Black American Sheet Music Collection

The Bank of America Black American Sheet Music Collection consists of approximately 4000 pieces of published sheet music reflecting the influences of African Americans on popular music in the United States. The music was created by, performed by, published by, or portrays Black and African American themes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States. The collection highlights popular vocal music, jazz, big band, and swing music published in the United States. The earliest piece in the collection dates to 1818, and the latest editions date into the 1980s, thereby giving a chronicle of the evolution of Black-inspired music in America for almost 200 years. Some imagery and lyrics in this collection reflect harmful racist depictions of Black people and are included in the collections for their use in academic research.

Content Warning:

USF Libraries’ Digital Collections include historical and primary sources from many cultures and time periods. Some content may be harmful, graphic, difficult to view, or reflect biases. Digital Collections provides access to these materials to preserve the historical record, but we do not endorse the attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors found within them. USF Libraries’ is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

Switch View to Grid View Slideshow

Mighty Lak' a Rose (Low Voice)

Ethelbert Nevin and Frank L. Stanton

"Johnny's Piece" is written in the margins on the front page.
Missouri Rag

W. C. Powell

March and Two Step.
Monkey Faces

Leo Friedman

Characteristic March and Two Step.
Moon-bird: Intermezzo [and] Two Step

Johann C. Schmid
Moss Grown Dell

John Pond Ordway

As performed by Ordway's Aeolians.
My Clo

James Timothy Brymn and W. S. Estren

James Timothy Brymn was a Black composer.
My Creole Saidee

Edward Wright and James Brennen

Arranged for voice and piano.
My Creole Sue

Gussie Lord Davis

Words and music by Gussie L. Davis.
My Cup

William Astor Morgan

Blues. By Al. and William Astor Morgan.
My Gals Done Wrong

Herbert Dillea and George H. Emerick
My Greenwood Home

Henry Wood and G. W.H. Griffin

Sung by Geo Christy and Woods Minstrels.
My Honey

Frank Lynes and Frank L. Stanton

Arranged for medium voice.
My Keepsake is a Heartache

Clarence M. Jones and Arthur J. Lamb

(My Dream of Love is O'er)
My Lady

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and E. R. Stephenson

From 2 Songs with Pianoforte Accompaniment.
My Lady's Lips Am like de Honey

Will Marion Cook and James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson was a Black writer. Will Marion Cook was a Black composer.
My Molly Dear

James B. Oliver and Jack Fay

Waltz song.
My Old Kentucky Home, 1896, A

Stephen Collins Foster

"Old-Time Darkey Song."
My Old Kentucky Home, 1896, B

Stephen Collins Foster and Henri Zeiler

Transcribed by Henri Zeiler.
My Old Kentucky Home, 1897, A

S. G. Cook and Stephen Collins Foster

Variations for piano by S. G. Cook. Originally by Stephen C. Foster.
My Old Kentucky Home, 1897, B

Afred A. Farland and Stephen Collins Foster

With variations for the banjo. Solo with piano accompaniment. Originally by Stephen C. Foster.
My Old Kentucky Home, 1901

Hal Coffel and Stephen Collins Foster

Mandolin Solo. Full Harmony. To F.M. Johnson, Pennville, Indiana. Originally by Stephen C. Foster.
My Old Kentucky Home, 1907

Louis A. Drumheller and Stephen Collins Foster

With variations by Drumheller. Originally by Stephen C. Foster.
My Southern Pearl

Phil E. Collins and Edward M. Wickes

Words by Edward M. Wickes. Music by Phil E. Collins.
Nancy Till

White's Serenaders

The favorite Ethiopian melody. Written for and sung by White's Serenaders.