W. JACKSON RUDOLPH, one of the pioneers of minstrelsy, made his first appearance in his native city early in 1846 in black-face as a banjoist; the following year he was one of the Sable Harmonists; in 1849 he was with the Virginia Minstrels, and up until 1855, when he joined Sanford’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, he was almost continuously associated with one or the other of the many minstrel bands that were then in evidence. He later went on the legitimate stage, but subsequently, in 1864, joined Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels in Philadelphia. About 1870 he played his last minstrel engagement with Simmons and Slocum, also in the Quaker City. November 3, 1880, he made his last appearance on the stage of Wood’s Museum in Philadelphia. W. Jackson Rudolph was born in Philadelphia, 1826; he died there September 5, 1881. JOHN A. DINGESS. After the dissolution of the Duprez and Green’s Minstrels as an organization in 1865, Mr. Dingess formed a partnership with Jno. E. Green and organized Dingess and Green’s Minstrels, opening at Chattanooga, Tenn., November 18, 1866; their existence was short lived. He was subsequently, and for many years, engaged in an executive capacity in the circus business. John A. Dingess was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1826; he died in New York City, April 14, 1901. LUKE WEST (William Sheppard) was the first performer to do a whistling solo in minstrelsy, which he did as early as 1845 at Otto Cottage, Hoboken, N. J. In the Fall of 1848 he was one of the organizers of the Campbell’s Minstrels; November 29, 1849, he joined the E. P. Christy’s Minstrels in New York, resuming his own name of Sheppard. On August 15, 1850, in conjunction with Matt. Peel, Joseph D. Murphy and James Norris, “Campbell’s Minstrels” gave their first performance. Subsequently the organization was known as Murphy, West and Peel’s Minstrels, and as such continued until his death. In addition to his whistling ability, Mr. West was an accomplished comedian, dancer and banjoist. Luke West was born in Philadelphia, 1826; he died in Boston, Mass., May 26, 1854. CHARLES G. LONG, who was for nearly forty years associated in the management of the Academy of Music, in Selma, Ala., with George T. Rees, the present incumbent, was one of the pioneers of minstrelsy. About 1844 or 1845 he became a member of the Virginia Serenaders, a full page photograph of which is shown elsewhere. The company traveled by wagon through Pennsylvania and New York chiefly. It has been stated that Mr. Long joined this company when he was ten years of age; this is clearly erroneous, as the little band was not organized until 1843, probably in the late Spring or early Summer. Mr. Long played a banjo, one of his own making. Charles G. Long was born in Carlisle, England, December 20, 1827; he died in Selma, Ala., January 28, 1908. FRED BURGESS was for many years co-proprietor with “Pony” Moore at St. James Hall, London, England, of Moore and Burgess’ Minstrels.