Stephen Collins Foster

Stephen Collins Foster (1826–1864) was an American songwriter, born at Lawrenceville, now part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He wrote both the words and music of songs such as “Oh! Susanna” (1848), “Old Folks at Home” (1851) and “My Old Kentucky Home” (1853).

He died in New York City in 1864. His song lyrics, printed here as poems, were among the most widely sung in the United States.