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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

Cheer up Tommy Atkins
lyric by Will J. Hart ; music by Edw. G. Nelson., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Two smiling soldiers in the foreground with a regiment of soldiers marching in the background. The soldiers in the background are not smiling and happy / E.E. Walton., Somewhere afloat, aboard a boat, there is a Yankee bunch., Cheer up, Tommy Atkins., NIU copy., Staff notation.
The call
Egbert Van Alstyne., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., "Dedicated to F.W. Kellogg, publisher of 'The Call' San Francisco.", Cover printed in red, white and blue with the Statue of Liberty and an inset photo of F.W. Kellogg / Crafton Studios., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Bring back the kiss that I gave
words by W.T. Whitehead ; music by Walter J. Pond., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Soldier kissing a young woman., Flags they were flying., Bring back the kiss that I gave when you left., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Have courage Illinois
music by L. Daly ; words by E. Swaim., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., "Dedicated to the 'Illini' in France.", Soldier holding his coat over his arm tipping his hat. In the background is an illustration of Altgeld Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an American flag flying from its roof top. The buildings has trees around it / Rico Tomaso., The time has come when we must fight Oh! Illinois!, Have courage! have courage! have courage Illinois., NIU copy., Staff notation.
I am 100% American are you?
lyric by Bernice Bateman ; music by L. St. Clair., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Soldier points his finger at the reader with his right hand and his left hand is placed over his heart., In the nation's vital hour, back our country's fighting power., Oh say can't you see duty's calling now on you and me., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Don't weaken
words and music by Helen Trix., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., "The American Eagle has left his nest-Spread his wings from east to west.", Bald eagle flying along the edge of the ocean with the rocky coast beneath him., We're all doing a little bit., Don't weaken, stick, it's the little bit that counts., Photographic portrait of Miss Trix on page 2., NIU copy., Staff notation.
The boys in khaki
words and music by M.E. Rich., piano, voice, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Line of infantry soldiers dressed in khaki uniforms stand at attention holding their rifles across their chests. To the side an officer dressed in a khaki uniform holds his hat to his side and salutes them with his other hand., Each canton is a busy place, with its thousands of soldier men., Hurrah for the boys in khaki! Hurrah for the cause of right!, Includes arrangement for 4-part men's voices (p. 5)., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Spirit of France waltz
by Claude Elam., piano, voice, Title from cover., Waltz for piano., Adapted from the World War I poster "All for One and One for All! Vive la France!" by James Montgomery Flagg., "Cover design by courtesy of the National Committee of Patriotic Societies.", NIU copy., Staff notation.
Clear the way
lyric by Henry Erskine Smith ; music by Frederick J. Bacon and E.O. Winship., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Soldiers on horseback surrounded by bomb bursts; red, white, and blue border., Uncle Sam has given us the signal., Now my boys for a cheer that will ring from sea to sea., Chorus text printed on cover., NIU copy., Staff notation.
I'll do without meat, I'll do without wheat, but I can't do without love
words by Arthur J. Lamb; music by Frederick V. Bowers., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Large shield with the head of a woman and the title of the song against a blue background. Inset photo with caption: "Sung with great success by the composer Frederick V. Bowers." Shield is surrounded by a red background with wheat and cows., Said Mary to John without any doubt., I can do without this., Staff notation.
Co. F. 3d Illinois Infantry
by Pvt. Claude Pampel., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., Arranged by Jas. O. Scott., "Dedicated to Co. F. 129th U.S.N.G. A.E.F. France"--Page 2., Regiment of soldiers marching down the road led by their commanding officer. The first soldier behind him carries an American flag., Staff notation.
Au revoir
words by Will D. Cobb; melody by Gus Edwards., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Head of a young woman viewed from the side / K., Dear heart dawn is nigh., Au revoir., Staff notation.
Good-bye my girl
words by Paul McAllister; music by Margaret McKinney., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., "Dedicated to the 305th Infantry"--Page 2., Photograph Corinne Griffith and Webster Campbell, Vitagraph stars, in farewell pose., Our country's call has rung out to all, Goodbye my girl we are marching off to war., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Any old jay can get a girl today
words by William Jerome ; music by Seymour Furth., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., At head of title: The new comedy sensation., Old man fashionably dressed with a top hat wearing spats surrounded by three young women also very fashionably dressed / Barbelle., There was a time when ev'ry girl was very hard to suit., Any old jay can get a girl today., NIU copy: "Sample copy" stamped on cover., Staff notation.
