Hunleth Music Store Sheet Music and Photograph Collection

Overview

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Subject Terms

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Autographed prints

School Wind Band Music Octavos

Mandolin Sheet Music and Method Books

Banjo Sheet Music and Method Books

Hawaiian and Steel Guitar Sheet Music and Method Books

Guitar Sheet Music and Method Books

Autoharp and Zither Sheet Music and Method Books

Gibson School of Music Records

Accordion, Bandonian, and Concertina Sheet Music and Method Books

Silent Film Sheet Music



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Finding Aid for Hunleth Music Store Sheet Music and Photograph Collection, ca. 1880-1986 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Dan Andree, Jessica Ballard, Carol Berthold, Cory Davis, Celia Faux, Jessica Lapinski, Matthew Mayton, Garrett McComas, Katie Nichols, Somer Pelczar, Holly Pletka, Allison Repking, and Nolan Vallier

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Collection Overview

Title: Hunleth Music Store Sheet Music and Photograph Collection, ca. 1880-1986Add to your cart.View associated digital content.

ID: 12/9/123

Primary Creator: Hunleth Music Company (1901-1974)

Extent: 39.5 cubic feet

Arrangement:

Organized in ten series: Series 1: Autographed Prints, ca. 1880-1950; Series 2: School Wind Band Music Octavos, ca. 1880-1970; Series 3: Mandolin Sheet Music and Method Books, 1888-1969; Series 4: Banjo Sheet Music and Method Books, 1900-1960; Series 5: Hawaiian and Steel Guitar Music and Method Books, 1898-1970; Series 6: Guitar Sheet Music and Method Books, 1891-1969; Series 7: Autoharp and Zither Sheet Music and Method Books; Series 8: Gibson School of Music Records, 1889-1937; Series 9: Accordion, Bandonian, and Concertina Sheet Music and Method Books. Series 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are organized in two sub-series within each series, Sub-series 1: Sheet Music and Sub-series 2: Method Books. Content of all Series 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 arranged alphabetically with untitled materials at the beginning. Series 8: Gibson Music School is organized alphabetically by title for sheet music and method books. Correspondence, advertisement, and minutes have been placed at the beginning. Series 9: Accordion, Bandonian, and Concertina Sheet Music and Method Books is organized alphabetically by composer. Series 10: Silent Film Sheet Music arranged in numerical order as assigned by the Hunleth Music Co.

The original order is no longer evident, except for Series 10. Series containing music have been structured to mimic a music store model in which sheet music and method books are separated by principal instrument. Series order listed in order of processing.

Date Acquired: 02/01/1974

Subjects: Accordion, Autoharp music, Bands (Music), Banjo music, Business Records, Correspondence, Guitar music, Hawaiian guitar music, Mandolin music, Music stores, Photographs, Teaching Methods, Zither music

Formats/Genres: Sheet music

Languages: English, Russian, German, Spanish;Castilian, Italian, French

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of unsold published sheet music and method books that were part of the Hunleth Music Company (St. Louis, MO)'s unsold stock when the store closed in 1974. It documents the types of published music typically sold to musicians and band ensembles in the U.S. Midwest during the first half of the 20th century. Also includes a small number of collector photographs documenting Midwestern classical music and opera performers at the turn of the 20th century and records related to local music teacher Robert Lehrmann (1879-1948) and the Gibson School of Music (1889-1937).

The University of Illinois purchased nearly 750,000 pieces of unsold sheet music and unsold 78-rpm sound recordings after the Hunleth Music Co.'s closure in 1974. This collection reflects only a portion of the store's unsold inventory.

