On October 23, 1893, Paul Laurence Dunbar participated in a musical and literary recital in Chicago. He recited five pieces and shared the stage with vocalists and instrumentalists.
Program
Monday Evening, Oct. 23
The Old Hand Organ
Home Longings
The Old Apple Tree
When De Co'n Pone's Hot
The Rivals"Oak and Ivy," Mr. Dunbar's book of poems, will be on sale after the conclusion of the program. Price, One Dollar.
Recital program, October 23, 1893. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 4).
Paul was 21 years old and in Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition, where he hoped to find employment and a broader audience for his writings. A few days later, a Chicago Tribune article praised Paul and his poetry.
A new element has entered into the realm of American letters. Until recent years the part played in our literature by the American negro has been insignificant. In literature as well as music the presence of the negro is assuming a distinct phase of development. Paul Dunbar is in all particulars the most interesting. And there is ground for much profitable speculation upon what this mere lad will contribute for good to the future of American literature. His strength as a poet has shown to best advantage in dialect verse, but he has also written in purest English some poems of rare beauty. Mr. Dunbar has, undoubtedly, a great future and it is not expecting too much to look for some work from his pen which will arrest the attention of all of the people of the land.
"Pride of the Race." The Chicago Sunday Tribune (Chicago, Illinois). October 29, 1893. Pages 25 - 26.
Paul spent several months in Chicago, working at the World's Fair, making public appearances and writing articles. After hearing an ensemble of African musicians at the fair, Paul wrote an insightful essay about the connection between African music and American plantation songs.
CHICAGO, Ill. -- A joint debate was held at Bethel church the evening of June 1, between the Quimonian Lyceum league and Payne Literary society, of this church. Among the distinguished guests were: Mrs. Francis Ellen Hayer and Paul Dunbar, the Buckeye poet.
"The World's Fair City." The Cleveland Gazette (Cleveland, Ohio). June 10, 1893. Page 2.
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Mr. Paul Dunbar of Dayton, O., read one of his own poems at the opening of the Tourgee Club last week.
"Windy City News." The Cleveland Gazette (Cleveland, Ohio). June 17, 1893. Page 2.
The strange, fantastic melody of the old plantation music has always possessed a deep fascination for me. But, question as I might, I could never find out its source until passing through Midway plaisance during the fair I heard the Dahomeyans singing. Instantly the idea flashed into my mind: "It is a heritage." I heard in the Dahomeyans' singing the same rich melody, the same mournful minor cadences, that have touched the heart of the world through negro music. Foreign critics have said that these plantation songs were the only original music that America has produced. This is a misstatement, for America has not produced even these; she has only taken what Africa has given her.
"Plantation Music," by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Quincy Daily Herald (Quincy, Illinois). January 11, 1894. Page 4.