The flower from Lincoln's grave: sung with great success by James Holbertson words by Burton Lawrence; music by James Holbertson

The flower from Lincoln's grave: sung with great success by James Holbertson words by Burton Lawrence; music by James Holbertson

Slavery
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln-tribute
Black American
Emancipation Proclamation
Gravesite
San Francisco

This is sheet music for a tribute song to Abraham Lincoln, written by Burton Lawrence and sung by James Holberton. The lyrics suggest that it derives from an African-American perspective, with “dis darkey’s” and “ole massa”, who undoubtedly holds Lincoln in high regard for emancipating all slaves on American soil. There is no internet trace for the aforementioned names, so we are unable to contextualise the music based on the persons who created it.
By the year the song was produced, 1898, California was in the Reconstruction Era trying to rebuild after the Civil War. Although bonded labour was outlawed, some Asian and African-American workers were still paid menial wages. They also faced social and political discrimination through Jim Crow Laws and Asian Immigration Acts.

Burton Lawrence, San Francisco, California

Library of Congress Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana

https://www.loc.gov/item/scsm000087/

1898

Leah Guy

Library of Congress
https://www.loc.gov/

English

Sheet music

19th century California