San Diego Sheet Music Collection, 1889-1984

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Summary

Title:
San Diego Sheet Music Collection
Dates:
1889-1984
Creators:
San Diego Historical Society.
Abstract:
This collection contains sheet music from 1889 to 1984, many of which were written about San Diego or created by composers or publishers with a connection to San Diego.
Extent:
1.5 Linear feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

San Diego Sheet Music Collection, MS 248, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains sheet music from 1889 to 1984. Each music score contains music notation, words, composer and publisher credits. The majority of the music scores in this collection are written about San Diego or California. Many of the scores were written for expositions held in San Diego: the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935 California Pacific Exposition San Diego also known as “America’s Exposition.”

Several scores about the U.S. Army’s 40th “Sunshine” Division encamped at Camp Kearny during World War I are also included in this collection. Composer and San Diego resident, Esther Mugan Bush, known for her song “The Silver Strand Waltz” and many other songs about San Diego, composed a song dedicated to Camp Kearny’s 40th Sunshine division entitled, “The Song of the Sunshine Boys.”

Sheet music featuring notable singers and songwriters such as the internationally known opera singer, Madame Ernestine Schumann-Heink, and compositions written by Carrie Jacobs-Bond, Charles Wakefield Cadman, Gloria Gage, Lydia Fossler Frank, and Vashti Rogers Griffin from San Diego are also contained in this collection.

Biographical / historical:

Throughout San Diego’s development there have been songs written in tribute to its history and beauty. This collection features many songs written about San Diego that date back to the early twentieth century, as well as some as far back as the late nineteenth century.

Composer and San Diego resident, Cassius M. Loomis, wrote a song for San Diego, “San Diego’s Welcome,” that became the national song and march of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

Residents of San Diego provided a wealth of music to the rest of the world as well. The 1914 song “Mammy’s Li'l' Baby” was written specifically for world renowned opera singer and San Diego resident, Madame Ernestine Schumann-Heink. Throughout her lifetime, Madame Schumann-Heink held many concerts in San Diego’s Horton Plaza, and her single performance for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition attracted 28,000 people. Madame Schumann-Heink , along with fellow San Diego resident musicians Carrie Jacobs Bond and Charles Wakefield Cadman, each had a day of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition dedicated to them, and also have sheet music represented in this collection.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Sean Flores on December 14, 2011.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into six series:

Series I: Songs About San Diego

Series II: Songs Created by San Diego Residents

Series III: Songs Published in San Diego

Series IV: San Diego Miscellanea

Series V: California Songs

Series VI: Miscellanea

Items in each series are arranged alphabetically by song title, with the exception of items in Series II which are arranged alphabetically by last name of the creator.

Itemized database of sheet music can be accessed at the San Diego History Center Library.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Sean Flores
Sponsor:
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Date Prepared:
December 14, 2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-03-06T16:54-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Itemized database of sheet music can be accessed at the San Diego History Center Library.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

San Diego Sheet Music Collection, MS 248, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website