![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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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She Rested by the Broken Brook
S. Coleridge-Taylor and Robert Louis Stevenson
Part of Songs by S. Coleridge-Taylor.
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Old Black Joe, E
Louis A. Drumheller and Stephen Collins Foster
A transcription on Foster's celebrated theme by Louis A. Drumheller.
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If Anybody Wants to Meet A Jonah, Shake Hands With Me
Harry Hoyt
The name Gregory is written in the margins on the cover.
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I'll Keep a Warm Spot In My Heart for You
John Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson
As sung by Miss Aida Overton Walker of the Williams and Walker Co. in Melville Raymond''s production "Abyssinia." Brothers James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson were Black American civil rights activists and artists born in Jacksonville, Florida.
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When the Heart is Sad
Cecil Mack and Tom Lemonier
Tom Lemonier was a Black songwriter. Cecil Mack was a Black songwriter.
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He's A Cousin Of Mine
Cecil Mack, Christopher M. Smith, and Silvio Hein
Featured in Daniel V. Arthur's production of "Marrying Mary." Cecil Mack (R.C. McPherson) was a Black entertainer, and Christopher M. Smith was a Black composer and popular vaudeville performer.
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Sam's Laugh
Ed O'Connor
Characteristic March and Two Step. The name Ethel Nlack is written in the margins on the front cover.
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The Will Rossiter Dance Music Folio. Number 1
Will Rossiter
Contains the following songs: "If the Man in the Moon Were a Coon," "Brown of Harvard Waltz," "Clover Blossoms Waltz," "I'll Be Back in a Minutebut I Got to Go Now," "Napanee," "Moonlight Kisses," "Osceola," and "Farewell, My Annabelle."
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All In Down and Out
Christopher M. Smith, Billy B. Johnson, Elmer Bowman, and R. C. McPherson
Cecil Mack (R.C. McPherson) was a Black entertainer, and Christopher M. Smith was a Black composer and popular vaudeville performer.
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Popular Song Album of George H. Primrose and His Famous Minstrel Company
Christopher M. Smith, John Larkins, Joseph W. Stern, and Edward B. Marks
Shame On You; Take These Flowers, Old Lady; A Rich Coon's Babe; Lover's A.B.C.