Biographical Note

After 27 years as proprietor of the Standard Pulley & Foundry, Frank J. Hunleth, sold his shares in the company and opened the Hunleth Music Company in 1901, at the encouragement of his son, Joseph F. Hunleth. Frank J. Hunleth purchased a building located at 9 South Broadway, Saint Louis, Missouri, which was previously owned and occupied by A. T. Walo's Music Company. In 1908, Frank J. Hunleth's sons, Joseph F. Hunleth and Alois J. Hunleth, assumed management of the store. The Hunleth Music Co. moved to a larger building at 516 Locust Street in 1915, where it remained for nearly 40 years. Joseph F. Hunleth traveled to Europe yearly to buy music and instruments for the Hunleth Music Co., introducing Midwest musicians to music published outside the country. He bought sheet music in such a high volume that U.S. publishers would show him scores before deciding whether to publish them to guarantee sales. After the Locust building was purchased by First National Bank in 1952, the store moved to 415 North Broadway, where it remained until it closed in 1974. Joseph and Alois Hunleth operated the company as partners until Alois's death from a heart attack in 1959. Joseph continued to operate the company as sole owner until his death in 1968, when ownership of the company passed to Joseph's widow, Violet B. Hunleth. She retained ownership until the company's closure in 1974. The building housing the music company was demolished to make way for the Mercantile Center between 1975-1979, a redevelopment project that was never completed.

The Hunleth Music Company's store consisted of five floors of music instruments and sheet music, making it an important hub for the music trade in the Midwest. Hunleth Music Co. also dealt in rare instruments and specialized in imported violins from makers in Germany, Italy, and France. It carried Victor, Columbia, and Brunswick sound recordings; Victorolas; and radiolas; and it had its own radio department, indicating that the store not only served musicians but also music listeners. The store also sold tickets for concerts and performances for acts like Bily May and Count Basie at the Casa-Loma Ballroom in Saint Louis connecting the store to St. Louis local music scene. Hunleth Music Co. was the gathering site for musicians both unknown and well-known, such as Fritz Kreisler, Jascha Heifetz, Mischa Elman, Yehudi Menuhim, and Rudolph Ganz. According to a long-time employee, it had "the gemutlicheit of the easy-going business" that attracted customers to the "wonderful family-like organization." In its heyday the Hunleth Music Co. held over a million copies of sheet music and the largest collection of 78-rpm sound recordings in St. Louis.

Subject/Index Terms

Accordion
Autoharp music
Bands (Music)
Banjo music
Business Records
Correspondence
Guitar music
Hawaiian guitar music
Mandolin music
Music stores
Photographs
Teaching Methods
Zither music

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: J. F. Hunleth Music Store.

Acquisition Method: Purchase of unsold stock upon closure of the J. F. Hunleth Music Store, 415 N. Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri. The band octavos were transferred from the Press Building basement to the Center in November 2017, and the banjo, mandolin, Hawaiian and steel guitar, zither, and autoharp sheet music was transferred from the Press Building on April 16, 2018. The accordion, bandonian, and concertina sheet music and method books were transferred from the Press Building on December 6, 2018. The silent movie music was transferred from the Press Building on January 8, 2019.


Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Autographed prints, ca. 1880-1950],
[Series 2: School Wind Band Music Octavos, ca. 1880-1970],
[Series 3: Mandolin Sheet Music and Method Books, 1888-1969],
[Series 4: Banjo Sheet Music and Method Books, 1900-1960],
[Series 5: Hawaiian and Steel Guitar Sheet Music and Method Books, 1898-1970],
[Series 6: Guitar Sheet Music and Method Books, 1891-1969],
[Series 7: Autoharp and Zither Sheet Music and Method Books, 1894-1965],
[Series 8: Gibson School of Music Records, 1889-1937],
[Series 9: Accordion, Bandonian, and Concertina Sheet Music and Method Books, 1893-1986],
[Series 10: Silent Film Sheet Music, 1881-1931],
[All]

Series 8: Gibson School of Music Records, 1889-1937Add to your cart.
Consists of correspondence, advertisements, sheet music, and method books collected by the Gibson School of Music and its Director, Robert Lehrmann (1879-1948). Of particular note are minutes from a meeting of the American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists and Guitarists dated May 25, 26, 27, 1925. Contents were found interfiled with Hunleth sheet music and separated into this series.
Box 46Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Correspondence, Advertisements, Minutes, 1925-1937Add to your cart.
The American Guild Bulletin; Letter to Rober Lehrmann; The Marvelous Violin Concerto by Robert Schumann; Letter from the Hawaiian School of Music; Letter to the American Guild members and meeting minutes.
Folder 3: Among the Three Roses - Collection of Famous Song Hits for Mandolin and Guitar, 1907-1929Add to your cart.

William C. Stahl, "Among the Roses" (Waltz); Sister of St. Dominie, "The Bride of God"; George Asch, "British Control" (Descriptive Patrol); Gustav Saenger, "Bohemiean Girl" (Selection from Balfe's Opera); Salvator Giannini, "Chant du Gondolier" (Concert Waltz);

Compositions and Arrangements for the Guitar. Pieces include: Sophocles T. Papas, "Valse Fantaisie"; Unidentified, "Peruvian Air"; Karganoff, "Arabesque"; Unidentified, "To Tsopanopoulo" (Greek Folk Song); SOR, "Minuet"; William T. Pierson, "Calling for You"; Sophocles T. Papas, "Berceuse"; Poldini, "Valse Serenade"; Unidentified, "Song Without Words".

H. F. Odell, "The Crescendo" (March and Two Step); Julius S. Seredy, "Dancing Dolls" (Gavotte);

The Eclipse Folio. Plectrum Banjo. Piences include: Warren n. Dean, "Doreen" (Waltz); William C. Stahl, "The Ensign" (March and One Step); Warren N. Dean, "Just You" (Fox Trot); William C. Stahl, "The Eclipse" (March and One Step); Warren N. Dean, "All Over" (Fox Trot); William C. Stahl, "The Merry Maiden" (March and Two Step); Warren N. Dean, "Its So" (Fox Trot); W. D. Moyer, "The New Club" (Waltz); Warren N. Dean, "Streets of Gold" (Fox Trot); William Morris, "Ring Ting" (March); Charse Brunover, "All the Rage" (March and One Step); William D. Moyer, "The Getaway" (March and Two Step); William C. Stahl, "Tar Baby" (March and Two Step); Frank Sherwood, "Princeton March".

W. J. Kitchener, "Fieldston March"; george L. Cobb, "Fleur d' Amour" (Flower of Love) (Hesitation Waltz); Herman Friedrich, "Special Delivery" (March and Two Step); Max Herzberg, "Gavotte Souvenir"; Joe Nicomede, "Gibson Beauty March"; Artemas Higgs, "The Guardsman" (March and One Step); P. Lua and D. Kaili, "Hilo" (Introducing: "Aloha Oe") (Hawaiian One Step);

Collection of Famous Song Hits for Mandolin and Guitar. Folio No. 1. Pieces include: Irving Berlin, "The Song is Ended" (But the Melody Lingers On); Irving Berlin, "Together, We Two"; Jo' Trent and Peter de Rose, "I Just Roll Along" (Havin' My Ups and Downs); Roy Turk and Lou Handman, "Are you Lonesome To-night?"; Benny Davis and Abner Silver, "Mary Ann"; Al Jolson, Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer, "Four Walls"; Al Jolson, Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer, "Back in Your Own Back Yard"; Howard Johnson, Charles Tobias and Al Sherman, "Dew, Dew, Dewy Day"; Abner Silver and Maceo Pinkard, "Dawning"; Herman Ruby, Rubey Cowan and Sam H. Stept, "Mine-All Mine"; Sam Lewis, Joe Young and Little Jack Little, "The Hours I Spent With You".

Folder 4: Kahola-Honolulu - Odell Method for the Mandolin, Book 3, 1910-1920Add to your cart.

Unidentified, "Kahola-Honolulu" (Hawaiian Marches) (One-Step); Unidentified, "Kilama - Wailana" (Hawaiian Waltzes); Schubert, "L'eloge Des Larmes"; Auguste Bosc, "The Little Pierrots" (March); D. Acker, "A Love Chat" (Waltz); Frank Sherwood, "Love's Idol Gavotte"; H. F. Odell, "Loyal Friends" (March); Gaetano Donizetti, "Lucia di Lammermoor" (selection); Keler-Bela, "Lustspiel Overture"; Walter A. Boehm, "March Militaire"; Artemas Higgs, "Maud Muller" (waltz);

The Most Popular Mandolin Operatic Pieces. Second Mandolin. Pieces include: Georges Bizet, "Carmen" (Habanera); Gioachino Rossini, "William Tell" (Selection); Giuseppe Verdi, "La Traviata" (Selection); V. Wallace, "Maritana" (Selection); Richard Wagner, "Tannhauser" (Pilgrim's Chorus); Charles Gounod, "Faust" (Selection); Richard Wagner, "Tannhauser" (Grand March); Giacomo Meyerbeer, "Robert le Diable" (Excerpts from Aria); Giuseppe Verdi, "La Traviata" (Ah! Was It Him My Heart Foretold); M. W. Balfe, "The Bohemian Girl" (Selection); Giuseppe Verdi, "Il Trovatore" (Tempest of the Heart); Richard Wagner, "Tannhauser" (Song to the Evening Star); Giuseppe Verdi, "Il Trovatore" (Stride la Vampa); Giuseppe Verdi, "Ernani" (Ernani, Fly with Me); Gaetano Donizetti, "Lucia di Lammermoor" (Think Not This Heart Can Alter); Gaetano Donizetti, "L'Elisire D;amore" (From Her Dear Eyes so Lovely); Gaetano Donizetti, "Lucrezia Borgia" (It Is Better to Laugh Than be Sighing); Gaetano Donizetti, "Lucia di Lammermoor" (Tho' to Heaven from Sorrow Flying); Giuseppe Verdi, "Il Trovatore" (Miserere); Charles Gounod, "Romeo et Juliette" (Valse Aria); Giuseppe Verdi, "Aida" (Triumphal Chorus); M. W. Balfe, "The Bohemian Girl" (Then You'll Remember Me); Carl Maria von Weber, "Der Freischutz" (Huntsmen's Chorus); Charles Gounod, "Faust" (Once Again I Would Gaze); Fr. von Flotow, "Martha" (Selection); Giacomo Meyerbeer, "Les Huguenots" (Banquet Chorus); Gioachino Rossini, "Stabat Mater" (Cujus Animam); Herold, "Zampa" (Selection); Vincenzo Bellini, "Norma" (Selection); F. von Suppe, "Poet and Peasant" (Excerpts from Overture); Georges Bizet, "Carmen" (Toreador Song); Jacques Offenbach, "Les Contes d'Hoffman" (Barcarolle); Gaetano Donizetti, "Lucia di Lammermoor" (Sextet); Giuseppe Verdi, "Rigoletto" (Selection).

Charles Miller, "Medley Overture of National Songs"; O. Kohler, "The Mices and the Trap";

Morris' Superb Mandolin Orchestra Collection. 1st Mandolin or Violin and Piano Accompaniment. Pieces Include: Alfred Solmen, "Would You Take Me Back Again"; Jeff Branen, "In the Valley of the Moon"; Arthur Lange, "Just a Little Bit of Green"; Alfred Solman, "Mine"; Lange and Heath, "On the Old Front Porch"; F. Black, "You're the sweetest Girl in Ireland"; F. Heruri Klickmann, "Just a Dream of Your Dear"; Bobby Heath, "You're My Girl"; Alfred Solman, "Ship of My Dreams"; Rennie Cormack, "I'm going back to Alabama in the Spring"; Alfred Solman, "Why did you Make me care"; H. M. Queen Liliuokalani, "Aloha Oe" (Farewell to Thee); J. A. Butterfield, "When You and I were Young Maggie"; F. W. Meacham, "American Patrol"; Abe Oleman, "Blue Birds" (Hesitation Waltz); F. Henri Klickmann, "Knock Out Drops" (Rag) (A Trombone Jag); Lew Pollack, "Tango Toreador"; Harry L. Alford, "IMP" (March and Two Step); Anton Dvorak, "Humoreske"; R. L. Weaver, "Melodies of Ireland" (Overture); L. A. Drumheller, "Where Memory Dwells" (Meditation).

Walter A. Boehm, "New Era March"; A. A. Babb, "On the Mill Dam" (Galop); Unidentified, "One, Two, Three, Four" (Hawaiian Waltz) (Introducing: "Like, No a Like"); E. di Capua, "'O Sole Mio!" (Waltz) (Introducing "Maria, Marit");

Odell Method for the Mandolin, Book 3.

Folder 5: Red Jacket - Zacatecas, 1889-1906Add to your cart.

Walter A. Boehm, "Red Jacket" (March); Charles Brunover, "La Rose" (Contert Waltz); A. Gustufson, "Royal Scepter"; J. E. le Barge, "Sweet Remembrance" (Waltz); William C. Stahl, "The Talisman" (March and Two Step); R. E. Hildreth, "Titania" (Overture); W. L. Dewey, "Triumphant Uncle Sam";

The Victor Mandolin Collection, vol 1. 1st Mandolin and Piano Accompaniment. Pieces include: Alfred Roncovieri, "La Fiesta March" (Two-Step); Samuel Adelstein, "Un Beso (A Kiss) Mazurka" (Mandoline) (Arrillaga); J. Donigan, "Blonde and Brunette" (Mandoline Dance No. 2); Unidentified, "Capodimonte Serenade" (Giannini); Unidentified, "La Czarina" (Mazurka Rusee) (Ganne); J. Lombardero, "Dulce Encanto Waltz"; Samuel Adelstein, "Forget Me Not Gavotte" (Mandoline) (Giese); Unidentified, "Drinking Song" (From La Perichole); J. Donigan, "Gandola Serenade" (The Lover- and the Mandolin); J. Donigan, "Sonando Danza" (Tis Thee I Love Alone); Unidentified, "La Granadina Mazurka" (Granada) (Mandoline); J. Donigan, "Habsburg March" (Kral); A. Czibulka, "Love's Dream After the Ball" (Intermezzo); Unidentified, "Manana Serenade" (Chilian Dance); Paderewski, "Menuet"; E. E. Schmitz, "El Pajaro Waltz"; Samuel Adelstein, "La Paloma" (Spanish Fantasia); C. E. Pomeroy, "Las Cuerdas Majicas" (The Magic Strings); G. Cipolloni, "Prima vera" (Mazurka); Curti, "Recuerdos Mazurka"; Giuseppe Verdi, "Sicilian Vespers"; O. Metra, "La Serenade Valse Espagnole"; Czibulka, "Stephanie Gavotte"; Carlos Curti, "La Tipica Polka"; J. Donigan, "El Turia" (Spanish Waltz) (Granada).

Herman V. yeager, "King of Good Fellows" (March and Two Step); Carl Tschopp, "Overture 'Venus'"; Unidentified, "Waltz of Hawaia" (Lesson No. 1); Richard Wagner, "Wedding March"; Genaro Codina, "Zacatecas" (March).


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Autographed prints, ca. 1880-1950],
[Series 2: School Wind Band Music Octavos, ca. 1880-1970],
[Series 3: Mandolin Sheet Music and Method Books, 1888-1969],
[Series 4: Banjo Sheet Music and Method Books, 1900-1960],
[Series 5: Hawaiian and Steel Guitar Sheet Music and Method Books, 1898-1970],
[Series 6: Guitar Sheet Music and Method Books, 1891-1969],
[Series 7: Autoharp and Zither Sheet Music and Method Books, 1894-1965],
[Series 8: Gibson School of Music Records, 1889-1937],
[Series 9: Accordion, Bandonian, and Concertina Sheet Music and Method Books, 1893-1986],
[Series 10: Silent Film Sheet Music, 1881-1931],
[All]

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