[James Jeffries]

Jim-a-da-Jeff, comic song sheet by Dorothy Forrester

Boston, Walter Jacobs

1910

6 page song sheet, the upper cover with verses covering his fights with Sharkey, Corbett, Fitzsimmons, in non too favourable terms! The song was written a little before his fight with Jack Johnson and when he was known to be out of condition. In it his wife urges him to train and get into shape so as to “give Jack Jonce a little tap” and “wipe a da Africa off a da map”.

Johnson knocked Jeffries out in the 15th round.

a few edge chips etc, all sheets now loose, but overall very clean and good condition

350 by 270mm (13¾ by 10¾ inches).

The University of Notre Dame writing about their copy of the sheet music say: “

By late 1909 Johnson’s championship had come to be regarded as an intolerable threat to the order of things in Jim Crow America. Press and public clamoured for the return from retirement of former champion James J. Jeffries, to “reclaim the title for the white race.” Reluctantly, Jeffries agreed. The sheet music shown here was published during the build up to the fight, and provides a sample of the invective directed at Johnson.

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