COLLECTION OF NEGRO MINSTREL MUSIC AND SONGS:

An Inventory of Sheet Music at the Minnesota Historical Society

Music, Notated

OVERVIEW


	Title:	Collection of negro minstrel music and songs.
	Dates:	1840-1918.
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	This collection primarily contains sheet music involving black minstrelsy, an indigenous cultural form immensely popular in the United States from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century. The 55 scores in this collection range from the 1840s to 1918 and contain a rich mixture of imagery and language depicting racial stereotypes and parody.
	Quantity:	55 scores.
	Location:	Folio M1365.C6

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item here.] Collection of Negro Minstrel Music and Songs. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Franz Young, November 2010.

Catalog ID number: 001669508

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

BARRETT, JOS., H.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Alabama hop : rag time march and two-step / composed by Jos. H. Barrett. Boston : Oliver Ditson, 1901. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: mimeographed copy

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BELLAM, WAL.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Mammy's little coal black coon / words and music by Wal. Bellam. Minneapolis, Minnesota : Joseph E. Frank, 1903. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: De moon am high, de stars dey shine, way down in Alabama

First line of chorus: Hushabye go to sleep ma baby, Mammy's little coal black boy

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BENNETT, THERON, C.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Satisfied : an emotional drag / by Theron C. Bennett. Chicago : Victor Kremer Co., 1904. 1 score (5 pages).

Dedicatee: Rosenfeld, Monroe H.

First line of text: I'm satisfied, I'm satisfied, I've got my baby by my side

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by Victor Kremer Co.

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BLAND, JAMES, A.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

In the morning by the bright light / words and music by James A. Bland. Boston : John F. Perry & Co (13 West St.), 1879. 1 score ([5] pages).

Dedicatee: McClellan, Billy.

First line of text: I'm gwine away by the light of the moon, want all the children for to follow me

First line of chorus: In the morning, morning by the bright light, hear Gabriel's trumpet in the morning

Note: as performed by Harrigan & Hart

Note: includes advertisement on back for The tune the old cow died on / words by George Russell Jackson ; music by Eastburn. Published by John F. Perry & Co.

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BRISTOW, GEORGE, F.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

The celebrated air Zip Coon with brilliant variations / composed for the piano forte by Geo. F. Bristow. New York : Firth & Hall (1 Franklin Sq.), 1840. 1 score (7 pages).

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BURKE, ANDY, L.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

A rag-time joke : march & two-stop / by Andy L. Burke. Chicago : Will Rossiter, 1907. 1 score (5 pages).

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CANNON, HUGHEY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Just because she made dem goo-goo eyes / words by John Queen ; music by Hughey Cannon. New York : Howey, Haviland & Co., 1900. 1 score ([3] pages)

First line of text: A black man in a minstrel show, was sitting on the end

First line of chorus: Jut because she made them goo-goo eyes, I thought I'd won a home and copp'd a prize

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CHASE, A. G.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Sweet thoughts of thee : song and chorus / words by A.G. Chase ; music by Paul Barrett. Cincinatti, Ohio : J.J. Dobmeyer & Co., 1867. 1 score (5 pages).

Dedicatee: Burns, Louisa.

First line of text: Alone within my room I sit, while stars are brightly gleaming

First line of chorus: I love them well, I love them, sweet thoughts, sweet thoughts of thee

Series title: Harry Norman's vocal album

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by J.J. Dobmeyer & Co.

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CHRISTY, E. P.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Julius' bride / E.P. Christy. New York : William Vanderbeek (479 Broadway), 1848. 1 score (6 pages).

