Songsters and Hymnals from the Harris Collection of American Poetry and Plays

The Harris Collection has one of the largest holdings of songsters in any American library, and a significant collection of hymnals encompassing various styles and forms of American worship music. The majority of songsters and hymnals in this digitized collection were selected to be part of the Sounding Spirit Digital Library: Southern Sacred Vernacular Music Books (1850-1925).
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

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Items in this collection

O Lord, I done done: Negro spiritual

arranged by Edward Boatner. For voice and piano in key of A♭ major. Caption title. "Negro spiritual from the singing of Rev. J. McNeal, Kansas City, Mo."--P. 2. Advertising copy. As sung by: Roland Hayes. Advertisement for songbooks: p. [6] Cover illustration: floral border design / AI. Also published in key of F (original key) First line of text: O Lord, I done done.

My Saviour, 'tis of Thee

by Rev. John Henderson Miller, D.D. Broadsheet printed on tan card stock within single-line border. On recto text of hymn in four numbered seven-line stanzas. At head of text on recto: State Clerk of Synod of Missouri. To be sung to the tune: America. At end of text on recto: Dedicated to Evangelism in the Synod of Missouri. On verso information about evangelical program entitled: Seven steps in the organization of the synod of Missouri for evangelism. Publication date suggested because statistics are given from 1911 through 1915, with the Returns space for 1916 left blank.

Libby Prison hymn

Libby Prison hymn

Brown University

Poetry in 4 four-line stanzas with chorus printed within double line border. Possible range of dates suggested by internal evidence. "Original state of hymn published in Ohio in 1858, before there was a Libby Prison" (Information from Dr. Richard H. Hulan)

Hymn for today

Hymn for today

Brown University

Page [4] blank. Cover title. Poetry in four nine-line stanzas. In lower margin on page [1]: Copyright, 1911 by William Adams Slade, Washington, D.C. Type-signed at end of poem on page [3]: William Adams Slade; dated in lower left: August 8, 1911. Imprint in lower margin on page [4]: Press of Judd and Detweiler, Incorporated. Also issued with title: Hymn for America (compare Brown University copy HB11697 DC) Also issued with title: Hymn for America (cf. Brown University copy HB11697 DC)

Hymn for America

Hymn for America

Brown University

Page [4] blank. Cover title. Text of hymn in four nine-line stanzas. Type-signed at end: William Adams Slade. "Copyright 1911, 1917 by William Adams Slade, Washington, D.C." Also issued with title Hymn for today (Brown University copies HB14676 and HB31533)

Exhortation: a Negro sermon

words by Alex Rogers ; music by Will Marion Cook. For bass voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for other songs: p. [10] Cover illustration: floral border design. Also published for chorus of men's voices.

Bring the answer back to me

words by Harry Dillon ; music by John Dillon. For voice and piano. Caption title. At head of title on cover: "Keep a guessing, children." "Words by John Dillon ; music by Harry Dillon"--Cover.

Angels, meet me at the cross roads: song and chorus

by Will S. Hays. For voice and piano, with chorus (SATB) Caption title. Dedicated to: Robert Biggs. Advertisement for other music: p. [2] Cover illustration: engraving of Black traveller standing at crossroads / H.J. Greene.

A song from Frederick Douglass

On recto, account of evening visit of Jubilee Singers to Frederick Douglass with text of spiritual he sang for them; on verso, text of letter of Mark Twain, dated Mar. 8, 1875, praising their performance. On recto, account of evening visit of Jubilee Singers to Frederick Douglass with text of spiritual he sang for them; on verso, text of letter of Mark Twain, dated Mar. 8, 1875, praising their performance. Broadsheet. Advertises concerts by the Jubilee Singers in Tremont Temple Mar. 18 and 20, 1875.

A happy meeting for the following churches and congregations in Providence, R.I

Within border of type ornaments. Below title cut of sheep and lamb captioned: Meekness. At end of text: Providence, April 25th, 1872. Includes text of hymn in seven four-line stanzas with four-line chorus beginning: That will be sweet, when we meet. At head of text list of Afro-American churches in Providence, with their pastors' names. Hymn written by "G.B. Thomas, of Lexington, Ky., the preacher's friend." Thomas was a traveling Afro-American fund raiser accused of swindling.

A contraband song: The following rare lyric is the favorite freedom song of the Mississippi Contrabands. Its characte...
A collection of Sabbath school hymns

compiled by a Sabbath school teacher, for the benefit of the children in the Confederate States. 70 hymns, without music. Includes index.