Thomas Greene Bethune or Thomas Greene Wiggins was known as Blind Tom., Illustration signed: Adrian-Probasco., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook., Digitized by Alexander Street Press for Images of the American Civil War., Readex Aug. 2017 update: missing 510 supplied.
Creator
Blind Tom, 1849-1908
Date
[1865]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare PB 1865 Blind (8)5761.F.59a (McAllister)
Half-length portrait of the blind composer and pianist. Tom, attired in a white collared shirt, a tie, and a jacket, faces left with his eyes closed. Thomas Greene Wiggins also known as Thomas Bethune was born blind in Georgia to Charity and Domingo "Mingo" Wiggins. The family was enslaved by General James Neil Bethune, who hired Tom out to perform and tour extensively. He was a musical prodigy who could play by ear. He wrote over one hundred compositions and performed throughout his lifetime., Title from manuscript note written on mount., Date inferred from photographic medium and attire of the sitter., American Celebrities Album., Purchase 1985., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
Date
[ca. 1870]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department American Celebrities Album [(II)P.9100.44c]