First line of text: When I liv'd way down in ole Virginia I bought a culored gal for a guinea

First line of chorus: Den I warn all you darkies not to lub her

Note: as sung by Geo. F. Christy

Series title: Ethiopian melodies

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CLIFTON, HARRY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Polly Perkins of Pemberton Green / Harry Clifton. Boston : Henry Tolman & Co. (291 Washington Street), [n.d.]. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: I'm a broken-hearted milkman, in grief I'm arrayed

First line of chorus: Beautiful as a butterfly, and as proud as a queen

Note: Buckley's comic songs as sung by R. Bishop Buckley of Buckley's Serenaders

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CLIFTON, WILLIAM.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

De Lousianna belle / William Clifton. New York : Atwill (301 Broadway), 1848. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Oh, Lousianna's de same ole state, Whar massa us'd to dwell

First line of chorus: Oh, Belle, don't you tell, don’t tell massa, don’t you Belle

Series title: The Christy's, and other minstrels, favorite melodies: written composed & arranged with Accompaniment for the Piano Forte

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COOKE, S., GIBSON.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Charcoal : a study in black (characteristic march) / by S. Gibson Cooke. Boston : G. W. Setchell, 1903. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by G. W. Setchell.

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COPELAND, LES.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

The invitation rag / by Les Copeland. New York : Jerome H. Remick and Co., 1911. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: as played by Les Copeland at each performance of Lew Dockstader's Minstrels

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Variations on the favorite Negro melody Rosa Lee or "Don't be foolish Joe" / Composed and respectfully dedicated to Miss Catharine Walden (of Buffalo N.Y.) by W.R. Coppock. New York : William Hall & son (239 Broadway.), 1848. 1 score (9 pages).

Dedicatee: Walden, Catherine.

Note: 4 variations

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DYER, S. O.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

The dark sett : the celebrated Negro quadrilles as played by the quadrille bands / arranged for the piano forte, by S.O. Dyer. New York : Firth, Pond & Co. (1 Franklin Sq.), 1848. 5 scores (7 pages).

Contents: Mary Blane.-- Old Joe.-- Carry me back.-- Stop that knocking.-- Darkeys polka

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EMMET, DAN., D.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

I wish I was in Dixie's land / written and composed expressly for Bryant's Minstrels by Dan. D. Emmet ; arranged for pianoforte by W.L. Hobbs. New York : Firth, Pond & Co. (547 Broadway), 1860 1 score ([5] pages).

First line of text: I wish I lived in the land of cotton, old times dar am not forgotten

First line of chorus: Den I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! Hooray! In Dixie Land I'll take my stand

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by Firth, Pond, & Co.

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EPLER, D.A.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Ash-cake shuffle: a characteristic march and two step / by D.A. Epler New York : Bergé Music Company (525 sixth ave), 1899. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on pages [ 7 and 8] for music published by B.F.Wood Music Co.

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FITZ, ALB., H.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

My mammy's lullaby / words and music by Alb. H. Fitz. Minneapolis , Minnesota : A.H. Fitz Music Co., 1895. 1 score (4 pages).

First line of text: When I was a little picaninny, down whar de little niggars grow

First line of chorus: Rock a baby bye, hush chile don't you cry, Mammy's gwine to sing you now to sleep

Note: as sung by the talented little New York soubrette Marguerite Ferguson

Note: arranged by Jno. T. Hall

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FORNEY, H.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Money's Tight / words by J. Simmons ; music by H. Forney. Cincinatti, Ohio : W.C. Peters & Sons, 1854. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Just to have a little time; no my dear my charming honey, lots of love but not a dime

First line of chorus: Awful, awful, awful tight, money now is awful tight

Series title: Wells' selection of Ethiopian melodies as sung by Wells' Minstrels

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GROBE, CHARLES.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Dixie's land: with brilliant variations / by Charles Grobe. New York : Firth, Pond & Co. (547 Broadway), 1860. 1 score (9 pages).

Dedicatee: Houston, Jenie W.

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GROFF, IDA.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Five little coons / words & music by Ida Groff. St. Paul, Minnesota : [s.n.], 1895. 1 score (4 pages).