Antonio, my boy
Italian waltz song by Joseph B. Carey., piano, voice, Title from cover., Waltz for voice and piano., Inset photograph of Elise Schuyler with a view of Venice behind her and a gondola / LE Morgan., Antonio, he go across the sea., When he go 'way, I cry for him., "Successfully featured by Elise Schuyler.", Staff notation.
Anthem of America
words & music by Mrs. Robert Smart., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Dedication quote: "Dedicated to the Fortieth Division of the United States National Army"--Cover., Statue of Liberty from the waist up in a round circle with the torch extending beyond the border of the circle. Printed in brown and white., God of our Fathers., Staff notation.
The angel God sent from heaven
words by Paul A. Smith & Robert Levenson ; music by Sgt. Frank L. Ventre., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Drawing of the head and shoulders of a Red Cross nurse with smaller drawings of a nurse on the battle field, an ambulence and soldiers in trenches / Dobinson Engr. Co., Boston., A mother sat and wrote a note of cheer to one so dear., God sent a shining angel to take your mother's place., At head of title: A mother's tribute to the Red Cross nurse., Staff notation.
The fighting Navy of the U.S.A.
words by Chas. A. Snyder ; music by Stanley Henry., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Sailor standing on the ocean with a battleship firing rounds of amunition behind him. He has his hand to the side of his mouth and is calling, "Look after my folks.", We've sung about the Army., It is the Navy., "Navy Relief Society needs $2,000,000 will you help!", Staff notation.
Goodbye Kaiser Bill
words & music by J. L. Waldorf., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Drawing of Kaiser William from the waist up standing inside the open hatch of a submarine on the ocean. Three battleships are in the background., The Kaiser Bill was a mighty man and about four years ago., That it's good-bye Kaiser Bill., Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site., Staff notation.
The fighting 62nd infantry
words and music by Private Wm. Fitzgerald., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., United States flag waving with inset photo of Col. Lindsay / C. L. McQuaid S. F., We all belong to the sixty second infantry., For we are the sixty second infantry., "Dedicated to Chaplain Moissant.", Staff notation.
All together
words by Henry F. Wells ; music by Dora E. Varney., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Army soldier and Navy sailor standing in front of a trunk with "War Chest" printed on it. Both of them are putting Liberty Bonds in the chest which sits on top of a stage behind them decorated with swag of stars and stripes., Your boy and my boy are fighting "Over there.", Your coin and my coin, we'll lend to Uncle Sam., Staff notation.
Give me a kiss by the numbers
by Lieut. Joseph F. Trounstine, U.S.R., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Three drawings of soldiers kissing a woman, one on the lips, one on the cheek, one on the hand / [rose symbol]., Illustrator's name represented by rose symbol on cover., Johnny joined the army to uphold democracy., Give me a kiss by the numbers., Also published for: band, orchestra, male quartette., NIU copy 1: Stamp on cover: "New music sample copy.", Staff notation.
Have a little regiment of your own
words and music by Percival Knight., piano, voice, From The better 'ole by Herman Darewski. Internet broadway database describes the work as a comedy with music., Title from caption., For voice and piano., Some say a tinker or a tailor makes a very good husband but you you can't tell till you've tried 'em., If you are a good little girl and marry a soldier you must live a military life., Photograph of Charles Coburn and his wife (Ivah Wills) from the play The better 'ole. On each side of the photograph is a drawing of a soldier. The one on the right is sitting with a picture of his girlfriend in his hand, smiling and smoking a cigarette. The soldier on the left is standing in a mud puddle in water up to his ankles in a rain storm., Staff notation.
The end of a perfect day
music by Carrie Jacobs Bond ; words by J.P. McEvoy., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano, with cello obbligato., Drawing of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor / Ve Kd., They are coming home to the blare of bands., Staff notation.
Buddy
Lyric by Frederick Slack ; music by Duncan Peckham., Piano., Voice., Title from cover., For voice and piano., "The marching song dedicated to our boys.", Army soldier and Navy soldier shaking hands with caption "Hello Buddy" / Starmer., Uncle Sammy, Uncle Sammy give your boys their name., It's Buddy, Buddy an easy word to say., Staff notation.