1. Stephen Foster and His Modern Day Depiction Jessie Wyche MUH2051-07 April 26, 2014

2. Stephen Foster is an American composer whose folk-culture centered music brought life to the American Ante- bellum South. Today, he is often referred to as the father of American music. 3. Stephen Collins Foster was born July 4, 1826 in Lawrenceville Pennsylvania to William and Eliza Foster. He was the youngest of ten children and from an early age portrayed an immense fascination with music and 4. Despite growing up in a period of prolonged racial inequality, Foster never allowed racist and prejudice behavior to infiltrate and influence his songwriting career. His primary goal when composing music was always to never mock or ridicule slaves life. He wanted listeners to emphasize with the struggles slaves faced daily. He wanted to appeal to his listeners compassionate side. 5. As a result, this prompted Foster to create a set of songs that viewed Black Americans in a more positive light. Upon this newly acquired outlook, Foster composed some of his most popular works known as Nelly Was a Lady, Farewell, My Lilly Dear, Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair, Oh! Susanna and most widely known and recognized today, Swanee River. Foster later went on to compose over 200 songs. 6. These songs automatically brought a united front to America and as a direct result were viewed as symbols of American nationalism and pride. Today, the efforts of Stephen Foster, both professionally and personally, are forever memorialized at the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center. 7. The Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center is located in White Springs, a small North Florida town. This folk cultural center was built in 1930s by The Stephen Foster Memorial Commission. Fosters song, Old Folks at Home, made the Suwannee River a national landmark. Therefore, the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center is located right on the Suwannee River. 8. The image pictured above is of the world-renowned Suwannee River. Stephen Foster used this beautiful natural landmark as an inspiration during his career. 9. A vital part in learning about how Stephen Foster is depicted in modern day history is through visiting the Stephen Foster Museum, which is another aspect to the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center. This museum contains a wide variety of exhibits that showcase Fosters most influential and popular songs. Fosters songs are brought to life via eight dioramas that depict scenes directly relating to the theme and central point of the particular song. 10. The image pictured is of the Stephen Foster Museum. This museum was built in 1951 by the Stephen Foster Memorial Commission. This museum is noted as being a historical feature of both folk culture and tradition. 11. One of the eight dioramas featured in the museum illustrates the song Swanee River. These dioramas are extremely unique in the sense that they are interactive and motion sensitive. The steamboat moves across the water whenever the sensor detects someone is observing the 12. Stephen Fosters depiction isn't just limited by the eight dioramas. Found all throughout the museum are sheet copies of Fosters music along with numerous pictures. Pictures represented in the museum include a famous Navy World War II ship that was named after Foster. Stephen Foster isn't just recognized on a musical level. 13. This image on display in the museum, illustrates Fosters impact outside of the realm of music. It lists all the places throughout the United States where Stephen Foster is being honored. For example, there are 8 cities in the United States that have schools named after 14. When visiting, one can also view the ball gown inspired by the song Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair. Foster wrote this song shortly after separating with his wife, Jane Denny McDowell. Scholars believe this song was composed with the hopes of reconnecting with Jane, who Foster 15. On display in the museum, there also is the legendary Governor's Table where Stephen Foster wrote his song Swanee River. The image pictured to the right is of the famous Governor's table and illustrates its impeccable quality despite over 100 years of use. 16. Another fascinating aspect to The Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center is the Carillon Bell Tower. This bell tower is definitely one of a kind and throughout the day plays Fosters song. This reinforces the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Centers main goal of honoring Foster. 17. Patricia Gromer, the Museum Director for over 20 years believes that the combination of the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center state park as well as the Stephen Foster Museum do an excellent job at representing Stephen Foster. For having worked at the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center for quite some time she has become an expert regarding anything and everything related to Stephen Foster. Constantly being surrounded with information pertaining to Stephen Foster and his contributions to music and society, Gromer believes that she learns a new fact about Foster almost daily. This excites her because it shows how the museum and state park to this day still represent an opportunity to learn and give back. 18. Patricia Gromer also views the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center as a correct and accurate representation of Stephen Foster and his contributions. In summary, she believes that the state park should be focused around Stephen Foster because his songwriting career helped the small town of White Springs grow. This is primarily shown by reminisces of Fosters songs being heard all around the park via the Carillon Bell Tower and is seen by the little details present not only in museum but also in the craft square. 19. Despite all the positive elements regarding Stephen Foster the state park illustrates, it falls short in explain why Foster is memorized in such a positive light. The museum briefly shows visitors segments of Fosters popular songs through eight different dioramas. These dioramas show the the true meaning of the song but they fail to describe why these songs were and are popular. They also do not explain why and how Fosters music curbed the American Antebellum 20. Fosters songs urged a sense of revolutionary rhetoric in a time where inequality was at its highest. His songs represented a call-to-action. Listeners related to this music because it truly illustrated the feeling of the American Antebellum South. The simple fact that Fosters music was based off of accurate events and was extremely relatable automatically made it loved by all. It directly represented and caused a rise in nostalgia. 21. Even though this national pride isnt directly illustrated by the dioramas or the playing of Fosters songs in the Carillon Bell Tower, it is shown by the simple fact that this state park and museum is thriving and an extremely important historical aspect to society today. People come from all over United States to learn more about our beloved Father of American Music. Our national pride and rhetoric was ignited by Foster and his songs, and to this 22. All in all, the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center and the Stephen Foster Museum are excellent ways to see how influential Foster is to society. His modern day depiction truly describes his positive and continuous impact. He will forever be remembered as a legend in modern day music and culture. 23. Information was gathered through a variety of sources. Fieldwork was conducted by Jessie Wyche, the project presenter, by visiting the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center. When vising the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center, photographs were taken of the state park, museum, and bell tower. These photographs were used in completion of this project. In addition, an interview was conducted with Patricia Gromer and her responses were recorded and integrated into the assignment. Information regarding Stephen Fosters personal history as well as some minor photographs was gathered by visiting Public Broadcasting 24. Works Cited Gromer, Patricia. "Patricia Gromer Stephen Foster Interview." Personal interview. 22 Mar. 2014. Oh! Susanna Cover. Photograph. n.d. Stephen Foster Timeline. pbs.org. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Stephen Foster. Cond. Dieter Reith. Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair. Sonoton, 2004. MP3. Stephen Foster Family. Photograph. n.d. Stephen Foster Timeline. pbs.org. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Stephen Foster. Photograph. n.d. Stephen Foster Timeline. pbs.org. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. "Stephen Foster Timeline." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Suwannee River. Photograph. n.d. About Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. floridastateparks.org. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. "Welcome to Florida State Parks." Welcome to Florida State Parks. Florida State