Sweet Emma and Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black-and-white photograph of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans, standing in front of Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana. The photograph depicts six men in suits standing behind bass drum, with the words [PRESERVATION HALL / JAZZ / BAND / of / New Orleans, La.] printed on the drumhead. The men are standing in a line and each is holding one instrument. From left to right is Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau holding a double bass, "Big" Jim Robinson holding a trombone, Emanuel Sayles holding a banjo, Willie Humphrey holding a clarinet, Josiah "Cie" Frazier holding drumsticks, and Percy Humphrey holding a trumpet. "Sweet" Emma Barrett, piano player and leader of the band, is seated to the right of the wearing a skirt set, printed blouse, hat and jingles attached to her calves. There are no inscriptions on the front or back of the image.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1964; printed later
• Photograph by: Daniel Sweeney Leyrer, American, 1898 - 1978
• Subject of: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, American, founded 1963
• Subject of: Alcide Pavageau, American, 1888 - 1969
• Subject of: Jim Robinson, American, 1892 - 1976
• Subject of: Emanuel Sayles, American, 1907 - 1986
• Subject of: Willie Humphrey Sr., American, 1900 - 1994
• Subject of: Josiah Frazier, American, 1904 - 1985
• Subject of: Percy Humphrey, American, 1905 - 1995
• Type: inkjet prints
• Medium: ink on paper
• Dimensions: H x W: 8 × 10 in. (20.3 × 25.4 cm)
• Place captured: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: American South
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Photography
• Object number: 2016.112
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Preservation Hall
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Preservation Hall Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.