African American Music Collection

Series 1: Sheet Music 1894-1976

Physical Description: 29 folders

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains sheet music primarily written, transcribed, and/or arranged by influential African American composers and musicians, such as Duke Ellington, Hazel Scott, James Reese Europe, H.T. Burleigh, and more. Influential non-African American composers - such as Noble Cain, Ernest R. Ball, Irving Mills, and more - are included in this series as well.

box 1, folder 2

"Who Knows?," music by Ernest R. Ball, poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar 1918

box 1, folder 3

"Ain't Cha Coming Back, Mary Ann to Maryland," lyrics by Noble Sissle, music by Eubie Blake 1919

box 1, folder 5

"De Gospel Train," by Noble Cain 1938

Scope and Contents

"De Gospel Train" is a spiritual written by composer Noble Cain.

box 1, folder 7

"He's Using Me," written by Rev. James Cleveland, arranged by Roberta Martin 1955

Scope and Contents

"He's Using Me" is a spiritual written by James Cleveland and arranged by Roberta Martin.

box 1, folder 9

"There is a Balm in Gilead," edited and arranged by William L. Dawson 1949

box 1, folder 10

"Mood Indigo," music and lyrics by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills and Albany Bigard 1931

box 1, folder 12

"Try Jesus," written by Rev. Robert T. George 1976

box 1, folder 14

W.C. Handy sheet music 1914-1969

Scope and Contents

2 copies of "Saint Louis Blues"

1 copy of "Beale Street Blues"

1 copy of "Way Down South Where the Blues Began"

box 1, folder 15

"I Have Resolved to Keep the Faith," music and lyrics by Clarence E. Hatcher 1944

box 1, folder 18

"Princes Awake," music by William Rosborough, lyrics by Rev. E.W.D. Isaac 1901

box 1, folder 19

"Plenty A-Balm In Gilead," music and lyrics by Wade B. Jakeway 1951

box 1, folder 20

"Dusky Stevedore," music by J.C. Johnson, lyrics by Andy Razaf 1928

box 1, folder 24

"My Honolulu Lady Songster" 1899

box 1, folder 26

"Yo' Cain't Git Yo' Lodgin' Here," music by Edward Morris 1928

box 1, folder 27

"Consecrated," music by Kenneth Morris 1967

box 1, folder 28

"Negro Folk Songs," Hampton Series, No. 6716, Book 1 1918

box 1, folder 30

"Lord Hear My Cry to Thee," music and lyrics by R. Patterson 1965

box 1, folder 31

"God's Trombones," music by Roy Ringwald, poems by James Weldon Johnson 1955

box 1, folder 34

"Boogie-Woogie," piano transcriptions by Hazel Scott 1943

box 1, folder 36

"He's Sweeter as the Days Roll By," music and lyrics by Genese Smith, arranged by Virginia Davis 1953

box 1, folder 37

"The Story of the Life of George Washington Carver - Wayfaring Stranger, An Operetta in 3 Acts," by Patricia Jenson 1966

box 1, folder 42

"Negro Spirituals," arranged by H.T. Burleigh 1917

box 1, folder 44

"Island in the Sun," music and lyrics by Harry Belafonte and Lord Burgess (Irving Burgie) 1956

box 2, folder 1

"Emmett J. Welch and his African Warblers Singing: The Message of The Honeymoon," lyrics by Al Dubin and H.R. Curtis, music by Jos. A. Burke 1912

box 2, folder 2

James Reese Europe And His Famous 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band sheet music 1919

Scope and Contents

1 copy of "Mirandy (That Gal O' Mine)", music and lyrics by James Reese Europe, Noble Sissle, and Eubie Blake (1919)

1 copy of "On Patrol in No Man's Land", music and lyrics by James Reese Europe, Noble Sissle, and Eubie Blake (1919)

box 2, folder 3

"Plantation Songs with Choruses," music and lyrics by Alfred Scott-Gatty 1894

box 2, folder 4

John Rosamund Johnson and James Weldon Johnson sheet music 1901, 1920

Scope and Contents

1 copy of "Lift Every Voice and Sing (National Negro Hymn)", lyrics by James Weldon Johnson, music by J. Rosamund Johnson (1920)

1 copy of "Nobody's Lookin' But De Owl An' De Moon", lyrics by J.W. Johnson and Bob Cole, music by Rosamund Johnson (1901)

box 2, folder 5

"Trabel On - Burlesque March for Piano From American Negro Suite," music and lyrics by Thorvald Otterstrom 1917

box 2, folder 6

"The Tuskegee Institute March," music and lyrics by Nathaniel Clark Smith 1910

Series 2: Hymnals, Anthologies, and Song Books 1921-1957

Physical Description: 8 folders

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains music books as well as hymnals and anthologies which compile spirituals, hymns, as well as other sacred music.

