Advances in color printing technologies combined with decreasing costs of publication led to a flowering of illustrated sheet music between 1890 and the 1920s.
This small collection is comprised of illustrated sheet music dating primarily from the first quarter of the twentieth century. Representing a cross-section of popular music at the time from minstrel tunes to patriotic marches, most of the songs were selected either for their representation of African Americans (usually in stereotypical and racist caricature) or as examples of pro-war propaganda during the First World War.
Song sheets and sheet music have been a focal point for publishers in Britain since at least the seventeenth century and the United States since the latter half of the eighteenth century. For popular music in particular, publishers recognized early on that a well-chosen illustration drove sales, and as changes in printing technologies lowered the costs of producing illustrations, the front wrappers of popular songs were increasingly given over to eye-catching graphics. Lithographed covers became common beginning in the 1820s, and by the 1840s, color was added to the mix. As half-tone illustration further drove down costs in the latter two decades of the century, illustrated sheet music reached a peak of popularity.
Scope of collection
This small collection is comprised of illustrated sheet music dating primarily from the first quarter of the twentieth century. Representing a cross-section of popular music at the time from minstrel tunes to patriotic marches, most of the songs were selected either for their representation of African Americans (usually in stereotypical and racist caricature) or as examples of pro-war propaganda during the First World War.
Inventory
Allen, Thos. S.: By the watermelon vine, Lindy Lou. S.l. : Walter Jacobs
1904
Arlen, Harold (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics): Come rain or come shine (from St. Louis woman). New York : A-M Music Corp.
1946
Arlen, Harold (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics): I had myself a true love (from St. Louis woman). New York : A-M Music Corp.
1946
Arlen, Harold (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics): Legalize my name (from St. Louis woman). New York : A-M Music Corp.
1946
Armstrong and Clark: Shaky eyes. New York : M. Witmark and Sons
1909
Ash, Frances: I'm going to love that guy (like he's never been lover before). New York : Bourne Inc.
1945
Atteridge (words) and Jean Schwartz and Al Jolson (music): Tell that to the Marines. New York : Waterson, Berlin and Snyder Co.
1918
Aufderheide, May: Dusty rag. Indianapolis : J.H. Aufderheide
1908
Autsam, G. H.: Min kruslockiga baby (my curly-headed babby). Stockholm : Carl Gehrmans
undated
Benoit, Geo, Robet Levenson, and Ted Garton: My Belgian rose. New York : Leo Feist
1918
Berlin, Irving: Dance folio for piano. New York : Irving Berlin
1925
Berlin, Irving: Oh how I hate to get up in the morning. New York : Waterson, Berling, and Snyder Co.
1918
Blawry, M. B.: The Nicodemus two step: the latest Ethiopian oddity. Boston : Vivian Music Publ. Co.
1896
Bowles, Fred G. (words) and Wilfrid Sanderson (music): God be with our boys to-night. New York : Boosey and Co.
1917
Brennan, J. Keirn (words) and Ernest R. Ball (music): For Dixie and Uncle Sam. New York : W. Witmark
1916
Brooks, Shelton (lyrics and music): The Darktown strutters' ball: 'I'll be down to get you in a taxi, honey'. New York : Leo Feist
1917
Brown, A. Seymour and Eddie Leonard (lyrics) and Nat O. Ayer (music): Eddie Leonard's O-O-Ohio Song. New York : Jerome H. Remick and Co.
1910
Brown, Lew and Charles McCarron: What kind of an American are you? What are you doing over here?. New York : Broadway Music Corp.
1917
Bryan, Alfred (lyrics) and Al Piantadosi (music): I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier. New York : Leo Feist
1915
Bryan, Alfred and William Weston (words) and Jack Wells (music): Joan of Arc they are calling you. New York : Waterson, Berlin, and Co.
1917
Buck, Gene and Dave Stamper: By pigeon post (Ziegfeld 9 o'clock revue and new midnight frolic). New York : T.B. Harms and Francis, Day, and Hunter
1919
Burkhart, Addison: All aboard for home sweet home. New York : Al Piantadosi and Co.