First line of text: Five little niggers in a cornfield sat, singing, singing

First line of chorus: Don't you hear dem bells a-ringin', don't youhear dem coons a-singin'

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HAYS, WILL, S.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

The little old cabin in the lane / words & music by Will S. Hays. New York : J. Peters (843 Broadway), 1871. 1 score (5 pages).

Dedicatee: Cowan, Geo. J.

First line of text: I'm getting old and feeble now, I cannot work no more

First line of chorus: De chimney's falling down, and de roof is cavin' in

Note: as sung by Manning's Minstrels

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HELF, J., FRED.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Lord! have mercy on a married man / words by Edgar Leslie ; music by J. Fred. Helf. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1911. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Gen'ral Sherman once remarked that "war was well," the word I want to use is not so hard to spell

First line of chorus: Wedding bells, sweet wedding bells, never harmonize with baby yells

Note: Lew Dockstader's gigantic comic song success

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HERMANN, ANDREW.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Cocoanut dance : characteristic piece for the pianoforte / composed by Andrew Hermann. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1891. 1 score (7 pages).

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HOLZMANN, A.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Smoky mokes : cakewalk and two-step / composed by A. Holzmann. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1899. 1 score (5 pages).

Dedicatee: Rosenfeld, Monroe

Note: includes advertisement on pages [6, 7, and 8] for music published by Frist and Frankenthaler.

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HOLZMANN, ABE.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Bunch o'blackberries : cake walk and two step / composed by Abe Holzmann. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1899. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on pages [6, 7, and 8] for music published by Frist and Frankenthaler

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HORN, EVEN.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Fi hi hi: the black shakers song & polka / written & composed by Even Horn of Fellows Ethiopean Troupe New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1851. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Bress dat lubly yallar gal, de white flks call miss Dinah

First line of chorus: Fi hi hi lum I dum didle lum, fi hi hi ri tiddle lum I dum fi hi hi

note: originally performed by Fellows Minstrels

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HUNTER, CHAS.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Tickled to death : ragtime march and two step / by Chas. Hunter. Nashville, Tennessee : J. Fred Helf Company, 1899. 1 score (5 pages).

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HUTCHINSON, ED., F.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Nelly Clyde / composed by Ed. F. Hutchinson. Buffalo, New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1855. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Where I did dwell in Tennessee, I lov'd a gal right well

First line of chorus: Oh! My sweet Nelly Clyde, my poor Nelly Clude! What comfort I had tak'n, when you were by my side

Note: Ethopian melody sung by Kunkel's Nightingale Opera Troupe

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JOHNSON, CHAS., L.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

A black smoke : dance characteristic and two step / by Chas. L. Johnson. Kansas City, Missouri : J. Fred Helf Company, 1902. 1 score (6 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by Carl Hoffman Music Co.

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JOHNSON, CHAS., L.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Ma pickaninny babe / by Chas. L. Johnson. Chicago : J. Fred Helf Company, 1913. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Come, ma pickaninny babe, it's time to go to bed

First line of chorus: Go to sleep, ma pickaninny babe, Mammy's got her arms around you

Note: includes advertisement on back page for Sing rock-a-bye baby to me / words by Mae Kilpatrick ; music by Webb Long. Published by Forster

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KENDIS AND PALEY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Sympathy : a coon plant / by Kendis & Paley. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1905. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Hard, hard luck, well I guess that I have had my share, fortune smiles but she just gives me the icy stare

First line of chorus: All I got was sympathy, but it ain't a bit of use you see

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LINCOLN, HARRY, J.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Rag-bag rag / by Harry J. Lincoln. Williamsport, Pennsylvania : J. Fred Helf Company, 1909. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on back page for music published by Vandersloot Music Publishing Co .

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MAYWOOD, GEORGE.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Ambolena Snow : an Afro-American military ballad / words by Lester Bodine ; music by Geo. Maywood. Chicago : J. Fred Helf Company, 1896. 1 score ([5] pages).

Dedicatee: Leachman, Silas.

First line of text: You really ought to know Miss Ambolena Snow, a girl of pedigree, as dark as she can be

First line of chorus: Oh, Ambolena Snow, the boys all love her so

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by Brainard's Sons Co.

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MILLS, KERRY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Whistling Rufus : a characteristic march / by Kerry Mills. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1899. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on pages [6, 7, and 8] for music published by F.A. Mills

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MILLS, KERRY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

At a Georgia campmeeting : a characteristic march / by Kerry Mills. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1899. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on pages [6, 7, and 8] for other music

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NEWCOMB, BOBBY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Waiting for a Broadway stage / Bobby Newcomb. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1869 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: As up on Broadway I stroll'd one day, to see the styles pass by

First line of chorus: She was just about the girl that's all the rage, sweet sixteen was just her age

Series title: Bobby Newcomb's songs as sung by him with immense success at the San Francisco Minstrels

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O'BRIEN, ROBERT, J.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Rag pickers rag : two step / composed by Robt' J. O'Brien. Cincinatti, Ohio : J. Fred Helf Company, 1904. 1 score (5 pages).

Note: includes advertisement on back for other rag-time music

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O'CONNOR, LAWRENCE, B.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

The darkies' picnic cake walk / [by] Lawrence B. O'Connor. Boston : J. Fred Helf Company, 1899. 1 score (6 pages).

Dedicatee: Armstrong, Edna M., and West, Annie E.

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PERSLEY, GEO., W.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Slumber not darling: serenade / words written by Arthur W. French ; music composed by Geo. W. Persley. Philadelphia : J. Fred Helf Company, 1872. 1 score (5 pages).

Dedicatee: Galloway, John B.

First line of text: Slumber not darling, wake from your dreams

First line of chorus: Slumber not darling, all the long night, lingering ever out of my sight

Note: as sung by Mr. William Dwyer of Arlington Cottom & Kemble's Minstrels

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PETRI, JOHN, F.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Introduction and brilliant variations on the popular melody Old folks home / composed for the piano forte by John F. Petri New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1853. 1 score (18 pages).

Dedicatee: McKim, Mary Randolph.

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PRITCHARD, GEO., T.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

On de golden shore : Ethopian song and chorus / by Geo. T. Pritchard. [n.p.]J. Fred Helf Company, 1883. 1 score (5 pages).

Dedicatee: Graham, D.S.

First line of text: I'se travling back to ole Virginny shore, where I use to hunt de possum an de coon

First line of chorus: I'se coming, coming, yes, I'se coming, Is dere no one to meet me at de door?

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ROSE AND SNYDER

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Nothin' from nothin' leaves you / by Rose & Snyder. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1905. 1 score (6 pages).

First line of text: You, Garfield Lee, listen to me, there ain't no use talkin, man we can't agree

First line of chorus: You walk like nothin' and you talk like nothin'

Note: includes advertisement on back for Geo. M. Cohan's Comedies

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SCHWARTZ, JEAN.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Farewell Mister Abner Hemingway / words by William Jerome ; music by Jean Schwartz. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1905. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Abner Hemingway, a word with you, before I say my last adieu

First line of chorus: So farewell, Mister Abner Hemingway, I'm gwine quit this domicile today

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SLOOP, FRED.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Buckwheat Cakes / [by] Fred Sloop & Tell Taylor. Chicago : J. Fred Helf Company, 1911. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Ebenezer Wilson was an epicure, and a very funny one was he

First line of chorus: Buckwheat cakes cookin' on the griddle

Note: includes advertisement on back page for music published by Tell Taylor

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STARR, HATTIE.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Little Alabama Coon / words and music by Hattie Starr. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1893. 1 score (7 pages).

