Uncle Josh group

Uncle Josh group

1902-02-20

Uncle Josh was a stock character in amateur theatrical and minstrel shows. One man is in blackface, a racist imitation of African American skin color. The Philadelphia Inquirer ran this photograph on March 2, 1902, page 9, with the following headline and caption: CLEVER YOUNG PEOPLE ACT FOR SWEET CHARITY'S SAKE. MEDIA, Pa. March 1.—The St. Vincent Dramatic Association is composed of young people of the Media Catholic church [Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or BVM], and organized for charity. The old church near the present large edifice [on the southeast corner of Franklin St. and Church St.] has been transformed into a miniature theatre, and used by the association. Their first entertainment, "Uncle Josh," played a few evenings ago, netted them $100. In the illustration, reading from left to right, the members are Burd Patterson, P. H. Reilly, William Suter, Joseph Devine, Albert K. Holl, Kate Nolan, M. C. [Matthew C.] Fox Jr. [in blackface], William Flack, Margaret Egan, Frank D. Suter, Kate Egan, John McGinley, and Thomas J. Dolphin. According to the Chester Times, April 2, 1902, this performance was such a success that it was repeated.

AP-8174

Appleton, Stephen Horne, 1854-1909

Glass Negative, 8" x 10"

8174

Patterson

Reilly

Suter

Devine

Holl

Nolan

Fox

Flack

Egan

McGinley

Dolphin