box 1, folder 17

How To Put on a Minstrel Show by Harold Rossiter 1921

Scope and Contents

The cover reads: "Contains complete practical instructions [on] how to handle amateur and professional talent also complete opening overture. Good selection of end mens jokes and gags - Instructions [on] how to make up list of suitable songs ETC.".

box 1, folder 22

The Second People's Songbook: Lift Every Voice!, introduction by Paul Robeson, edited by Irwin Silber 1953

box 1, folder 23

Look Away: 50 Negro Folk Songs circa 1946

box 1, folder 29

Negro Songs: An Anthology, edited and introduction by Clement Wood 1924

box 1, folder 35

Sing Out!, Vol, 8, No. 1, edited by Irwin Silber spring 1958

box 1, folder 46

Gospel Pearls, edited and compiled by the Music Committee of the Sunday School Publishing Board 1921

Scope and Contents

This file includes two copies of the Gospel Pearls hymnal. It was published by the Sunday School Publishing Board, National Baptist Convention of America in Nashville, TN.

box 1, folder 47

Pinebrook Choruses, edited by Percy B. Crawford 1934

Scope and Contents

The Pinebrook Choruses hymnal was published by the Young People's Church of the Air in Philadelphia, PA.

box 2, folder 10

Jubilee Spirituals published by the Morris-Henson Co. circa late 1920s

Series 3: Ephemera 1893-1973, undated

Physical Description: 12 folders

Language of Material: English, Yiddish.

Scope and Contents

This series contains ephemera - such as flyers, leaflets, pamphlets, postcards, and programs - featuring performances, plays, Sunday morning services, and more.

box 1, folder 1

Abyssinian Baptist Church (New York City) ephemera 1940-1942, undated

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This file includes four items: an undatded, blank postcard featuring images of the church and a brief discussion of its history; two programs; and a printed tri-fold sermon. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. was the minister of the Abyssinian Baptist Church during this time.

box 1, folder 4

Anna Lucasta play program circa 1944

Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

"Anna Lucasta" is a 1944 play written by Philip Yordan. The play was originally written about a Polish American family, but was later adapted for an all African American cast after its rights were obtained by American Negro Theatre director Abraham Hill. British director Harry Wagstaff Gribble would later assist with the adaptation of the script as well.

box 1, folder 8

"Concert in Aid of The Home for Aged Colored Women" concert program March 8, 1893

Language of Material: English.

box 1, folder 16

Roland Hayes concert flyer January 1941

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This concert flyer advertises for two concerts featuring lyric tenor and composer Roland Hayes at City Temple in San Francisco.

box 1, folder 21

Victory Baptist Church Sunday morning service program featuring guest speaker Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. February 28, 1965

Language of Material: English.

box 1, folder 25

"History of the Negro in Music" program flyer presented by the Men's Club of the First AME Church undated

Language of Material: English.

box 1, folder 32

Paul Robeson ephemera 1940-1949, 1955; undated

Language of Material: English, Yiddish.

Scope and Contents

This file includes a concert flyer as part of the Long Beach Civic Concert Series (c. 1940-1941); a "Paul Robeson as Othello, The Moor of Venice" theater program (c. 1943-1944); a "Paul Robeson Sings at Town Hall" concert program (undated); a booklet entitled, "The Negro and Justice: A Plea for Earl Browder" by Dr. Max Yergan and Paul Robeson (1941); a series of statements presented before the House Committee on Un-American Activities by Lester B. Granger (executive director of the National Urban League) and Jackie Robinson entitled, "Communist Influence Among Negroes - Fact or Illusion?" (c. 1949); a flyer for Negro History Week 1955 entitled "ASP Proudly Presents Paul Robeson.. in an Evening of Theatre Arts"; and a pamphlet entitled, "Artists' Right to Travel - A Tribute to Paul Robeson" (undated).

box 1, folder 45

"Dining Car Waiters" recital leaflet November 15, 1946

Language of Material: English.