1918
Burnet, Dana (lyrics) an James H. Rogers (music): When Pershing's men go marching into Picardy. Boston : Oliver Ditson Co.
1918
Busse, Henry, Henry Lange, and Lou Davis (lyrics and music): When he plays jazz he's got hot lips: a blues fox trot song. New York : Leo Feist
1922
Caddigan, Jack (words) and James A. Brennan (music): The rose of no man's land. New York : Leo Feist
1918
Cohan, George M.: For the flag, for the home, for the family. New York : Vogel
1942
Cohan, George M. (lyrics and music): Over there. New York : Leo Feist
1917
Cohan, George M. (lyrics and music): Over there. New York : Leo Feist
1918
Davis, Lou and J. Fred Coots (lyrics and music): A love-tale of Alsace Lorraine. New York : Spier and Coslow
1928
Drislane, Jack (lyrics) and Geo. W. Mayer (music): Somebody else it's always comebody else. New York : Haviland
1910
Drislane, Jack (lyrics) and Henry Frantzen (music): Monkey doodle dandy. New York : F. B. Haviland
1909
Dubin, Al; Irving Mills; Jimmy McHugh; and Irwin Dash: Hinky dinky parlay voo?. New York : Jack Mills
1924
Earl, Mary (lyrics and music): Lafayette (we hear you calling). New York : Shapiro, Bernstein, and Co.
1918
Egan, Raymond (lyrics) and Richard A. Whiting (music): They made it twice as nice as paradise and they called it Dixieland. New York : Jerome H. Remick and Co.
1916
Ehrlich, Sam (lyrics) and Con Conrad (music): Oh Frenchy. New York : Broadway Music Corp.
1918
Eiger, Wladyslaw (music) and Unknown Underground Author (lyrics): Song of the Polish Underground. New York : Harmonia
1944
Elliott, Eddie and W. Max Davis (lyrics and music): Nightie night (kiss yo' mammy nightie night). New York : Pace and Handy
1917
Fay, Frank, Ben Ryan, and Dave Dreyer: When I send you a picture of Berlin you'll know it's over, over there, I'm coming home. New York : Harry von Tilzer
1918
Flynn, Allan J.: There's a green hill our in Flanders (there's a green hill up in Maine). New York : Al Piantadosi and Co.
1917
Ford, Lena Guilbert (lyrics) and Ivor Novello (music): Keep the home fires burning (till the boys come home). New York : Chappell and Co.
1915
Friend, Cliff (lyrics) and Walter Donaldson (music): Let it rain! Let it pour! (I'll be in Virginia in the morning). New York : Leo Feist
1925
Frisch, Billy and Archie Fletcher (words) and Alex Marr (music): When Tony goes over the top. New York : Joe Morris
1918
Gershwin, Ira (lyrics) and George Gershwin (music): Lady, be good. New York : Harms
1924
Gilbert, L. Wolfe (lyrics) and Lewis F. Muir (music): Waiting for the Robert E. Lee. New York : F. A. Mills
1912
Goodin, Joe (lyrics) and Geo. W. Meyer (music): Brass band Ephraim Jones. New York : Leo Feist
1911
Gordon, Mack (lyrics) and Harry Revel (music): Underneath the Harlem moon. New York : De Silva, Brown, and Henderson
1932
Graff, George, Jr. (words) and Bert Grant (music): Nephews of Uncle Sam. New York : Waterson, Berlin, and Snyder
1917
Grossman, Bernie (words) and Alex Marr (music): Say a prayer for the boys out there. New York : Joe Morris
1917
Habelow, Sam: Good bye, Sally, good luck to you. Boston : George Jeffrey and Samuel Habelow
1919
Harris, Charles K.: Break the news to mother. New York : Chas K Harris
1897
Hay, John (lyrics) and Oley Speaks (music): When the boys come home. New York : G. Schirmer
1917
Henry, S. R. and D. Onivas: Indianola. New York : Jos. W. Stern and Co.
