Representations of Blackness in Music of the United States (1830s-1920s)
<p>This collection is a grouping of over 1,400 items dating from the 1830s to the 1920s. The contents of the collection depict representations of Black diasporic people and cultures through close to a century of illustrations and musical and lyrical compositions found in sheet music publications. The collection depicts representations of Blackness during an era dominated by the sheet music publishing industry and prior to the recording industry’s eventual domination over the commercial market which began in the 1920s.</p> <p>While white-dominant representations of Blackness span the majority of years of this collection, representations of Black diasporic peoples by Black performers and composers date to as early as the 1870s with the formation of the first African American Blackface performers and minstrel troupes, and become increasingly visible by the 1890s during the beginnings of African American musical theater. The collection ends with works that point to the age of jazz, commercial blues, and African American musical theater of the 1920s. However, popular musical representations of Blackness continued to proliferate well beyond the dates spanning this collection, up to and including our popular music and media of today.</p> <p>For additional information, context, and historical essays about the music in this collection please see the website created by the Brown University Library's Center for Digital Scholarship: <a href="https://library.brown.edu/cds/sheetmusic/afam/">African American Sheet Music</a></p> <p>For questions about this collection, or other materials in the John Hay Library, contact hay@brown.edu.</p>
words by Maurice Stonehill; music by James Brachman. For voice and piano. "Sung with great success by Aida Overton Walker" "The hit of Bandana Land" Title page illustration: foliage. Photo. of Aida Overton Walker Advertisement for another song on p. [6]: Cupids garden / by Max C. Eugene
by Theo. A. Metz For voice and piano Cover title Sung by: George Wilson of Primrose & West's Minstrels Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: Afro-American man with money spilling from pockets / F.S. Fisher
words by Dave Reed; music by Chas. B. Ward For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: George H. Primrose Cover illustration: photograph of George H. Primrose in blackface; floral border design Advertisement for "Send back the picture and the ring": cop. 2, p. [6]
words by Dave Reed; music by Chas. B. Ward For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: George H. Primrose Advertisement for another song: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of George H. Primrose in blackface; floral border design
words by Alex. Rogers; music by Tom Lemonier For voice and piano "As introduced by Ada Overton-Walker in Williams & Walker's latest production 'In Dahomey'" Advertisement for "Popular folios" by the publisher: p. [6] Title page illustration by Starmer: Afro-American woman in ball gown with glasses; cameo photo. of Aida Overton-Walker
written by Paul B. Armstrong For voice and piano Cover title At head of title: Introduced with great success by Miss Mae Raymond Advertisement for other music: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Mae Raymond; drawing of daisies Library's copy inscribed: Sarah E. Wheelright
by Will C. Carleton For voice and piano Cover title At head of title: "The funniest of all Coon songs" Sung by May Irwin in "The widow Jones" Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of May Irwin; border design Library's copy has numbers 7-12 stamped on pages
words by W.E. Browning; music by Bernard Franklin For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: Andy Leonard Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Andy Leonard; cover designed by E.S. Fisher Library's copy has signature of "Miss Hazard" on cover
words & music by H.V. Monroe For voice and piano Caption title Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: dark-skinned Afro-American couple walking past light-skinned Afro-American man
words & music by Hughie Cannon For voice and piano. Cover title Advertisements for other songs: p. [2 and 6] Cover illustration: drawing of Afro-American man sitting on beach looking at a whale
words and music by Joe Bren For voice and piano Caption title Advertisement for other songs: p. [2] Cover illustration: photograph of Eddie Morton; drawing of Afro-American woman with suitcase
words and music by Harry Dacre For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: the Sisters Abbott Cover illustration: photograph of the Misses Abbott; floral design / [C.E.?] Advertisements for other music: p. [2], 4-[8]
words by George Cooper; music by Jennie E. Lissenden For voice and piano Caption title Advertisement for another song: p. [8] Cover illustration: lithograph of Afro-American woman and children outside a cabin
words by Wm. H. Gardner; music by Roger Shaye For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: Manola and Jack Mason Dedicated to: Mr. and Mrs. John Mason Advertisement for another song: p. [6] Cover illustration: drawing of a rose / ES Fisher; photograph of Manola and Jack Mason
music and words by J.W. Wheeler For voice and piano Cover title At head of title: Maud Huth's latest success Advertisement for "I aint 'bliged to stan' no nigger foolin'" and other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Maude Huth; floral border design / J.P. Daly Library's copy 1 inscribed: G.W. Evans. 8/12/02
words by Sager Midgley; music by Maurice Levi For voice and piano Cover title Introduced by Merri Osborne in the musical production "Jack and the beanstalk" Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Merri Osborne; floral border design / GE Library's copy inscribed: A.M. Houghton, Mar. 1897
sung by Christy's Minstrels at Christy's Opera House, Broadway New York For voice, chorus (SATB) and piano Cover title Cover illustration: floral design "Wakelam N.Y." Verses 2-5 printed on p. 5
written & composed by Farrell & Frantzen For voice and piano Cover title Advertisements for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: grape arbour design Cover printed by H.C. Banks
by Farrell & Frantzen For voice and piano Cover title Dedicated to: Charles W. Martin Sung by: Lambert & Pierce Advertisements for other songs: p. [2], [6-8] Cover illustration: drawing of a grape arbour design / Hagaman; photograph of Lambert & Pierce Library's copy has trimmed edges
words and music by Harry Talbert For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: Barry Maxwell Advertisement for another song: p. [6] Cover illustration: engraved border design; engraved portrait of Barry Maxwell[?] Library's copy 1 has stamp on cover: C.C. Cunningham & Co., no. 379 Broadway, Chelsea, Mass. Advertisements for merchandise: cop. 2, p. [1 and 6]
words & music by E.H. Pendleton For voice and piano Cover title Advertisements for other songs: p. [2-6] Cover illustration: caricature of Afro-American woman Also published for: band, orchestra, banjo, mandolin, and guitar
written & composed expressly for & sung by Christy's Minstrels by H. Craven Griffiths For voice, 4-part chorus, and piano Cover title Library's copy has stamp on cover: H. Craven Griffiths
Dan Lewis For voice, piano, and chorus (SATB) Caption title Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: cartoon drawing of Afro-American man / Clans. "Photo-electric Co. Boston"--Cover
For voice and piano. Caption title. Cover illustration: lithograph of the Afro-Americans playing musical instruments. "Thayer & Co's Lith. Boston"--Cover. Verses 1-6 printed on p. 5. Series titles 1-3 listed on cover.