Research done by Cyrus

Winston
Flyerswere posted around campus in
February of 2008 that displayed a
page on the history of music at
Pomona College.
A circled paragraph on the flyer
pointed out that the Alma Mater Hail,
Pomona, Hail was written for a
blackface minstrel show in the 1909-
1910 performance season.
Subsequently, Pomona College's
administration sought to research the
matter in order to reach a conclusion
about which direction the college
would take in relation to this new
revelation.
 Question:

What is a minstrel show?

 Answer:

"Blackface minstrelsy was an established

nineteenth-century theatrical practice,
principally of the urban North, in which
white men caricatured blacks for sport and
profit."
-from Love and Theft: Blackface Minstrelsy
and the American Working Class by Eric Lott
A variety of topics have been touched
on, these include:
• The history of the writer of Hail, Pomona,
Hail, Richard Loucks.
• The history of minstrelsy at Pomona
College.
• The context for which the song was written
in.
In1906, Richard Loucks attended the
then operating prep school of
Pomona College from the period of
1906-1907.

He returned in the 1909-1910 period

but "flunked out," his own words, and
never actually graduated.
Thus his name is noted as
"Richard Loucks ex '13" in records.

The notation "ex" signifying a student

that attended but did not graduate.
Although he flunked out of Pomona
College, he would later be honored
with the Trustee Medal of Honor, and
a music scholarship created in his
name to mark his place as the writer
of the alma mater.
As discussed in the aforementioned
flyer, the alma mater was originally
the finale of a blackface minstrel
show performed in 1910, and likely
on January 15th, 1910.
Thisdate is cited from an article in
The Student Life where Loucks is
described as writing the song "Blue
and White" for the minstrel show's
Several sources indicate that this
show, or another of the many
minstrel shows performed, is where
Loucks wrote the song specifically for
the occasion.
This sources are:
• Loucks' personal notes typed onto note
cards archived by the school.
• President Lyon's history book.
• An oral interview with Loucks.
• And finally in the still active scholarship
created in 1955 to honor Loucks for writing
the song.
Notes Slide 1 of 2

Above:
The personally typed notes of Richard Loucks about the blackface
show he wrote for.
Notes Slide 2 of 2

Above:
The personally typed notes of Richard Loucks about the blackface
show he wrote for.
Interview Slide 1 of
4

Left:
Excerpt from
an interview
with Loucks
where he
discusses the
blackface
performance
he wrote for.
Interview Slide 2 of
4

Left:
Excerpt from
an interview
with Loucks
where he
discusses the
blackface
performance
he wrote for.
Interview Slide 3 of
4

Left:
Excerpt from
an interview
with Loucks
where he
discusses the
blackface
performance
he wrote for.
Interview Slide 4 of
4

Left:
Excerpt from
an interview
with Loucks
where he
discusses the
blackface
performance
he wrote for.
Well, in so many words, yes.

There are a significant number of

pictures depicting blackface
performances.
Above:
The cast of a blackface performance, circa 1911
Above:
The cast of a blackface performance at Holmes Hall, dated 1910.
Above:
Female student blackface performers , circa 1900-10.
Above:
Student blackface performers , circa 1908.
Above:
Student blackface performers , circa 1900-10.
Additionally, there were
performances of students with
students pretending to be Native
Americans where they darken their
skin, wear feathers, and depict what
they call "Primitive Indian Life.”
Above:
Student performers in a scene from “Primitive Indian Life,” dated
1913.
Around the same time, the students
performed a play called "Black
Dragon Mine," where they pretended
to be Chinese workers.
Above:
Student performers in a scene from “Black Dragon,” dated 1914.
Along those lines, they portrayed
their view of Mexican culture in a
performance called "San Juan Day."
Above:
Student performers in a scene from “Primitive Indian Life,” dated
1913.
You may access the references
pictures and documents at the
following website:
http://pages.pomona.edu/~cjw12006/MINSTRELSY/home.htm

Youmay send comments and

question to:

pomonacollegehistory@gmail.com