Lillian Evanti wears opera costume from La Traviata

Object Details

Creator
Sommariva, Emilio, Photographer, 1883-1956
Scope and Contents
Lillian Evanti poses for publicity photo in costume for La Traviata.
Date
circa 1924-1935
Extent
1 Photographic print (6 x 9 inches.)
Type
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Publicity photographs
Topic
Costumes
Operas
Portraits -- Italy
Portraits -- African American women
Collection Rights
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation
Evans-Tibbs collection, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of the Estate of Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr.
General
Act I Traviata written on verso of photograph.
Lillian Evanti in opera costume
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

Related Content

1 result(s)
  • Evans-Tibbs Collection
    Biographical/Historical note
    The Evans-Tibbs collection form part of the family papers acquired from the Evans-Tibbs Collection museum, which closed in 1996, and centers around the life of Lillian Evans Tibbs. The museum was formerly the home of Evans, the first African American woman to sing opera with an organized European company. She was born in Washington, DC to a cultured, well-educated, middle-class family. Her mother was Annie Lillian Evans, a music teacher in the DC public school system, and her father was Wilson Bruce Evans, organizer and first principal of Armstrong Technical High School in Washington, DC. Hiram Revels, the first black U.S. senator, was her great-uncle and two other family members are credited with taking part in John Borwn's raid on Harper's Ferry. She married Howard University music professor, Roy W. Tibbs in 1918. Her stage name, Madame Evanti, is a combination of her last name and her husband's. Evans had one child, Thurlow Tibbs Sr., and two grandchildren, Diane Elizabeth and Thurlow Evans Tibbs. Thurlow Jr., operated the Evans-Tibbs Collection museum until 1996, a year before his death.
    Date
    circa 1850-1997
    Extent
    25.54 Linear feet (46 boxes; 3 cabinet drawers)
    Rights
    Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
    Citation
    Evans-Tibbs collection, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of the Estate of Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr.
    Type
    Collection descriptions
    Archival materials
    Photograph albums
    Sheet music
    Letters (correspondence)
    Topic
    African American families
    Place
    Washington (D.C.)
    Oberlin (Ohio)
    Identifier
    ACMA.06-016
Back to Top