Evans-Tibbs Collection
Object Details
- 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,Smithsonian Institution, gift Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr. Estate
- 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
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Lillian Evanti travel scrapbook
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Lillian Evanti pose by Cherry Blossom trees
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Program for joint commencement Exercises of the Margaret Murray Washington and the Seth L. Phelps Vocational High Schools
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Lillian Evanti, National Gallery of Art concert program
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Lillian Evanti
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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority presents Second Annual "Fiesta Time" featuring Mme. Lillian Evanti program
- Lillian Evans Tibbs papers
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Wilson Bruce Evans and Robert Russa Moton with others pose for group portrait
- Photographs
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Mrs. Brooks
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Lillian Evanti and John Hoskins greet Dr. L. S. Rowe
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Armstrong Manual Training School yearbook
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Lillian Evanti in recital at Asbury Methodist Church
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Portrait of African American woman
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Lillian Evanti
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5th Annual American Negro Music Festival program
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Lillian Evanti
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Lillian Evanti
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Wilson Bruce Evans pose with Armstrong Manual Training School students
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Dr. L. S. Rowe, Dr. Luis Quintanilla, Lillian Evanti, and John Hoskins
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Thurlow Evans Tibbs, Jr baby portrait
- Publicity and Special Events
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Lillian Evanti
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Lillian Evanti