The Lost Museum Archive

Elizabeth Greenfield was one of the first African-American concert performers in the United States. She was born a slave in Natchez, Mississippi in the 1820s; her owner relocated to Philadelphia, freed Greenfield, and paid for voice lessons for her. She began her professional singing career in Buffalo, New York in 1851, shortly after the high publicized Jenny Lind tour and went on to tour Europe and perform for Queen Victoria of England in 1854. Although she received outstanding critical praise for her vocal abilities, Greenfield also faced harsh racism and limited opportunities. After several national and international tours, she settled in Philadelphia to teach music until her death in 1876.