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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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I Never Had a Mammy
Duncan Sisters and Sam H. Harris
Thomas Wilkes Presents the Duncan Sisters in "Topsy and Eva." Book by Catherine C. Cushing.
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It's Allus de Same in Dixie
Will Marion Cook and Richard Grant
Will Marion Cook was a Black composer.
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I Want to Know where Tosti Went (When He Said Good-Bye)
Christopher M. Smith
Successfully Introduced by Bert Williams in George Le Maire's "Broadway Brevities" at the New York Winter Garden. The name Mrs. Herbert E. White is written in the top margins on the cover.
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Julius Quadrilles (Third Sett.)
John Casper Scherpf
Arranged from the celebrated Christy Melodies. Includes Virginia Rosebud or the Lost Child; Uncle Ned; Stop Dat Knocking; Away Down South; Darkies History.
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Just Some One
Will R. Anderson
Sung with great success by Charles Reinhart in The Al G. Field Greater Minstrels.
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Just You
Madge Marie Miller and H. T. Burleigh
Most respectfully dedicated to Signorina Lucrezia Bori. The name Mrs. Keller is written in the margins on the cover.
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Kiss Me
Duncan Sisters and Sam H. Harris
The Duncan Sisters by arrangement with Sam H. Harris in "Topsy and Eva."