General

Recital was to take place at Bethel AME Chruch on Larrabee and McMillen Streets possibly in Los Angeles, and performers included Vyolette Hooker (soprano), Henry Clay Bell (organist), and Stanton H. Duke (reader).

box 1, folder 48

Eubie Blake ephemera 1972-1973

Language of Material: English.

box 1, folder 49

W.C. Handy short biography 1969

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This short biography concerning composer and musician William C. Handy only has 8 brief pages.

box 1, folder 50

Duke Ellington Black, Brown, and Beige album advertisement leaflet circa 1943

Language of Material: English.

box 2, folder 9

Zion Hill Gospel Chorus "An Evening with Negro Composers" concert program circa 1940-1949

Language of Material: English.

box 2, folder 11

Billie Holiday "appearing at the Onyx Club Nitely" [postcard] circa 1940s

Series 4: Choir and Singing Groups 1871-1958, undated

Physical Description: 9 folders

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains materials which feature prominent all-Black music groups, jubilee singers, and choirs, such as the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the Hall Johnson Choir, the Williams' Jubilee Singers, and more.

box 1, folder 6

The Cleveland Coloured Gospel Quintette materials 1931, 1937, undated

Scope and Contents

The Cleveland Coloured Gospel Quintette materials file comprises of three items: a booklet entitled, "The Colored Quintette, A Brief Narrative of God's Marvelous Dealings with the Cleveland Gospel Quintette and Their Personal Testimony"; a black-and-white photograph of tenor, saxophonist, and member of the Cleveland Coloured Gospel Quintette Spurgeon R. Jones with his wife and eight children; and a pamphlet promoting upcoming religious revival meetings featuring the quintette at the former Alliance Gospel Tabernacle Church now Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church) in Oakland, California.

box 1, folder 11

Fisk Jubilee Singers photograph circa 1871

box 1, folder 13

Hall Johnson Choir photograph undated

box 1, folder 33

Rousseau Family of Musicians postcard circa 1919

box 1, folder 38

Williams' Jubilee Singers materials circa 1910

Scope and Contents

This file includes an informational pamphlet and three song booklets.

box 1, folder 39

11th Annual Original Dixieland Jubilee concert program October 11, 1958

box 1, folder 40

Famous Spiritual Jubilee Singers of Chicago concert flyer February 11, 1940 - February 26, 1940

box 1, folder 41

The California Jubilee All-Star Quartet ephemera circa 1912, November 16, 1922, undated

Scope and Contents

This file of ephemera includes an admissions ticket, a promotional pamphlet, and a small promotional flyer featuring the Los Angeles-based California Jubilee All-Star Quartet.

box 2, folder 9

Zion Hill Gospel Chorus "An Evening With Negro Composers" concert program circa 1940-1949

Scope and Contents

Item is a concert program entitled "An Evening With Negro Composers" performed by the Zion Hill Gospel Chorus. This chorus was affiliated with the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Series 5: Periodicals 1948, 1990

Physical Description: 2 folders

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series so far contains two periodicals: Rejoice! The Gospel Music Magazine; and Radio 48.

box 1, folder 43

Rejoice! The Gospel Music Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 3 Spring 1990

box 2, folder 12

Radio 48 No. 174 February 22-28, 1948

Language of Material: French.

Scope and Contents

cover features Louis Armstrong and article "Le Roi Du Jazz Louis Armstrong va Faire Son Entree Dans La Bonne Ville de Nice"

Series 6: LP Records 1942, 1952

Physical Description: 2 Albums

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series so far contains two albums: Songs of Free Men featuring Paul Robeson and Bayard Rustin Sings Twelve Spirituals on The Life of Christ with readings from the Bible by James Farmer.

box 2, folder 7

Songs of Free Men album performed by Paul Robeson 1942

Physical Description: 1 Album(Four 10-inch LPs)

Scope and Contents

This file contains the original LP records holder as well as 4 LP records with two songs on each record. The songs include:

"The Four Insurgent Generals"

"The Peet-Bog Soldiers"

"From Border to Border"

"Oh, How Proud Our Quiet Don"

"Native Land"

"Songs of the Plains"

"Joe Hill"

"The Purest Kind of Guy"

box 2, folder 8

Bayard Rustin Sings Twelve Spirituals on The Life of Christ with readings from the Bible by James Farmer 1952

Physical Description: 1 Album(One 10-inch LP)

Scope and Contents

This file contains the original LP record holder. Songs include:

"Go Tell It on the Mountain"

"Mary, What You Goin' To Name That Baby?"

"Wasn't That A Mighty Day?"

"I Know The Lord's Laid His Hands On Me"

"Shepherd, Where'd You Lose Your Sheep?

"Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child"

"Jesus Walked His Lonesome Valley"

"Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?"

"He Never Said A Mumblin' Word"

"Lord, I Don't Care Where You Bury My Body"

"He Arose"

"He Is King Of Kings"