The Shepard Family
Copyright © 2006 Shlomo Pestcoe. All rights reserved.
Before the Jacksons, before the Osmonds, and before the Partridge Family, there was The Shepard Family....
The Shepard Family Concert Company was a Massachusetts-based musical performance troupe that was active in the 1880s and '90s. It consisted of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Shepard and their five very talented children: Kittie, Laura, Lessie, Georgie, and Burtin.
In the late 19th century, musical families like the Shepards were popular stage acts. Typically, their programs were variety shows that offered performances of instrumental music, singing, dancing, and even comic sketches.
While there's hardly any specific information on The Shepard Family, there are quite a few photos of them. Apparently, they reproduced several group shots in bulk on cabinet cards -- one of most popular photo formats of the period, consisting of an albumen (i.e. an egg white-based photo process) paper print mounted on a piece of cardboard-- and probably sold them as souvenirs at their concerts.
One thing is certain about the Shepards, they certainly were talented! Each member of the family was a multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer. Sisters Laura and Lessie appear to have been actresses as well, if not, comediennes.
For their programs, The Shepard Family would perform in different configurations: as a choral group, a brass band, and a violin ensemble backed by Mom on the pump reed organ. The Shepard kids also performed as a banjo quintet. (See The 5-String Banjo )
Copyright © 2006 Shlomo Pestcoe. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006 Shlomo Pestcoe. All rights reserved.
Above is the front and back of a Shepard Family cabinet card from my collection, dated April 4, 1888. What makes this particular CC such a rare treasure it is that on the verso someone handwrote the names of each member of the family and their featured talents!
To the best of my research, prior to the
surfacing of this CC, there was no extant documentation on the Shepards. We didn't even know their
first names! In effect, this CC is the Rosetta Stone that will finally allow us to become acquainted
with these exceptional performers.
Here's the text on the verso as best as I can make out with my notations in parenthesis and
brackets. The list starts with dad and mom who are followed by the eldest daughter on down to the
youngest child:
'Mr. J. M. Shepard, First Violin, Bb Bass
[Horn] & Basso Soolist (sic) [Soloist].
Mrs. " ", Second Bb Cornet, Organist & Sop. [Soprano]
Miss Kittie Shepard, Cornet Soloist, Leader of Brass Band, Banjo Artist and Ballad
Songstress.
Miss Laura Shepard, Bb Tenor [Horn], Baritone Soloist, Solo Violinist, Banjo and Character
Sketch Artist, Wonderful Baritone Singer.
Miss Lessie S., Eb Alto [Horn] & Second Violin, Irish & Dutch Specialty Artist.
(NOTE: I believe the term "Irish & Dutch
Specialty Artist" may refer to Lessie performing Irish and "Dutch" [German] dialect comedy routines.
It could also mean that she does Irish and German dances and/or songs but I think if that were the
case there would have been a more specific reference.-- SP)
Miss Georgie S., Little Bass Drummer, Bb Tenor [Horn].
Master Burtin M. S. Plays Violin and Triangle, Vocal Artist and Bass Drum
Given at Bethel, Aug. 4, 88'
-- Shlomo Pestcoe
