Publicity Portrait of Madame Lillian Evanti

Object Details

Summary:

The Evans-Tibbs Collection focuses on the life and accomplishments of opera singer, Madame Lillian Evanti. Born Annie Lillian Evans (1890-1967) to a prominently middle-class family in Washington, DC, she began performing as a child and toured as a concert artist after graduating from Howard University. Her father was Wilson Bruce Evans, founding principal of Armstrong Technical High School. Her mother, Annie Brooks Evans, was a music teacher in the public school system. Hiram Revels, the first African American senator, was her great-uncle; her maternal grandfather, Joseph Brooks, served in the D.C. Territorial Legislature in the 1870s; two relatives are attributed with taking part in John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. In 1918, she married Roy Tibbs, Howard University music professor. Her stage name, Madame Evanti, is a glamorous combination of Evans and Tibbs. Madame Evanti made her professional debut with the Paris Opera in the title role of Lakmé, making her the first African American to sing with an organized European opera company. Before her retirement in the 1950s, Evanti would win acclaim for her operatic talents in Europe, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. She was decorated by several countries, sung at the White House, served as a Good Will Ambassador, performed with the National Negro Opera Company, and gained national attention as a composer.

Cite as:

Evans-Tibbs Collection, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Insititution, gift of the Estate of Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr

Repository Loc.:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives, MRC-777 1901 Fort Place, SE, Washington, DC 20020 (tel. 202.633.4853, fax 202.287.2422) ACMarchives@si.edu Consult archivist by appointment

Restrictions & Rights:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu

Date:

Undated

Local number:

ACMA PH2003.7063.057

Culture:

African American

Creator:

Evans-Tibbs Collection

Moss Photo Service photographer

Subject:

Evanti, Lillian Mme (Lillian Evans Tibbs) 1890-1967

Topic:

African American women

Portraits

Physical description:

1 photographic print gelatin silver 7 x 5 in. (17.8 x 12.7 cm)

Data Source:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

Type:

Photographs

Photographic prints

Publicity photographs