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. Foster’s 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 Foster’s
most influential and popular songs. Foster’s
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 Foster’s
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 Foster’s 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 Foster’s 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 Foster’s 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 isn’t directly illustrated by
the dioramas or the playing of Foster’s 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
