![Black American Sheet Music Collection](../assets/md5images/631533aad9ebc1056849446027776b8a.jpg)
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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
-
Happy Hunting Grounds
Henry S. Sawyer
"Indian March and Two-Step." The name Ethel E. Black is written on the cover in the top margins.
-
Grace and Beauty
James Sylvester Scott
A Classy Rag. James Scott was a Black American ragtime composer and pianist.
-
Detroit Wholesalers and Manufacturers: March and Two Step
Fred S. Stone
Fred Stone was a Black songwriter.
-
Dusty Rag
May Frances Aufderheide Kaufman
A piece composed by May Frances Aufderheide Kaufman, a popular female ragtime composer from Indianapolis, Indiana.
-
Any Old Place in Yankee Land is Good Enough for Me
Will Marion Cook and Chris Smith
Chris Smith was a Black songwriter. Will Marion Cook was a Black composer.
-
Down in Jungle Town
Edward Madden and Theodore Morse
"A Monkey Ditty." Arranged for voice and piano.
-
Four Little Sugar Plums
Lawrence B. O'Connor
Schottische and barn dance. Respectfully dedicated to Mr. Roy W. Simpson in Bangor, Maine.
-
Just Some One
Will R. Anderson
Sung with great success by Charles Reinhart in The Al G. Field Greater Minstrels.
-
My Old Kentucky Home, B
Louis A. Drumheller and Stephen Collins Foster
With variations by Drumheller. Originally by Stephen C. Foster.
-
Hobomoko
Ernest Reeves
Arranged by Adolf Lotter. The name Ethel Black is written on the cover in the margins.
-
Bon Bon Buddy: The Chocolate Drop
Alexander C. Rogers and Will Marion Cook
Will Marion Cook was a Black composer. Alexander C. Rogers was a Black lyricist and entertainer.