19th Century Song Books and Sheet Music Collection, ca. 1824-ca. 1892.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Several bindings of the music volumes are deteriorated with loose cover boards. The unbound sheet music imprints have foxing stains and many are especially brittle, with ragged torn edges.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: These 19th century volumes of sheet music are comprised of favorite songs and piano-forte compositions, characteristic of a cultural era in America when educated young ladies entertained family and friends in their home parlors. The original sheet music imprints, circa 1824-ca. 1892, were collected and published as bound volumes, by Nashville "blank book manufacturers," with the names of the individuals printed on the front cover: Maggie J. Greig, Mary Coving, Eliza B. Lindsley, Ada A. Mitchell, Sarah C. Sharp, Ida Strong Doss, Mollie E. Norris, Susie Hunter, and Edward R. Pullen. A wide variety of musical forms are represented in the collection, such as marches, polkas, waltzes, operatic arrangements, quadrilles upon Scottish airs, and ballads by popular 19th century composers. In addition to the popular period music are several American Civil War imprints. Many of the sheet music covers are illustrated, including a few that are color lithographs. Several imprints were either published in Nashville or related by topic to Nashville, such as "The Buds have Bloomed to Flowers," by Randal M. Weber and B. Olordo, dedicated to the "Graduates of the Nashville Female Academy."

Box 1: Mary Coving Sheet Music Book, ca. 1824-ca. 1876. Comprised of 48 unbound sheet music imprints. A sampling includes "The Bell and Everett Schottish," "Vanderbilt University March," "Music of the Ethiopian Serenaders," "The Buds have Bloomed to Flowers" (dedicated to Graduates of the Nashville Female Academy), "Happy May You Ever Be" (dedicated to Miss V. McNairy, of Nashville), and Stephen C. Foster compositions, such as "Beautiful Dreamer," "Hardtimes Come Again No More," "Nelly Bly," and other songs. Present in the collection are several imprints that were published in Nashville.

Box 2: Eliza B. Lindsley Sheet Music Book, ca. 1834-ca. 1842. 1 bound volume, with a typed list of the composers and music titles. A sampling includes "Woodman Spare that Tree," "My Mother's Bible," "Fine Old English Gentleman," "The Campbells are Comin," "The Marseilles Hymn," and "Sister Dear." Several of the imprints were sold by George J. Corrie, Union Street, Nashville.

Box 3-a: [Edward R. Pullen] Sheet Music book, ca. 1834-ca. 1844. 1 bound volume, includes a handwritten index of titles. A sampling includes "My Sister, Oh! My Sister," "The Starlight Floats Oer the Silverwane," "I Dream of All Things Free," and "The Nun's Farewell."

Box 3-b: Sarah C. Sharp Sheet Music Book, ca. 1843-ca. 1844. 1 bound volume, with a handwritten index of titles. This volume primarily contains training exercises for the piano-forte, along with piano arrangements of dance forms by various 19th century composers.

Box 4: Unidentified Sheet Music Book, ca. 1844-ca. 1850. 1 bound volume, includes a typed list of the music titles. A sampling of titles includes "Mazurka," "Emily Waltz," "Duffield Waltz," "Hungarian Polka," "Tedesco Polka," "Tip Top Polka," and "Jenny Linds Favorite Polka."

Box 5: Ida Strong Doss Sheet Music Book, ca. 1846-ca. 1882. 1 bound volume, includes a typed index of composers and titles. A sampling of titles includes "Alpengluhen," "Message of Love," "Les Cloches du Monastere Nocture," and other piano-forte pieces.

Box 6: Mrs. Mollie E. Norris Sheet Music Book, ca. 1846-ca. 1866. 1 bound volume. A collection of songs and ballads, including several original Civil War imprints, both Confederate and Union. A sampling includes "Star of Eve!" "Evangeline," "Kathleen Mavourneen," "The Palmetto Song," "The Song of the South," "Oh Dost Thou Remember," "I'm Coming Home to Dixie," "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh," March des Zouaves," and "W. M. I. Polka."

Box 7: Unidentified Sheet Music Book, ca. 1848-ca. 1859. 1 bound volume, with detached covers.This volume may have originated from William A. Eichbaum's rare book shop in 19th century Nashville. A sampling includes "The Minstrel Boy," "Smith's March," "The Banks of the Blue Moselle," "The Sultan's Grand March," and "President Van Buren's Grand March."

Box 8: Maggie J. Greig Sheet Music Book, ca. 1853-ca. 1864. 1 bound volume, with a typed list of the composers and music titles. A sampling includes "Bonnie Dundee Quadrille," "Auld Lang Syne," "Edinburgh Quadrille," "Annie76 Laurie," "Hail Columbia," "Rosecran's Victory March," and "Jefferson and Liberty." Includes an imprint dedicated "to the cadets of the Western Military Institute, Nashville, Tennessee" titled "Jerdons Reels" published by C. D. Benson & Co., Nashville, Tennessee in 1860.

Box 9-a: Ada A. Mitchell Sheet Music Imprints, ca. 1855-ca. 1892. Comprised of 24 unbound sheet music imprints. Additionally there are 3 items consisting of two music covers only and a page listing vocal compositions. A sampling includes "Memories of the Past," "Kathleen Aroon," "Pity the Poor," "The Bridge," "Love is Divine," and "Little Annie Rooney."

Box 9-b: Ida Strong Sheet Music Book, ca. 1856-ca. 1878. 1 bound volume, includes a typed index of song titles. A sampling of titles includes "Storm and Sunshine Episode from the Mexican War" (To Miss E. E. Dongian, of Nashville), "Deliciosa Polka," "Annie of the Vale," "I Am Wailing Essie Dear," "Mollie Darling," "Save the Sweetest Kiss for Me," "Belle Mahone," and "Little Robin Tell Kitty I'm Coming." Present in the collection are imprints published in Nashville, Tennessee.

Box 10: Susie Hunter Sheet Music Book, ca. 1869-ca. 1881. 1 bound volume. A selection of popular 19th century operatic arrangements for piano-forte and various piano solos. A sampling includes "Guillaume Tell," "Russian Hymn," and "Woman's Praise."

Cite as: 19th Century Song Books and Sheet Music Collection, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Source of acquisition unknown;,RT-100.

In English

Unknown provenance.

No further accruals are expected.