These small booklets, pocket-size or larger, contain lyrics of popular songs or hymns of the 19 th and 20 th centuries without music notation. Included in the songsters are topical or political songs, minstrel songs, collections associated with specific entertainers, and songsters published to advertise common products. The collections included more than 2000 items, most from the Kenneth S. Goldstein Collection of American Songsters. Instrumental music books. This group consists largely of 18th and 19th century collections of tunes arranged for specific instruments, with flute, fiddle and guitar being the most common.
Some examples are instructional.
Both singing school texts and volumes for regular school music instruction are included. Special collection songbooks must be retrieved by staff for use in the reading room. Researchers who are not able to visit the Center in person may make inquiries by telephone, letter or e-mail. Research assistance and photocopying services are available. Please see our fee schedule for information.