Home

This project explores the history and impact of the American Banjo, from its African roots to its incorporation into white American culture. This project is for History of American Technology & Culture (HIST 325) at the University of Mary Washington.

Created by Hannah Holstrom and Noah Rutkowski.

Find Out More

A wooden African lute that appears to be constructed from a spherical base and a long neck.
This appears to be an African antecedent to the banjo.
An old, black and white photograph of a black person sitting in the middle of the frame holding a banjo and smiling.
A black banjo player from Florida, photographed in 1891.
A banjo with a round base and short stringed and fretted neck and a colorful rope strap connected from each end.
This banjo was played by Peter Newberry, a New Zealand performer, in the mid to late 1900s.
Image Citations

African. Banjo-Style Instrument. n.d. The Trout Gallery, Dickinson College; Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Dean B. Olewiler. https://jstor.org/stable/community.15711647.

Banjo Player, 1891. 1891. Winter Park and Florida. Rollins College. https://jstor.org/stable/community.39301975.

Unknown. Banjo. n.d. Overall: 190mm (width), 525mm (length), 60mm (depth). <a href=”https://www.tepapa.govt.nz”>Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa</a>; Collection: History; Purchased 2011. https://jstor.org/stable/community.27028223.