Johnson Victrola Museum Connects Jazz and Hip Hop
While the Johnson Victrola Museum finishes renovations and prepares to reopen to the public, on October 17, 2026, museum staff from the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA) attended the fourth annual Hip Hop Cultural Summit hosted by the Delaware Art Museum. The educational collection was on full display to showcase the original turntable. Vertie Lee, Curator of Education, and Francisco Rodriguez, Johnson Victrola Museum site interpreter, put the needle on the record by demonstrating two machines, the Victor V and the Victor Victrola IX. These two machines side by side showed the evolution of the gramophones from an external horn to an internal one. Visitors had the opportunity to hear early jazz records from the 1910’s and 1920’s. They also marveled at the volume control offered by the doors on the later Victrola machine.
The Hip-Hop Cultural Summit offers a unique opportunity to celebrate Delaware’s music heritage through Eldridge Reeves Johnson. Johnson founded the Victor Talking Machine Company. The company grew to encompass 10 city blocks in Camden, grossed millions annually, and produced some of the most famous recording artists in the world. Johnson’s international sales offices were located worldwide in countries such as Australia, Buenos Aires, Japan, and Milan.
Johnson’s innovation led to the sale of millions of Victrolas all manufactured with the public in mind. After nearly 30 years in the industry, Johnson retired in 1927. The Victor Talking Machine Company was later sold to RCA in 1929.
The Hip-Hop Cultural Summit was a free, all-ages event that brought together artists, Hip Hop legends, performers, and community leaders to celebrate Hip Hop’s five elements and explore its deep connections to creative expression, activism, and social change. The Delaware Art Museum welcomed Hip Hop legend, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D, along with Darryl “Cornbread” McCray, the Philadelphia native widely recognized as a pioneer of modern graffiti. Attendees experienced dance performances, live DJ sets, an MC Battle, panel discussions, book signings, vendors, community conversations, and more throughout the Museum.
Both the Johnson Victoria Museum and HCA look forward to participating in the 5th annual Hip-Hop Cultural Festival in 2027!