The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-09-13
AUTHORSHIP OF DIXIE"
The State Librarian of Ohio Conclu-
sively Establishes That Daniel
Emmett Composed the Pop
ular Song.

a claim was set up tor another person
in the Baltimore Sun, as being the
author Of the popular song "DiNie.' y
In the appended communication to
the Sun by Mr.. c. B. Galbreath, the
state librabian Of Ohio, conclusive ev-
idence is brought forward proving
that it's author was Nh. Emmett.
Office of the state librarian of Ohio,
Columbus, O., July 23, 1904.
To the Editors of the Baltimore Sun:
Through the kindness of friend,
a copy of the Sun OF July 18th is be-
fore me, containing a communication
under caption, The Author OF
Dixie Permit me to say that
among those acquainted with the late
Daniel D. Emmett and dislnterested
parties who visited him when he was
living, there>is absolutely no question
in regard to the authorship OF the
famous war song OF the south.
Your correspondent claims that
honor for an Arkansan by the name
OF Harry Mccarthy who, it is stated,
published the words on his bills when
ne was travelling with bird and MIN
strel show through the south III 1862.
It is also averred that while Mccarthy
lived. or to be more specific, till 1874,
no one thought Of questioning his au-
shorShip of the song. These are
sweeping assertions, but details are
conspicuously absent and little effort
is made to substantiate the claim here
boldly set forth. Unfortunately for
your correspondent, his assertions run
counter to facts and the records OF
the copyright Office at Washington.
The original '<Dixie" was composed
by Daniel D. Emmett in 1859. This
is not only proven by his own state
rnent. in which detailed account OF
the circumstances under which it was
written is given, including the place
where it was first sung, but it is also
substantiated by the testimony OF
numerous contemporaries, including
the Bryant Brothers, through the
later ffties and earlier sixties, pro-
-orietors Of The Bryant Minstrels, for
whom the song was first written and
under whose auspices it was present.
ed to the public.
The song was first published IN
New York, under the title, l wish
! was in Dixie Land AS | write |
have before nle a piece OF sheet
music with the imprint of Firth, Pond
& Co., 5A Broadway, New York.
bearing this title and the copyright
date of 1860
The song was afterward brought
ont under the title "Dixie Land by
VIM. 4. Pond & Co., successors OF
Firth, Pond & Co., as stated by I'm
NETT and substantated by another
copyright piece of music on my desk'
bearing date OF 1865. Under this
title the words and music have been
publish to this day.
The present publishers are Oliver
Ditson & Co., OF $50 fremont street,
Boston. The song MAJ be had
through any music dealer. 1t has
borne Emmett's name for forty-four
wears. as will be shown by the records
of the copyright Office. the publish
.ers. and music dealers throughout
the United States.
In the autumn and winter OF 1895,
Emmett travelled through the south
with the Al. G. Fields Ministries and
was everywhere recognized as the
author of Dixie. AS such he was in
troduced to large audience in Nash
Vile. by the late General John B.
Gordon, who declared that he was
without question entitled to that dis
tinction. As such he was honored
with a; reception by the daughter OF
'Thos. F. Bayard, ex-secretary OF state
and ambassador OF England. Here
was great opportunity for the
friends of Mr.. Mccarthy to put forth
their claim while Emmett was living
and able to speak for himself. After