Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Eugene D. Smallwood Gospel Music Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0456
Creators:
Frye, Theodore M. (singer)
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life
Dorsey, Thomas A. (choral director)
Reagon, Bernice Johnson, 1942-
Smallwood, Eugene D., Rev., -2005 (composer, music director)
Dates:
1931-1945
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.15 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
Music collected by the Reverend Mr. Eugene D. Smallwood, gospel musician, choir leader, and owner of a music publishing company.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Eugene D. Smallwood Gospel Music Collection consists of an album of Gospel music scores collected or composed by Reverend Eugene D. Smallwood andnineteen additional loose scores published by Rev. Smallwood's company. The publication dates range from 1931 to 1945. The scores were performed by Reverend Smallwood's choirs. As a composer/arranger, Rev. Smallwood was often able to "correct" or re-arrange the compositions of others to suit his own style. If he felt the music was in the "wrong key", he transposed it himself. Some compositions were the work of such well known artists as Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey and Theodore Frye, whose portraits appear in the collection. The published music includes some additional illustrations of Gospel musicians, e.g. Rev.Smallwood; Ione B. Bouldin, Gospel singer; Earl Pleasant, Gospel singer; and the Universal Gospel singers. Many of the works are numbered according to the system that Rev. Smallwood used in the album, or dated according to his use of the arrangements.
Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, a staff member in the Division of Community Life, National Museum of American History, was instrumental in the acquisition of the collection. According to Dr. Reagon, the collection is unique because of Rev. Smallwood's use of an album of music which he kept intact. Although the music has been removed from the original album cover for the preservation purposes, this album is a written record of the performance of Gospel music by Reverend Smallwood and his choirs. The collection should prove to be of interest to anyone studying Gospel music and its creators.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is divided into two series.
Series 1: Scrapbook album, 1931-1942
Series 2: Sheet music, 1939-1945

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Reverend Eugene D. Smallwood is a Gospel musician and choir leader who owned his own music publishing company. Some of the more famous Gospel musicians with whom he worked were Mahalia Jackson and the Roberta Martin Singers.

Administration

Author
Deborra Richardson
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Smallwood collection was acquired through Dr. Bernice Reagon. While doing research on Gospel music with the support of a MacArthur Foundation grant, from 1991 to 1992, she made several contacts with the originators of the Black Gospel music movement in the Americas. Dr. Smallwood was one of those contacts.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Deborra Richardson, August 21, 1992.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Eugene D. Smallwood Gospel Music Collection, 1931-1945, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Use of this collection for performance purposes requires notification of Smallwood's daughter. Contact the Archives Center staff for more information.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

More Information

Related/Analytical Title

Related/Analytical Title
Jesus Lives In Me,[song]
I'm Just A Sinner Saved by Grace,[song]
Heaven's Radio,[song]
Lead Me To Calvary,[song]
No Disappointment In Heaven,[song]
The Little Wooden Church on the Hill,[song]


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Gospel music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Choral music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oklahoma Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sheet music Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Church music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tulsa (Oklahoma) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Martin, Sallie (singer) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bouldin, Ione B. (singer) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pleasant, Earl (singer) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Universal Gospel Singers Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
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