1918
Hilliam, B. C. (lyrics and music): Buddies. New York : M. Witmark and Sons
1919
Hilliam, B. C. (lyrics and music): Freedom for all forever. New York : M. Witmark and Sons
1918
Holt, Arthur F. (lyric) and William T. Pierson (music): Sons of America: America needs you. New York : W. T. Pierson
1917
Howard, Jos. E. (music) and Philander Johnson (lyrics): Somewhere in France is the lily. New York : M. Witmark and Sons
1917
Howard, Jos. E. (music) and Philander Johnson (lyrics): Somewhere in France is the lily. New York : M. Witmark and Sons
1917
Howe, M A. De Wolfe (words) and George W. Chadwick (music): The fighting men. New York : C.C. Birchard and Co.
1918
Jerome, William and J. F. Mahoney: God, spare our boys over there. New York : Leo Feist
1918
Johnsen, I. (music) and Nils-Georg (lyrics): Mor!. Stockholm : Nils-Georg Musikforlag
1929
Johnson, Philander (lyrics) and William T. Pierson (music): There's a call for you and me: carry on!. New York : W. T. Pierson and Co.
1918
Jolson, Al, Bud de Sylva, and Joseph Meyer: California, here I come. New York : M. Witmark and Sons
1924
Judge, Jack and Harry Williams: It's a logn way to Tipperary. New York : Chappell and Co.
1912
Kahn, Gus (lyrics) and Egbert van Alstyne (music): For your and my boy. New York : Jerome H. Remick and Co.
1918
Kahn, Gus (lyrics) and Egbert van Alstyne (music): On the road to home sweet home. New York : Jerome H. Remick and Co.
1917
Lawrence, Scott (lyrics and music): An educated coon is best of all. Chicago : Sol Bloom
1900
Leighton and Leighton: There's a dark man coming with a bundle. New York : Helf and Hager Co.
1905
Lewis, Sam M. and Joe Young (words) and Jean Schwartz (music): Hello Central, give me no man's land. New York : Waterson, Berlin and Snyder
1918
Lewis, Sam M. and Joe Young (words) and M. K. Jerome (music): Just a baby's prayer at twilight (for her daddy over there). New York : Waterson, Berlin and Snyder
1918
Lewis, Sam M. and Joe Young (words) and Maurice Abrahams (music): There's a million heroes in each corner of the U.S.A.. New York : Kalmar Puck and Abrams
1917
Longbrake, Arthur: Nobody knows where John Brown went. Philadelphia : Jos. Morris
1909
MacDonald, Ballard (words) and Harry Carroll (music): At the Dixie military ball. New York : Shapiro, Bernstein and Co.
1918
Madden, Edward (lyrics) and Theodore Morse (music): Down in Jungletown. New York : F. B. Haviland
1908
Manley, Morris (lyrics and music): Good luck to the boys of the allies. Toronto : Morris Manley
1915
Mansfield, Margaret F. (lyrics) and E. Maxwell Honeyman (music): Ain't yo' comin' back to me ma Dinah Lee?. New York : Metropolitan
1912
Maschwitz, Eric (words) and Michael Carr (music): He wears a pair of silver wings. New York : Shapiro, Bernstein, and Co.
1941
McCarron, Charles and Carey Morgan: I'm glad I can make you cry. New York : Jos. W. Stern
1918
McCarron, Charles and Nat Vincent (lyrics and music): When old Bill Bailey plays the ukalele. New York : Broadway Music Corp.
1915
McCarron, Charles R. and Cary Morgan (lyrics and music): I'm glad I can make you cry. New York : Jos. W. Stern and Co.
1918
McKenna, William: Mandy Lane. New York : Jerome H. Remick and Co.
1908
Mullen, J. B. : Mandy: Negro love song. Worcester, Mass. : M. Steinert and Sons
1899
Murphy, Stanley (lyrics) and Ed Wynn (music): I'm going to get myself a Black Salome. New York : Shapiro
1908
Murphy, Stanley (lyrics) and Harry Puck (music): Cotton town. New York : Joe Morris Music Co.
1916
Murray, Ernest: Bennington battle march. Boston : Hub Music Co.