First line of text: I's a little Alabama coon, and I hasn't been born very long

First line of chorus: Go to sleep, my little picaninny, Brer' Fox'll catch you if yo' don't

Note: as sung by Miss Frankie M. Raymond in "Aladdin, Jr." a tale of a wonderful lamp, as presented by Henderson's American Extravaganza

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by Willis Woodward & Co.

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SULLIVAN, ALEX.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

At the coffee cooler's tea : a novelty jazz song / by Alex Sullivan and Harry De Costa. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1918. 1 score (3 pages).

First line of text: Ma honey we're invited, yo s mighty swell affair

First line of chorus: At your door I'll be 'bout half past three, so be ready hon' to go with me

Note: includes advertisement on back page for My rosary for you / composed by Ernest R. Ball ; words by Ashmore Clarke. published by Whitmark & Sons

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TEMPLETON, FAY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

I want yer, ma honey : an Ethiopian oddity / words and music by Fay Templeton London : J. Fred Helf Company, 1895. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: When de banjo's a-strummin' and de darkies a-hummin', I want yer, ma honey, yes, I do

First line of chorus: I want yer, ma honey, yes, I want yer mighty badly

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by T.B. Harms & Co.

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TREVATHAN, CHARLES, E.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

May Irwin's Bully song / words and music by Charles E. Trevathan. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1896. 1 score (4 pages).

First line of text: Have yo' heard about dat bully dat's just come to town

First line of chorus: When I walk dat levee round, round, round, round

Note: as sung with great success in the "Widow Jones"

Note: supplement to The Journal, April 12, 1896

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VAAS, A. J.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

I dream of home / music by A.J. Vaas. Baltimore, Maryland : J. Fred Helf Company, 1855. 1 score (5 pages).

Dedicatee: Murphy, Mrs. Joseph.

First line of text: I dream of my home, happy home of my child-hood

First line of chorus: Father, of you, Mother, of you, Sisters Brothers all I dream of you

Note: written expressly for Wood and Christys Minstrels

Note: includes advertisement on back for music published by Henry McCaffrey

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VON TILZER, HARRY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Abraham Jefferson Washington Lee (You ain't gonna pick no fuss out of me) / words by Andrew B. Sterling ; music by Harry Von Tilzer. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1906. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Look here let me ask you something Mr. Lee, what you mean by always finding fault with me

Note: missing pages 3 and 4

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WENRICH, PERCY.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Chestnuts / by Percy Wenrich. Chicago : J. Fred Helf Company, 1906. 1 score (5 pages).

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WHITING, RICHARD, A.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

They made it twice as nice as paradise and they called it Dixieland / lyric by Raymond Egan ; music by Richard A. Whiting. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1916. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: I used to have a dear old Mammy,in the days of old Black Joe

First line of chorus: They built a little garden for the rose and they called it Dixieland

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WILLIAMS, BERT, A.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Nobody / words by Alex Rogers ; music by Bert A. Williams New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1905. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: When life seems full of clouds and rain, and I am filled with naught but pain

First line of chorus: I ain't never done nothin' to nobody, I ain't never got nothin' from nobody, no time

Note: includes advertisement on back page for music published by Gotham-Attucks Music Co.

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WYNN, ED.

Location

Folio M1365.C6

I'm gonna get myself a black Salome / words by Stanley Murphy ; music by Ed. Wynn. New York : J. Fred Helf Company, 1908. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: Big Bill Jefferson a railroad man

First line of chorus: I'm going to get myself a black "Salomee," a Hootchie Kootchie dancer from Dahomey

Note: includes advertisement on back page for music published by Shapiro Music Publisher

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TRADITIONAL

Location

Folio M1365.C6

Root, hog, or die. Boston : J. Fred Helf Company, 1856. 1 score (5 pages).

First line of text: I'm right from old Virginny wid my pocket full ob news

First line of chorus: I'm chief cook and bottle-washer, cap'n ob de waiters

Note: song and chorus as sung by Ordway's Æolians

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CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: African Americans -- Songs and music.

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