Old Black Joe in a Southern Cottonfield

Subjects: African American History Agriculture & Farms Workers & Occupations
Card type: Lithograph
Date: c. 1915 (White Border)

Back of Old Black Joe in a Southern Cottonfield, Mary Whelen, IL, USA, c. 1915 lithograph postcard — Back

About this subject

A color lithograph postcard depicting an elderly African American man standing in a cotton field, holding a picking sack, with the poem "Old Black Joe" printed above.

Postcard Details

Message · English, in pen

Dear Mary, I thought I would drop you a line this time to see how you are getting along. It is one of the warmest days I have ever seen here. It is very warm here. How is the weather in Chicago? Write a good long night - Aunt Clara

PublisherAsheville Post Card Co.

325. OLD BLACK JOE IN A SOUTHERN COTTONFIELD. "OLD BLACK JOE". Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay; Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away; Gone from the earth to a better land I know; I hear their gentle voices calling, "Old Black Joe". I'm coming, I'm coming, for my head is bending low; I hear those gentle voices calling, "Old Black Joe". 105349 --- THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES. POSTCARD THIS SPACE FOR ADDRESS ONLY. PLACE STAMP HERE PUBLISHED BY ASHEVILLE POST CARD CO., ASHEVILLE, N. C. MADE IN U.S.A. C.T. AMERICAN ART C.T. CHICAGO

Addressed to

Mary Whelen

445 Briar Pl., Chicago, Ill.

Postcard record

Series	325
Condition	Fair
Place addressed	Mary Whelen, 445 Briar Pl., Chicago, IL
Place mentioned	Chicago, IL
Publisher	Asheville, NC
Notes	White border; printed poem; horizontal tear/crease across center; number 105349 at bottom right. No postmark or stamp present; handwritten '12/7.00' at top right. Divided back, C.T. American Art (Chicago) imprint, published by Asheville Post Card Co. Light edge/corner wear.

Cite this card

Old Black Joe in a Southern Cottonfield, postcard, c. 1915. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/old-black-joe-in-a-southern-cottonfield. Accessed October 5, 2026.