1927
Newman, Charles (lyrics) and Lew Pollack (music): He's my uncle. New York : Bregman, Vocco, and Conn
1940
Newton, E. W. (lyrics) and E. W. Newton and H. S. Leavitt (music): Give with a smile. Boston : Le Roy Phillips
1918
Novello, Ivor (lyrics and music): Laddie in khakhi (the girl who waits at home). New York : Chappell and Co.
1915
O'Hara, Geoffrey: K-K-K-Katy. New York : Leo Feist
1918
Oler, Ann Brown (words) and Elizabeth Oler (music): Here's tot he Flying Corps. Larchmont, N.Y. : Miss Elizabeth Oler
1918
Portor, Laura Spencer (lyrics) and Harriet Ware (music): Mammy's song. Cincinnati : John Church Co.
1910
Pourmon, E., J. (words) and Joseph Woodruff (music): After the war is over, will there be any home sweet home?. New York :Joe Morris
1917
Queen, John (lyrics) and Charlie Cartwell (music): I got mine. New York : Howley, Haviland, and Dresser
1901
Razaf, Andy (lyrics) and Thomas Waller and Harry Brooks (music): Ain't misbehavin': Connie's Hot Chocolates. New York : Mills Music Inc.
1929
Reisner, C. Francis and Benny Davis (lyrics) and Billy Baskette (music): Good-bye Broadway, Hello France. New York : Leo Feist
1917
Rice, Gitz: Keep your head down Fritzie boy. New York : Leo Feist
1918
Rose, Ed (words) and Abe Olman (music): Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh! [later printing]. New York : Forster
1917
Rose, Ed (words) and Abe Olman (music): Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh!. New York : Forster
1917
Sherwood, Ray (words) and Will Donaldson (music): Are we downhearted? No! No! No!. New York : F. B. Haviland
1917
Sinnott, James P. (words) and May Hartmann (music): Somewhere in France. New York : G. Schirmer
1917
Smith, Ella M. (lyrics) and Howard I. Smith (music): The khakhi boys of U.S.A.. Springfield, Mass. : Howard I. Smith
1917
Speak, Oley (music): On the road to Mandalay. Cincinnati : John Church
1908
Spickol, Max (lyric) and Johnny Fortis (music): The canteen bounce. New York : Edward B. Marks
1943
Stanton, Frank L. and S. C. Colburn: A plantation ditty. Boston : Boston Music Co.
1910
Stept, Sam H.: I was her ewhen you left me; I'll be here when you get back. New York : Irving Berlin
1945
Sterling, Andrew B. (lyrics) and Harry von Tilzer (music): Trixie. New York : Harry von Tilzer
1903
Sullivan, Alex and Harry de Costa: At the coffee cooler's tea. New York : M. Witmark and Sons
1918
Sullivan, J. L.: It's great to be a soldier. Boston : Strand Publishing Co.
1917
Taylor, Edwin L.: The boys are coming home (Marcia). Springfield, Mass. : Locke-Taylor
1919
Turk, Roy and J. Russel Robinson: Beale Street mama. New York : Waterson, Berlin, and Snyder Co.
1923
Underhill, Andrew F. (words) and Robert E. S. Olmsted (music): A hundred million strong: a war song for the nation. Boston : C. W. Thomson
1917
Vanderveer, Billy J. (lyrics and music): In Mobile town. New York : Joe Morris Music Co.
1913
Vanderveer, Billy J. (lyrics) and Seymour Furth (music): Hear the pickaninny band. New York : Joe Morris Music Co.
1911
Werden, W. L. (words) and Frederick Gladdish (music): He wqas only a private, that's all. New York : Leo Feist
1904
Wiga-Winston: Neger Wiegenlied: Tango. Leipzig : Otto Junne
1932
Wood, Clement (lyrics) and Jacques Wolfe (music): Three Negro poems. New York : G. Schirmer
1928
Administrative information
Access
The collection is open for research.
Provenance
Gift of various sources, including transfer from the Forbes Library (World War I) and James and Sibylle Fraser (African American).
