Historical information

The Christy Minstrels were originally formed in New York by Edwin Pearce Christy in 1843. Special sheet music was published for Minstrel Groups to perform and Australian versions of the troupe were very popular.
Archibald Munro was an early Orbost bootmaker, became a post master until the telegraph line came and was an original member of the Orbost Brass Band.

Significance

In the United States these early minstrel groups were successors to individual minstrel performers who imitated Negro singing and dancing. Minstrel shows developed in the 1840’s, peaked after the Civil War and remained popular into the early 1900s.
Minstrel groups in Australia followed the custom of blackening their faces. Minstrelsy was a product of its time.

Physical description

A note book with three papers which are copies of letters. It has a brown cover with marbled edges.. It contains the minutes of the Orbost Christy Minstrels Troupe. The letters are hand-written in black ink and signed by Archibald Munro.
.1 is the book
.2 notes on the preeiminary meeting
.3 letter to Mr Graham