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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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The Little House of Dreams
H. T. Burleigh and Arthur Wallace Peach
The piano and vocal score for "The Little House of Dreams" with music by H.T. Burleigh and lyrics by Arthur Wallace Peach. Sung by Mr. John McCormack.
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The Little Old Cabin in the Lane
Will Shakespeare Hays
The piano and vocal score for "The Little Old Cabin in the Lane" written and composed by William Shakespeare Hays. Sung by Manning's Minstrels.
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Thelma Rag
W. M. Reiff
The piano score for "Thelma Rag" by W.M. Reiff. Dedicated to Miss Orda Grieves.
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The Lover's A.B.C.
Max S. Witt and Michael Elder Rourke
The piano and vocal score for "The Lover's A.B.C." with music by Max S. Witt and lyrics by M.E. Rourke. The cover contains a drawing of Irene Bentley.
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The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes
James Weldon Johnson and Robert Allen Cole
The piano and vocal score for "The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes" with music by Robert Allen Cole and words by James Weldon Johnson. Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist. Cole wrote the words alongside James Weldon Johnson, a Black American writer and civil rights activist.
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The Memphis Blues
William Christopher Handy and George A. Norton
The score for "The Memphis Blues," by William Christopher Handy (sometimes written as W.C. Handy), a Black composer.
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The Memphis Blues or (Mister Crump)
William Christopher Handy
The score for "The Memphis Blues or (Mister Crump)," by William Christopher Handy (sometimes written as W.C. Handy), a Black composer.
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The Moon Shines on the Moonshine
Robert Hood Bowers and Francis De Witt
The piano and vocal score for "The Moon Shines on the Moonshine" with music by Robert Hood Bowers and lyrics by Francis de Witt.
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The New Mary Blane
Edward L. White
Pages 1 and 2 of the piano score for "The New Mary Blane" arranged by Edward L. White.
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The Old Pine Tree
Charles White
The piano and vocal score for "The Old Pine Tree" composed by Charles White.
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The Original Boogie Woogie
Clarence "Pine-Top" Smith and Tiny Parham
The piano score for "The Original Boogie Woogie" by Clarence "Pine-Top" Smith. Edited by Tiny Parham.
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The Piccaninnies
Aubrey Hopwood and Ivan Caryll
The piano and vocal score of "The Piccaninnies" with music by Ivan Caryll and lyrics by Aubrey Hopwood. From new musical play "The Runaway Girl."
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The Rain Storm
Tom Blind
The score for "The Rain Storm," by Thomas Greene Wiggins Bethune (called "Blind Tom"), a Black pianist and composer.
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The Razor Club: Cake Walk March
Walter V. Ullner
The score for "The Razor Club" by Walter V. Ullner.
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The Spirit of the Banjo!
Robert Allen Cole, James Weldon Johnson, and John Rosamond Johnson
The piano and vocal score for "The Spirit of the Banjo!" with lyrics by Robert Allen Cole, a Black lyricist, and James Weldon Johnson, a Black writer. Music was by John Rosamond Johnson, a Black composer.
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The Sunny South
J. Bodewalt Lampe
A selection of Southern plantation songs for the piano arranged by J. Bodewalt Lampe. Included are segments from "Way Down upon the Swanee River," "Listen to the Mocking Bird," "My Old Kentucky Home," "Arkansas Traveler," "Massa's in the Cold Ground," "Zip Coon," "Old Black Joe," "Dixie's Land," "The Star Spangled Banner," and "Yankee Doodle." Several of the songs are by Stephen Collins Foster.
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The Three Last Seats for Smokers
Archie Morrow and Wilford Herbert
The piano and vocal score for "The Three Last Seats for Smokers" with music by Wilford Herbert and lyrics by Archie Morrow. Performed by Lew Dockstader's minstrel shows.
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The Watermelon Trust
Harry C. Thompson
The piano score for "The Watermelon Trust" composed by Harry C. Thompson.
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The White-Smith Minstrel Opening Chorus
W. H. Gardner and H. F. Odell
The piano and vocal score for "The White-Smith Minstrel Opening Chorus" with music by H.F. Odell and lyrics by W.H. Gardner.
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The Wild Old Woods Quartette
Louis V.H. Crosby
Quartette as sung by the Harmoneons, and dedicated to F.S. Allen. By L.V.H. Crosby. The four parts are for soprano, alto (marked as secondo), first bass, and second bass.
