SAM DeVINCENT COLLECTION OF ILLUSTRATED AMERICAN SHEET MUSIC, ca. 1790 - 1987
#300

Container List

Series 1: TRANSPORTATION, ca. 1800-1980

by: Karen Linn, 1989

A - I, Automobiles, Vocal Music, ca. 1900-1979:

Box 8

Folder

A, A - B
B, C - F
C, G - H

Box 9

Folder

D, I
E, J - L
F, M - O
G, P - R

Box 10

Folder

H, S - TA
I, TE - Z

The bulk of the material is from the 1900s to the 1920s. Included are songs about automobiles. Most sheets have automobiles on the cover. A number of songs are actually advertising material for automobile, motor oil, and tire companies. Other themes frequently used are automobile racing, gasoline, and courtship. (ca. 380 items)

J, Automobiles, Professional Copy, ca. 1910-1979:

Professional Copy sheet music has no cover illustration. The bulk of the material is from the 1940s to the 1960s. All types of gasoline engine vehicles are included: automobiles, buses, trucks, trailers, etc. (80 items)

K, Automobile and Petroleum Industry, ca. 1920-1949:

The sheet music and one folio in this folder are from radio programs sponsored by gasoline, oil, or automobile companies. Photographs of the radio personalities appear on the covers. (6 items)

L - O, Automobiles, Instrumental Music, ca. 1890-1979:

Box 11

Folder

L, A - C
M, D - K
N, L - P
O, R - Z

Most of the material in these folders is from the 1900s to the 1910s (a time when piano instrumental music enjoyed great popularity). All of the music is written for solo piano. Almost all sheets have cover illustrations featuring an automobile; many covers show women driving autos. Automobile racing and racetracks is a popular theme for many covers of the 1900s-1910s. Most of the compositions are marches, two-steps or ragtime music. (ca. 150 items)

P - S, Auto Cover/Non-Auto Lyrics, ca. 1900-1979:

Box 12

Folder

P, A - H
Q, How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm
R, I - M
S, N - Z

These sheets have illustrations or photographs of automobiles on the cover. However, the songs do not have an automobile theme. Most of the songs date from 1910 to 1929. One song, How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (music by Walter Donaldson, lyrics by Joe Young and Sam M. Lewis), is present in multiple copies, and is placed in a separate folder. The cover of this piece features a tractor. Other themes that appear frequently in the cover art are courtship, leisure, cities and towns, nightlife, and the automobile as a sign of personal wealth. (ca. 140 items)

T, Automobile Safety Songs, ca. 1920-1959:

Most of these songs are directed to children and all have the purpose of teaching automobile safety rules. (18 items)

Box 13

Folder

U, Ford, Henry, ca. 1910-1950:

One item is from the 1950s; the rest of the material is from the 1910s to the 1920s. Many pieces are dedicated to Henry Ford in response to his campaign to revive old-time folk dancing and square-dancing. One folio is a collection of fiddle tunes by Mellie Dunham, a New England country fiddler made famous by Mr. Ford. Most of the other songs are about him as a manufacturer and a political figure. (15 items)

V, Ford Jitney, ca. 1900-1929:

The Jitney was a small bus. Most of the songs are from 1915. (23 items)

W - Y, Ford Automobiles, ca. 1900-1979:

Folder

W, A - I
X, J - P
Y, R - Z

Most items date from 1910s to the 1930s. Most covers feature illustrations or photographs of Fords; many songs disparage the quality of Fords. (ca. 110 items)

Box 14

Folders

Z, Chevrolet, ca. 1920-1980:

In addition to songs about Chevrolets, there are covers that feature a Chevrolet (although the song does not), tunes from Chevrolet radio programs, and Chevrolet advertising songs. Also included is one song folio published by Chevrolet for family singing in the car. (14 items)

AABuick, 1909-1951:

All songs are about Buick cars; one song is about racing. There is advertising material on the back of the sheets. (4 items)

BB, Cadillac, ca. 1915-1979:

One item is from 1915, the rest of the material dates from the 1950s to the 1970s. (7 items)

CC, In My Merry Oldsmobile, 1905:

This folder has nine editions (many later editions) of the song by Gus Edwards (music) and Vincent Bryan (lyrics). (9 items)

DD, Automobiles, Foreign Imprints, ca. 1900-1939:

Nine of the 11 items in this folder are from Germany; the other two are from Cuba and Argentina. (11 items)

EE, Trailers and Mobile Homes, ca. 1930-1979:

The folder includes professional copy (no cover illustrations) and two song folios. Nine items are from the 1930s, two from the 1940s and one from the 1970s. (12 items)

FF, Buses, ca. 1910-1981:

Most of the music is from the 1940s to the 1960s. See also 1.2, folder V for Jitney buses. (35 items)

GG, Trucks and Truck Drivers, ca. 1940-1980: (37 items)

Box 15

Folder

HH, Ambulances, 1915-1919:

Three of the items in this folder have a military theme. All date from World War I and include depictions of women nurses and medical sciences. (4 items)

II, Jeep Automobiles, ca. 1920-1959:

Almost all of the sheets date from World War II. Most of the songs and/or covers have a military theme. (33 items)

JJ, Taxicabs, ca. 1900-1980:

Both songs about and cover illustrations of taxicabs and cab drivers are included here. (39 items)

KK, Jalopies, ca. 1940-1979:

Song lyrics use the word "jalopies" or "jalops." Many of the sheets are piano teaching aids. (12 items)

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