Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
19 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
19 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
19 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
19 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Rhode Island Providence Sissieretta Jones Plaque

Sissieretta Jones Plaque

This plaque honors the unsung Black songstress once known as the “greatest singer of her race.”

Providence, Rhode Island

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
“The greatest singer of her race.”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
“The greatest singer of her race.”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Sissieretta Jones Plaque in Providence RI.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Sissieretta Jones, 1897.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Sissieretta Jones Plaque   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Born in 1868 and active between 1887 and 1915, Sissieretta Jones was the highest-paid Black performer of her time, who sang at the White House for four consecutive U.S. presidents. Met with international success, she also toured across the globe, from South America to Australia, India to sub-Saharan Africa, and even performed for the British royal family.

Her international fame did not quite spare her from racism, however, and it was (as she noted in her letters) worse in the United States than in Europe. The Metropolitan Opera rescinded its offer of a lead role after considering the color of her skin, and a frustrated, disappointed, and disillusioned Sissieretta returned to Providence to care for her ill mother and to form her own musical act, the Black Patti Troubadours, which was met with success.

Sissieretta herself later fell ill and retired entirely from music in 1915. She sold most of her property to survive and did not have any money left for her own gravestone.

It was only recently, in 2018, that money was raised to place a headstone on her grave in the local Grace Church Cemetery, six years after a crowdfunding campaign erected a historical marker plaque at the site of her home in the College Hill neighborhood. Unfortunately, Sissieretta does not seem to have made any recordings in her life, and if she ever did, none has survived.

Related Tags

Memorials Music History Black History

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

Callmenemoplease, blimpcaptain

  • Callmenemoplease
  • blimpcaptain

Published

November 28, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2019/02/sissieretta-jones-world-famous-black-soprano/
Sissieretta Jones Plaque
28 S Court St
Providence, Rhode Island, 02906
United States
41.829235, -71.407695
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Stephen Harris House

Providence, Rhode Island

miles away

Fleur-De-Lys Studio

Providence, Rhode Island

miles away

H.P. Lovecraft House

Providence, Rhode Island

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Providence

Providence

Rhode Island

Places 21
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Stephen Harris House

Providence, Rhode Island

miles away

Fleur-De-Lys Studio

Providence, Rhode Island

miles away

H.P. Lovecraft House

Providence, Rhode Island

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Providence

Providence

Rhode Island

Places 21
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Edna Nicole commands the room.

    Clarksdale, Mississippi

    Red’s

    Pay your respects at this juke joint founded by a blues legend of the Mississippi Delta.

  • Geneva, Switzerland

    Liszt Memorial

    A memorial to a 19th-century composer who was known for driving crowds wild.

  • Selena Memorial - Mirador de la Flor 2024

    Corpus Christi, Texas

    Mirador de la Flor

    A memorial dedicated to the Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

  • The plaque.

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Chet Baker Memorial Relief

    In 1988, jazz legend Chet Baker fell to his death from a window of this hotel facing Amsterdam Centraal.

  • The Blues Museum

    St. Louis, Missouri

    National Blues Museum

    Exploring the past, present, and future of blues music.

  • Surf Ballroom

    Clear Lake, Iowa

    Surf Ballroom

    The last location where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson played before their tragic deaths.

  • Concord, Massachusetts

    Brister Freeman Homestead Site

    A stone marker dedicated to a Black veteran of the American Revolution who refused to leave his land near Walden Pond.

  • The E.T.H.I.C. Museum at dusk.

    Glendora, Mississippi

    Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center

    Young Emmett Till's tragic story, which sparked America's civil rights movement, is retold near the site where it occurred.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.