Songbooks Collection, 1794-
Call number: MG-149
2 boxes 14 folders .5 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 4
Description: Contains printed music, school songbooks, and manuscript songbooks. Many of the school songbooks were compiled by J. P. McCaskey or E. Oram Lyte. Of special interest are the manuscript songbooks which contain songs/hymns in English and German. Selections in this collection include patriotic, Christmas, nursery, home, religious, love, and military songs.
Creator: LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.); Lancaster County Historical Society (Pa.)
Conditions for Access: No restrictions.
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Language: English, German
Source of Acquisition: Items were collected by the Lancaster County Historical Society, unless source is otherwise noted at the item level.
Box 1
Folder 1 Song Books Compiled by E. Oram Lyte
The School Bell: 150 Songs and Hymns Adapted to the Use of Schools with a Course of Graded Exercises for Public Schools, by E. Oram Lyte. Manor Publishing Co., Lancaster. 1892. From L. B. Herr, bookseller, Lancaster. 144 songs, 100 exercises.
Insert 1 The Song Hour for Institutes and Schools, by E. Oram Lyte. Manor Publishing Co., Lancaster. 1899. From L. B. Herr, bookseller, Lancaster. 34 songs. Handwritten on cover is “Robt. E. Simpson.”
Insert 2 The School Songnal for Institutes and Schools, by E. O. Lyte. Manor Publishing Co., Lancaster. 1904. 70 songs.
Folder 2 School Song Annual
Insert 1 School Song Annual, No. 2 for Schools and Institutes, by E. O. Lyte. L. B. Herr, General Agent, Lancaster. 1886. 30 songs. Handwritten on the cover this booklet is “Dillerville School, Lancaster” and “Lillie M. Foultz, Dillerville, Lancaster Co., Pa.”
Insert 2 Four poems (songs): “No Never Can Thy Home Be Mine,” “Don’t Be Angry Mother,” and “Mountaineer’s Farewell.” No date. This sheet was tucked into the School Song Annual.
Folder 3 Come Again and Flag of the Free
“Come Again”: Selection of Songs for Institutes and Schools, Brief Elements of Music, Twelve Responsive Readings. [Compiled by J. P. McCaskey.] Pennsylvania School Journal Print, Lancaster. No date. 116 pages.
Insert 1 “Flag of the Free,” No. 1; 125 Best Songs: National Songs, Home Songs, Heart Songs, Sacred Songs, Christmas Songs, Nursery Songs. [Compiled by J. P. McCaskey.] 96 pages.
Folder 4 Songs of Days
Songs of Days: Selection of Songs for Lancaster City Schools: National Songs, Decoration Day, Arbor Day and Christmas Songs. Pennsylvania School Journal Print, Lancaster. No date. 98 pages.
Songs of Days: Selection of Songs for Institutes and Schools: National Songs, Decoration Day, Arbor Day and Christmas Songs; Brief Elements of Music, Twelve Responsive Readings. [Compiled by J. P. McCaskey.] Pennsylvania School Journal Print, Lancaster. No date. 128 pages.
Folder 5 Franklin Square Song Collection
Franklin Square Song Collection: Two Hundred Favorite Songs and Hymns for Schools and Homes, Nursery and Fireside, No.2, selected by J. P. McCaskey. Harper & Brothers, New York. 1884. 176 pages, missing covers.
Franklin Square Song Collection: Two Hundred Favorite Songs and Hymns for Schools and Homes, Nursery and Fireside, No.3, selected by J. P. McCaskey. Harper & Brothers, New York. 1885. 176 pages.
Folder 6 Franklin Square Song Collection
Franklin Square Song Collection: Two Hundred Favorite Songs and Hymns for Schools and Homes, Nursery and Fireside, No.4, selected by J. P. McCaskey. Harper & Brothers, New York. 1887. 184 pages. Bookplate of the Boys’ High School, Lancaster. Inscribed “Pearl St Room No 7” and “Bertha L. Cochran 642 W. Chestnut St. Lancaster, Pa.”
Franklin Square Song Collection: Two Hundred Favorite Songs and Hymns for Schools and Homes, Nursery and Fireside, No.5, selected by J. P. McCaskey. Harper & Brothers, New York. 1888. 184 pages. Bookplate of the Boys’ High School. From L. B. Herr, bookseller, Lancaster.
Folder 7 Franklin Square Song Collection
Franklin Square Song Collection: Two Hundred Favorite Songs and Hymns for Schools and Homes, Nursery and Fireside, No.7, selected by J. P. McCaskey. Harper & Brothers, New York. 1891. 182 pages. Covers are missing.
Insert 1 Songs clipped from Normal Instructor (before 1902): “Salute March,” “Song of May Queen,” “Sea-Saw Song,” “Autumn’s Return,” “Boy Scouts of America,” “Shoemaker’s Song,” “Little Miss June,” “Sunbeams and Dewdrops,” “April,” “Robin’s Song,” and “My Handsome, Little Soldier Boy.”
Folder 8 Teachers’ Institute Song Books
Insert 1 Selection of Songs for Use of the Teachers’ Institute of Lancaster County. J. R. Wallick, A. B. Kreider, and I. N. Sloan, Committee on Music. Pennsylvania School Journal Print, Lancaster. 1889. Pagination from original sources.
Insert 2 Selection of Songs for the Use of the Teachers’ Institute of Lancaster County. M. J. Brecht, County Superintendent, and Carl Matz, Instructor in Music. Pennsylvania School Journal Print, Lancaster. 1890. Pagination from original sources.
Insert 3 Selection of Songs for Use of the Teachers’ Institute of Lancaster County. M. J. Brecht, County Superintendent, and Carl Matz, Instructor in Music. Pennsylvania School Journal Print, Lancaster. 1891. Pagination from original sources.
Folder 9 A manuscript songbook with beautifully handwritten songs, mostly lyrics but some with music. Some in English and others in German. Table of contents. 274 pages. [ca.1794].
Folder 10
Insert 1 Pamphlet with four songs: “A Plantation Medley of ‘Southern Airs’,” “Love-thoughts,” “Excelsior,” and “The Colonial.” DeLuxe Music Co. 1908.
Insert 2 Weihnachts Lieder. (Christmas Songs) Copy of an 1891 manuscript song book. (transferred from the Christmas Traditions Information File)
Folder 11 Choice Collection of Popular Songs. Compliments of Sherwood & Bushong, 47 West King Street, Lancaster. No date. Gift of Nancy L. Gingrich, 21 May 2010.
Box 2
Folder 12 Manuscript [hymn] book compiled by Casper Fordney. Music with lyrics in German. Front cover is separated; loose pages. No date. Casper Fordney was a member of Trinity Church, Lancaster. Gift of Michael Abel, 26 August 2014.
Folder 13 Manuscript [hymn] book compiled by Casper Fordney. Music with lyrics in German. No date. Gift of Michael Abel, 26 August 2014.
Newspaper article by Gerald S. Lestz regarding the find of a hand-decorated songbook once owned by John Good. Found between pages 41-42. No date.
Folder 14 Manuscript [hymn] book compiled by Johannes Hamscher. Music with lyrics in German and English. One loose page that doesn’t seem to be from this volume. Johannes Hamscher was a member of Trinity Church, Lancaster. No date. Gift of Michael Abel, 26 August 2014.