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The Sheet Music Collection was acquired in 1961 through the joint efforts of Lloyd Engelbrecht, Pierce Grove (Acquisitions Librarian), and Dr. Eugene Vest (English Department). It was originally part of a large private collection owned by William Holmes of Chicago. The books (on music, literature, and fiction as well as some by and about Scandinavian authors) were cataloged and added to the regular library collection. The music material, which consisted mostly of popular song sheets circa 1890 to 1928 and some classical scores, is housed in Special Collections.
The Sheet Music Collection consists of over 10,000 popular song sheets circa 1890-1928, with some titles dating back to and before the Civil War. It contains music from a wide variety of composers including Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Irving Berlin, as well as some examples of early ragtime and blues.
Access restrictions -- Available without restriction.
Use restrictions -- Available without restriction.
Sheet Music collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago