I just came across this long note on Fiddle-L, from January 31, 2001. You will see that the writer identifies himself as one Andrew Kuntz. I'm copying this without his permission, assuming he won't be terribly upset:


COLORED ARISTOCRACY. AKA and see "Southern Aristocracy." Old-Time, Breakdown.
USA, West Virginia. G Major. Standard. AA'BB'. This late 19th century or c.
1900 tune is more correctly categorized as a cakewalk (which suggests ragtime
from its syncopated rhythms) rather than a fiddle tune though the popularized
version apparently comes from old-time fiddler Sanford Rich, a resident of
Arthurdale, West Virginia in August of 1936. Arthurdale, according to Kerry
Blech and Gerald Milnes, was a resettlement camp for displaced persons during
the depression, a project of Elanor Roosevelt's, and it was there at a
festival of folk heritage that musicologist Charles Seeger (father of New
Lost City Ramblers member Mike Seeger) recorded the Rich Family for the
Library of Congress (AFS 3306 B2). Gerald Milnes has located Sanford's son,
Elmer Rich, an elderly man who still fiddles and who remembers the event.
Mike Seegar learned the tune at a young age by playing the aluminum
recordings in his parent's house. It became one of the first tunes recorded
by his group the New Lost City Ramblers in the early 1960's, and introduced
the song to "revival" era fiddlers.
***
The second chord in the accompaniment has been variously played as both an E
minor and an E major. The origin of the title remained obscure, although it
was speculated that it derived from Reconstruction sentiments (or
resentments) about the perceived attitude (either within or without the black
community) of some African-Americans (i.e. that "Colored Aristocracy" was a
gentrification of "Uppity Nigger"). However, Peter Shenkin tracked the title
to a piece of sheet music from a 1902 revue entitled "In Dahomey," which
starred the famous African-American vaudeville duo Williams and Waltker. The
music (entitled "Leader of the Colored Aristocracy") is credited to Will
Marion Cook, words by James Weldon Johnson (later of Harlem Renaissance
fame), published by Harry Von Tilzer. Another "Coloered Aristocarcy" dates
from 1899 credited to one Gus W. Bernard (published by the Groene Co.); it is
listed as a "Cake-walk" on the cover. Neither the Bernard tune or the one
published by Tilzer is the "Colored Aristocracy" played by fiddlers, however.
Bob Buckingham reports that a fiddling preacher of his aquaintance named Buck
Rife (originally from the Beckley WV area) calls the tune "The Young Man Who
Wouldn't Hoe Corn" and gave that he had it as a youngster learning clawhammer
banjo from an uncle. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; pg. 72. Phillips
(Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; pg. 11. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle
Tunes), Vol. 2, 1995; pg. 33. Columbia GP18, Taj Mahal - "De Old Folds at
Home." Folkways FA 2396, New Lost City Ramblers- "Vol. 1." Folkways 2494, New
Lost City Ramblers - "Sing Songs of the New Lost City Ramblers" (1978.
Learned from a Library of Congress recording of the Riche Brothers at the
1936 Athurdale, W.Va. fiddler's Convention). Fretless FR 200A, Yankee
Ingenuity - "Kitchen Junket" (1977). Front Hall FHR-01, Bill Spence &
Fennig's All Stars - "The Hammered Dulcimer." Rounder 0002, Spark Gap Wonder
Boys- "Cluck Old Hen." Rounder 0075, Richard Greene- "Duets."
Smithsonian/Folkways SF CD 40098, New Lost City Ramblers - "There Ain't no
Way Out" (learned from the Library of Congress field recording of Sanford
Rich).

Regards,
Andrew Kuntz
The Fiddler's Companion Tuneindex
http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc