Chicago Sheet Music Collection, 1845-1871 | Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Collection Overview

Title: Chicago Sheet Music Collection, 1845-1871

ID: 01/01/MSS00115

Primary Creator: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Library

Extent: 6.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

Arrangement reflects original ordering by the University Library in 15 volumes, which is primary ordered chronologically by acquisition date, then alphabetically by composer last name and title of the composition within volumes.

Volume 1: alphabetically by composer last name then title.

Volumes 2-5: chronologically by publication date across volumes (v. 2 1849-1861, v. 3 1862-1865, v. 4 1865-1871, v. 5 1871- undated) then alphabetically by composer and title within each volume.

Volumes 6-7, 9-11 contain imprints ordered alphabetically by composer last name and title across volumes in the following order: v.6 (A-E), v. 7 (F-K), v. 11 (L-O), v. 9 (R-V), v. 10 (W).

Volume 8 and volumes 12-15 are ordered alphabetically by composer last name and title within each volume.

The physical collection has been rehoused into 20 boxes, ordered continuously by item based off of the original call and volume numbers. See the finding aid for a box/item listing.

Date Acquired: 08/01/1939

Subjects: H. M. Higgins (Publisher), Higgins Brothers (Chicago, Ill.), Lyon & Healy, Music publishing -- Illinois -- Chicago, Root & Cady, United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865

Forms of Material: Sheet Music

Languages: English, French, German, Italian

Abstract

A collection of 19th century sheet music printed in Chicago, Illinois before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Chicago Sheet Music Collection is a collection of 19th century sheet music printed in Chicago, Illinois before the Great Fire of 1871. It consists of a wide range of popular music from the time, including popular vocal and piano pieces, songs, ballads, waltzes, polkas, marches, comic pieces, opera selections, and parlor music. Thematic strengths include the American Civil War; stage shows and productions by comic actors, opera stars, minstrel performers, and family singing troupes; Chicago businesses and social organizations; and social issues such as temperance, reconstruction, and women's suffrage.

The items in the collection were predominantly published by the Chicago firms Root & Cady, H.M. Higgins, Lyon & Healy, and the DeMotte Brothers and their associated national imprints. Consisting of approximately 850 items, the collection was assembled by the University of Illinois Library between 1939-1943. Volumes 1-5, 8, 12, 14 and 15 contain music published and printed in Chicago, while volumes 6-7, 9-11, 13, and 15 contain imprints published in other American cities with Chicago distributors.

Collection Historical Note

In 1939, the University of Illinois began collecting sheet music printed in Chicago before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 in response to renewed interest in the academic community regarding Chicago’s role in music publishing during the Civil War and before the Fire. The Fire devastated the Chicago music industry, destroying the storefronts and inventories of most of the publishing houses. As a result, only one pre-Fire firm survived into the 20th century and information about the scale and national reach of the Chicago music publishing industry was largely forgotten. Between 1939 and 1943, the University Library amassed over 850 pieces of sheet music that either were printed in or would have been available in Chicago before 1871.

In 1941 the University Library hired a student assistant from the Library Science program to catalog and arrange the collection, Dena J. Polacheck Epstein (1916-2013). Epstein, who had a bachelor’s degree in music was inspired to write her master’s thesis, Music Publishing in Chicago before 1871: the Firm of Root & Cady, 1858-1871, using the Illinois collection, which was later serially published in the Music Library Association of America Notes journal between 1944-1946 and in a revised book edition in 1969, which has remained an influential work in the study of early American music publishing. Epstein later became a noted Music Librarian at the University of Chicago and an ethnomusicologist, best known for her foundational scholarship into early American Black folk music and her 1977 book Sinful Tunes and Spirituals: Black Folk Music to the Civil War.

Sources:

Epstein, Dena. Interview by Chris D’Arpa. 14 March, 2008. Voices of Illinois Oral History Portal, University of Illinois Archives. https://www.library.illinois.edu/voices/collection-item/dena-epstein/, Accessed 28 February. 2023.

Epstein, Dena Julia Polacheck. “Music Publishing in Chicago Prior to 1871 : the Firm of Root & Cady, 1858-1871”. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1943.

Epstein, Dena J. Polacheck. Music Publishing in Chicago before 1871 : the Firm of Root & Cady, 1858-1871. Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1969.

Epstein, Dena J. "Music Publishing" in Encyclopedia of Chicago, Chicago: Chicago Historical Society, 2005

University of Illinois Library. Annual Report 1939-1940. University of Illinois Archives, 35/1/801.

Subject/Index Terms

H. M. Higgins (Publisher)
Higgins Brothers (Chicago, Ill.)
Lyon & Healy
Music publishing -- Illinois -- Chicago
Root & Cady
United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865

Administrative Information

Repository: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Alternate Extent Statement: 20 boxes (853 items)

Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions:

The RBML reproductions policies can be found here:

http://www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/collections/reproduction-services/

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study scholarship or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would damage materials or involve violation of copyright law.

Acquisition Source: Purchased

Acquisition Method: Acquired between 1939-1943 through purchase installments from various rare book dealers including Edward H. Terry, L. E. Dicke, Fred Lockley, Wellman and Harry Dichter.

Related Publications: Epstein, Dena J. Polacheck. Music Publishing in Chicago before 1871: the Firm of Root & Cady, 1858-1871. Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1969.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Box 18],
[Box 19],
[Box 20],
[All]

Box 12

Volume 11

Item 5: "I am dreaming of thee: Napolitaine" (from Twelve beautiful ballads by various authors), comp. and lyrics by Alexander Lee, 1866: Piano, voice. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 6: "Singing Leaves Waltz," comp. Holmes Lee, 1869: Piano. Published by John Church Jr. (Cincinnati).
Item 7: "O sing to me the auld Scotch sangs: ballad," comp. J.F. Leeson, lyrics by Rev. Dr. Bethune, 1871: Piano, voice. Published by C.H. Ditson & Co. (New York).
Item 8: "Cinquieme Nocturne" (from Compositions pour piano par J. Leybach), comp. J. Leybach, before 1871: Piano. Published by G. Andre & Co. (Philadelphia).
Item 9: "I heard the wee bird singing," comp. and lyrics by Geo. Linley, arr. Thos. Ryan, 1865: Piano, voice. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 10: "Whispering Winds: polka brillante," comp. E.H. Lohfink, 1865: Piano. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 11: "The Brightest Hope" (from Pianist's Folio: a collection of brilliant pieces), comp. G.W. Lovejoy, 1868: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 12: "The Brightest Hope" (from Pianist's Folio: a collection of brilliant pieces), comp. G.W. Lovejoy, before 1871: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 13: "La Fontaine" (from Piano-forte Folio: a choice selection of Brillaint and Instructive compositions by favorite authors), comp. C.B. Lysberg, 1866: Piano. Published by William A. Pond & Co.
Item 14: "Mocking Bird March" (from Mocking Bird Echoes. A collection of beautiful variations, marches, galops, quicksteps, &c. upon this very popular melody), comp. Ed. Mack, 1866: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 15: "Mocking Bird March" (from Mocking Bird Echoes. A collection of beautiful variations, marches, galops, quicksteps, &c. upon this very popular melody), comp. Ed. Mack, 1871: Piano, voice. Published by Whittemore & Stephens (Detroit).
Item 16: "Kissing on the sly," comp. J.G. Maeder, lyrics by H. Watkins, 1864: Piano, voice. Published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (New York).
Item 17: "Lady love wake = Non é ver: serenade," comp. and lyrics by Tito Mattei, trans. Arthur Matthison, 1867: Piano, voice. Published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (New York).
Item 18: "Refuge: Quartette with tenor and soprano solos," comp. and lyrics by Geo. H. Martin, 1867: Piano, voice. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 19: "Let the dead and the beautiful rest: song & chorus," comp. S. Wesley Martin, lyrics by C.C. Butler, 1867: Piano, voice. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 20: "Let the dead and the beautiful rest: song & chorus," comp. S. Wesley Martin, lyrics by C.C. Butler, 1868: Piano, voice. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 21: "Lullaby: cradle song for the piano," comp. Wm. Mason, 1857: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 22: "Silver Spring: for the piano forte," comp. William Mason, 1856: Piano. Published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (New York).
Item 23: "Coronation March: March du sacre" (from Onward! A choice selection of marches and quicksteps), comp. G. Meyerbeer, arr. W.D., 1865: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 24: "My dearest dear little heart: ballad," comp. H. Millard, 1870: Piano, voice. Published by J.N. Pattison & Co. (New York).
Item 25: "The pretty Zingarella: bolero" (from Peters Standard Edition. Concert songs as sung by Carla Louise Kellog, Parepa, Adelina Patti, and other celebrated singers), comp. and lyrics by H. Millard, 1869: Piano, voice. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 26: "Viva L'America" (from Musical Photographs. A Collection of the most popular and beautiful melodies of the day, arranged as teaching pieces by D. Angelo; no. 16), comp. H. Millard, arr. D. Angelo, 1864: Piano. Published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (New York).
Item 27: "Blue bird echo polka," comp. Mary Morrison, 1863: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 28: "Grand retreat march," comp. Francis Mueller, 1866: Piano. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 28, cop. 2: "Grand retreat march," comp. Francis Mueller, 1866: Piano. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 29: "The Monk's Prayer: Scene Religiense," comp. Julius E. Müller, 1864: Piano. Published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (New York).
Item 30: "Grand Farewell March," comp. Max Müller, 1867: Piano. Published by G. Andre & Co. (Philadelphia).
Item 31: "Not for gold, or precious stones: ballad", 1849: Piano, voice. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 32: "Fifteenth Infantry Quick Step," comp. L. Oberst, 1865: Piano. Published by Wm. Hall & Son (New York).
Item 33: "La Grande Duchess de Gerolstein by Offenbach No. 1" (from La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein by Offenbach arranged for the piano forte by E. Mack; no. 1), comp. Offenbach, arr. E. Mack, 1867: Piano. Published by Chas. W.A. Trumpler (Philadelphia).
Item 34: "Why should they gaze = pourquoi qu'ils m'font tous" (from Vocal Beauties of Blue Beard (Barbe Bleue) by Offenbach), comp. J. Offenbach, 1868: Piano, voice. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 35: "The galloping sleigh ride polka," comp. J.P. Ordway, 1845: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 36: "Twinkling stars are laughing, love: song & chorus," comp. and lyrics by John P. Ordway, 1855: Piano, voice. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 37: "Scandal on the Brain," comp. Mrs. E.A. Parkhurst, lyrics by Mrs. M.A. Kidder, 1865: Piano, voice. Published by Horace Waters (New York).
Item 38: "Le lever du Soleil = sunrise: mazurka caprice," comp. J.N. Pattison, 1864: Piano. Published by O. Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 38, cop. 2: "Le lever du Soleil = sunrise: mazurka caprice," comp. J.N. Pattison, 1864: Piano. Published by O. Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 38, cop. 3: "Le lever du Soleil = sunrise: mazurka caprice," comp. J.N. Pattison, 1864: Piano. Published by O. Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 39: "Chicago Quickstep," comp. Mrs. D.C. Payne, 1856: Piano. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co. (Boston).
Item 40: "Beware!: cavatina," comp. James Ernest Perring, lyrics by H.W. Longfellow, 1864: Piano, voice. Published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (New York).
Item 41: "Un addio. Ein Lebe wohl. = Farewell! Ye days so happy," comp. and lyrics by A. Piatti, M. Barnett (Eng.), 1868: Piano, voice. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 42: "The little brown church: song & chorus," comp. and lyrics by Wm. S. Pitts, 1865: Piano, voice. Published by J.L. Peters (New York).
Item 43: "Our Southern Home: March," comp. M. Pollatchek, 1866: Piano. Published by Bollman & Schatzman (St. Louis).
Item 44: "At home with those we love: ballad," comp. A.G. Pollock, lyrics by J.W. Turner, 1866: Piano, voice. Published by Henry Tolman & Co. (Boston).