Musical Composers of Lancaster County Collection, 1869-1950
Call Number: MG-99
1 box 12 folders 1 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory (Organization); PV7
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 3
Scope and Content Note: Collection includes sheet music written by local composers and information on S. Becker von Grabill, composer and pianoforte teacher, and James L. Knipe of Aston, Knipe & Mccarthy. Also includes arrangements for the violin by other composers.
Creator: LancasterHistory (Organization)
Conditions for Access: No restrictions.
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Language: English
Source of Acquisition: Compositions by S. Becker von Grabill were donated in 1988. Source unknown for other items, unless noted at the item level.
Custodial History (Provenance): The items in Folder 12 were transferred from Document Collection, November 2017.
Accruals: Accruals are expected.
Preferred Citation: Musical Composers of Lancaster County Collection (MG-99), Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pa.
Processing History: Processed and finding aid prepared in 1998; revised. This collection has been documented, preserved and managed according to professional museum and archives standards. The finding aid was updated using DACS conventions.
Folder 1 S. Becker von Grabill, Master Pianoforte Teacher, Studio at 39 W. Orange St., Lancaster, Pa. Studio also at 440 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster, Pa.
Three original compositions, “Liebestraum,” “Barcarolle,” and “Impromptu in E Flat” by S. Becker von Grabill.
Photographs, resumes, obituary.
Folder 2 Musical compositions for violin and pianoforte. Julius E. Mueller, A. P. Wyman, Prof. Carl Thornbann.
Folder 3 Certificate of Membership. City Band of Lancaster, PA. Abner Springer, 1873.
Folder 4 Sheet Music. “Lancaster German Waltz,” dedicated to John Wind.
“Lancaster Waltz,” composed by F. F. Hagen.
Folder 5 Sheet Music. “Sleigh Bell Polka,” by W. H. Keffer, 1853.
Folder 6 Sheet Music. “Lancaster Theme & Gratitude Theme,” by H. A. Sykes, 1929.
Folder 7 “Jim” Knipe Wins Fame as Berlin of Industry,” The Sunday News. Lancaster. 4 November 1928. Gift of James L. Knipe.
Folder 8 Sheet music. “Absent One,” (the new radio song). Words by J. Clarence McCarthy, Music by James L. Knipe. Written for use on the Armstrong Radio Program on the “Blue Network.” 1928. (2 copies) Gift of James L. Knipe.
Folder 9 Sheet Music Published by Aston, Knipe & McCarthy. Gift of James L. Knipe.
“Slumbertime Baby,” lyric by J. Clarence McCarthy, music by James L. Knipe.
Written for use on the Armstrong Radio Program on the “Blue Network.” “We’ll Never Part,” lyric by J. Clarence McCarthy, music by James L. Knipe. “When I Have You,” by James L. Knipe. 1929. (2 copies)
“A Little Bit of This – A Little Bit of That,” by James L. Knipe. “We’ll Never Part,” lyric by J. Clarence McCarthy, music by James L. Knipe. “When I Have You,” by James L. Knipe. 1929. (3 copies)
“When I Have You,” by James L. Knipe. “A Little Bit of This – A Little Bit of That,” by James L. Knipe. Written for the 1929 recital of Miss Billee’s Studio of Dancing. 1929. (3 copies)
Folder 10 Song & Dance Folio with Words and Music. Published by Aston and Knipe, Lancaster. Words and music by James L. Knipe, I. Earle Aston and J. Clarence McCarthy. “Can’t You Guess Who?”, “San Toy,” “They’re Cuckoo (They’re all Members of the Cuckoo Clan),” Best of All” Waltz Ballad, “When I Fell in Love with You,” Slumbertime Baby.” Written for the 1928 recital of Miss Billee’s Studio of Dancing. 1928. (2 copies) Gift of James L. Knipe.
Folder 11 “College Life,” Grand Waltz for the Piano. Composed by John B. Hammer at the age of sixteen. Published by H. T. Clauder, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 1874.
Folder 12 All material transferred from Document Collection, November 2017.
Material relating to S. Becker von Grabill, including an envelope addressed to Mrs. J.W. August, 3 pamphlets advertising music lessons and offering biographical information, and an oversize book of sheet music containing an aria transcribed by von Grabill.
3 photos (two dated 1894 and one from 1896). Transferred to Photograph Collection, November 2017.