotton Chronology" that appears in red at the top of the individual pages.

Credits

Eric Metcalf