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Lee Schreiner Sheet Music Collection

Lee Schreiner donated a large portion of his sheet music collection--several thousand pieces--to Rare Books and Special Collections in 2014. Music in the collection covers much of the early 20th century, with coverage especially strong during World War I (1914-1918). Because most Americans either had access to pianos or watched performers at music halls, sheet music is an ideal medium for studying popular and visual culture. Pieces in the collection reflect popular opinion about the war, as well as the changing status of women and minorities. The first phase to digitize the Schreiner collection concluded in 2017 to coincide with the centennial of World War I, with future plans to digitize more of the collection later in the year.

Browse by first line of chorus | first line of lyrics | cover illustration

Glory of womanhood
by Harry J. Lincoln., piano, Title from cover., Waltz for piano., "To the womanhood of all nations.", Young woman with short hair wearing a light blue outfit, a white apron and hat / Starmer., Staff notation.
Flying colors
by Will Wood., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., Silhouette of a parade of victorious soldiers waving their hats or flags as they march along under a string of banners that hang blowing in the wind. Their commanding officer rides on a horse., Staff notation.
For America and you
words & music by N.J. Clesi., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Nurse standing with her arms spread open in a gesture of welcoming. She is wearing a white apron, white hat with a red cross and white arm band with a red cross. The background is formed by the red and white stripes of the American flag., Get ready to fight., Soldier boy don't leave without me., Staff notation.
The boys from the United States
words and music by Joe Greenfield., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Regiment of soldiers marching across an open field. Inset photo of Joe Greenfield(?), Germany in this war you have pushed us., For to uphold the honor of the good old Stars and Stripes., Staff notation.
Going over
composed by John L. Rogers., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Troops transporting over to their ship, on their way to war., Our Uncle Sam has drawn his sword to make this old world free., We're going, we're going, we're going right on over., Staff notation.
Back to the U.S.A.
words by Florian Olbrich ; music by Robert VanSickle., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., I've traveled 'cross the country., Back to the good old U.S.A. for me., Staff notation.
Don't let your foot slip, Hiram
words and music by Norma Gregg., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Young man carrying a carpet bag steps out of a circle with one larger than life oversized foot. The heads of four women with various expressions wearing hats line the top of the circle / Goddard., Hiram packed his old tin trunk., Look out for the girl with the twinkle in her eye., Staff notation.
Somewhere 'long the Rio Grande
words and music by Geo. H. Savery ; arranged by Fred W. Clement., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., "Dedicated to the defenders of the border U.S.A."--Cover., Inset photo with caption: "Photo. of Camp Pershing. Taken at Columbus, N.M. 1916.", Some where long the Rio Grande., Come back soldier boy., Staff notation.
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the U.S.A.
by Geo. B. Mann., piano, voice, Title from cover., March song for voice and piano., Uncle Sam is looking up at the Statue of Liberty. He is surrounded by the portraits of four presidents: Grant, Wilson, Washington and Lincoln., When Yankee Doodle came to town a riding on his pony., Hurrah! Hurrah for the U.S.A., Staff notation.
Home again
words and music by Will J. White ; arranged by Jules Brazil., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano, with alternate version of chorus for mixed or male quartette (page 4), Canadian soldier lights a cigarette, with inset photograph of White / by Lou Skuce., Sailing sailing over the bounding foam, ev'ry lad aboard the boat is sailing for home sweet home., Home again, home again, that's the song we love to sing., Staff notation.
Hello America, hello
words and music by Geo. Fairman., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Statue of Liberty with the Manhattan skyline in the background with the moon in the sky / Barbelle., At a wireless telephone., Hello America, hello., Staff notation.
Hail to America
instrumental and vocal by Fred K. Huffer., piano, voice, Title from cover., NIU Copy: Original imprint covered by label: on label, Educational Music Bureau, School Music of all Publishers, Steinway Hall Bldg., Chicago., March for voice and piano., Staff notation., America, we greet you with a glad smile., Hail to America! 'Tis the cradle of Liberty.
Happy Sammies
by Leo Delval., piano, Title from cover., For piano., Photograph of the Jazarimba Orchestra against a background of a drawing of soldiers, in silhouette, waving hats and hands / Starmer., "Columbia record A-2482"--Cover., Staff notation.
We're on our way to meet you, General Pershing
by Geo. Merle., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., The Blue Star Mothers Service Flag., We're very glad, yes very glad., We're on our way, yes on our way., Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site., Staff notation.
Ev'ry time she hears the band play
by James W. Casey., piano, voice, "Sample copy.", Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Older woman seated in an armchair wearing a shaw and apron, holding a basket of mending in her lap and photograph of a soldier. On the table next to her are books and scissors. Inset photo of soldiers in parade going down the street of a large city., They marched away with flags a-flying., Ev'ry time she hears the band play., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Farewell Mother
lyric by Ray Gibbons ; music by Thos. J. Flanagan., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Soldier saying goodby to his mother at the picket fence gate; a ghostly image of another soldier taps the first on the soldier. A red flag with two blue stars on a white field flies at the corner of the house / Starmer., Mother dear, I must be leaving., Farewell, Mother, I hate to say good-bye to you., NIU copy., Staff notation.
"Everybody's happy now"
by Kendis, Brockman & Vincent., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Victory parade, with men, women, soldiers and musicians; participants carry signs "Democracy", "Spirit of the U.S.A.", "Freedom" and "Liberty." With inset portrait of Wellington Cross with caption: "Introduced with great success by Wellington Cross.", Oh what welcome news., Ev'rybody's happy., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Father will be with us soon
words by Major H.H. Skerrett, Jr. ; music by Ballard MacDonald and Nat. Osborne., piano, voice, From the musical Atta Boy., Title from caption., Waltz for voice and piano., Soldier standing at attention with two adoring daughters looking up at him, one on his left and one on his right / Barbelle., Johnny my boy, you're my pride and my joy., But father will be with us soon., The cover advertises the musical comedy, Atta Boy: words by Ballard MacDonald ; music by Nat Osborne. The sensational Army production played and produced by the soldier boys of Q.M.C. Camp Meigs. Col. D H Gienty, Commanding Officer, Q.M.C. U.S.A. Camp Meigs, Washington, D.C. Staged by Dan Doddy.", NIU copy., Staff notation.
Canteen canter
a new dance by Oscar Duryea ; composed by Case White., piano, Title from cover., For piano., Description of dance given on p. [2]., Woman dancing a waltz with a U.S. soldier. Through a window behind them four couples are seen dancing a waltz., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Davy of the Navy
words and music by Harold Dixon., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Sailor climbing up the rope ladder of a ship with a smoke stack bellowing out smoke below him. A life preserver hangs on the ladder. An American flag flies behind him., For he's a sailor of the U.S.A., Oh Davy of the Navy you're a wonderful, wonderful boy., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Dancing 'neath the Dixie moon
music by Ed. Nelson ; words by Will J. Hart., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Three soldiers watching a dance party in a clearing from a distance. African American dancers and musicians holding hands and dancing in a circle, lanterns hanging in the trees, the full moon rising up above the horizon behind them / E.E. Halton., Now I've been all over from Pekin and Dover., First line chorus: Dancing 'neath the Dixie moon dancing to a Dixie tune., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Do we remember Dewey at Manila?
words by Mort Green ; music by Harry DeCosta., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., drawing of a ship at sea / K., Our soldiers on the firing line., Do we remember Dewey at Manila?, NIU copy., Staff notation.
Democracy
words by Arthur Price ; music by Ike Jutras., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Shield encloses an inset photo of Norman Stanley with the Primrose Four and illustrations of the Liberty Bell and the Kaiser on his throne toppled over with the throne on top of him. His crown has rolled off his head and onto the ground. Around the shield are bi-planes and exploding bombs. In the left corner there is a commanding officer leading his troops into battle on horseback. In the right corner there is a cemetery scene., Now our country is at war., D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Democracy forever
by Neil Moret., piano, Title from cover., Arranged by J. Bodewalt Lampe., March for piano., Columbia blowing a long necked trumpet with a bald eagle beside her. In the background the sun is rising / Starmer, NIU copy., Staff notation.
Cheer for the boys of the U.S.A
words by Nell Burrows-Hamilton ; music by Henry H. Prather, M. Hayes Prather., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Columbia holds a saber in her right hand and points up to the title of the song with her left hand. Two bi-planes are flying over her head. The background is formed by a blue starburst., First line of lyric: In foreign land some ladies are fighting gallantly, Let us cheer for the boys of the U.S.A., NIU copy., Staff notation.