Historic American sheet music, 1850-1920

Contains 3042 pieces of sheet music published in the US between 1850 and 1920. Drawn from collections in the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University, the presentation documents a significant perspective on American history and culture through a wide variety of music types (bel canto, minstrel songs, protest songs, sentimental songs, patriotic and political songs, plantation songs, Civil War songs, spirituals, dance music, songs from vaudeville and musicals, "Tin pan alley" songs, and songs from World War I). The collection is particularly strong in antebellum Southern music, Confederate imprints, and Civil war songs. Piano music includes marches, variations, opera excerpts, and dance music (waltzes, quadrilles, polkas, etc.). Cover illustrations represent an important source of information for popular contemporary ideas on politics, patriotism, race, religion, love, and sentiment.