Matilda Sissieretta Jones

Brief

     Jones (1869-1933) was an internationally acclaimed soprano opera singer who notes were said to be as clear as a mockingbird’s with perfect annunciation. Her remarkable abilities led her to perform at the White House for four U.S. Presidents: Harrison, McKinley, Cleveland, and Roosevelt. Jones toured extensively across Europe, the West Indies, South America, Australia, India, and southern Africa, performing for notable figures including Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII of England, and Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany.

     In June 1892, Jones became the first Black person to sing at the Music Hall in New York (renamed Carnegie Hall the following year). Though she preferred to be called Madame Jones, she was dubbed the "Black Patti" after famous Italian opera singer Adelina Patti. This comparison proved to be a double-edged sword - while it acknowledged her exceptional talent, it also highlighted the racial barriers of her era.

     In 1896, seeking greater artistic and financial control over her career, she founded the Black Patti Troubadours (later renamed the Black Patti Musical Comedy Company), a theatrical troupe that combined opera, popular music, and comedy. The company provided crucial opportunities for African American performers during an era of limited prospects, touring successfully for nearly two decades and becoming one of the most popular and long-running African American theater companies of its time.

     Throughout her career, she received numerous medals and decorations from monarchs and leaders worldwide, including a medal from the French President in 1888, a diamond cross from the Emperor of Germany, and a medal of merit from Haitian President Louis Étienne Félicité Lysius Salomon. These prestigious awards became part of her signature look, as she proudly wore them during performances and portrait sittings, often adorning her gowns with multiple medals simultaneously.

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