Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 18: Dance

Summary
Dance
Dance
Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0300.S18
Creators:
DeVincent, Sam, 1918-1997
Dates:
undated
1812-1978
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
49 Boxes
Repository:
Sam DeVincent loved music and art and began collecting sheet music with lithographs at an early age. Series 18, Dance contains approximately 3,330 pieces of sheet music and other materials documenting the development of and popular attitudes towards dance in the United States. An overview to the entire DeVincent collection is available here: Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music.
Scope and Contents note
Scope and Contents note
Series 18, Dance, 1812-1978, undated, contains approximately 3,330 pieces of sheet music and other materials documenting the development of and popular attitudes towards dance in the United States. The dates always refer to copyright of the music and not to the subject on the cover, songwriter's life, or other events. In addition, there is one box of ephemera arranged in the same subseries order as the music listing, which is described following the container list. Ragtime Dancing is in Series 3, subseries 4, Folder UU. Barn Dance is part of Series 16, Country, Western, and Folk. See Series 8, Geography, for dances in other countries. See future series, Education, for Prom songs. Music for the Quickstep is in the future series that includes "marches."
Subseries 1, General Songs about Dance, 1882-1967, undated This includes references to dance styles such as the Ballet, Cake Walk, and Glide, as well as dance marathon and the shimme [sic].
Subseries 2, Ballroom Dancers and Dance Institute, 1840-1951, undated Irene and Vernon Castle, Fanny Elssler, and Arthur Murray are in separate folders. Other professional dancers are in Folder D and throughout the series. Note that about 70% of these sheets are copyrighted between 1912-1914.
Subseries 3, Charleston, 1923-1964 Contains music for the dance known as the Charleston.
Subseries 4, Fox Trot, 1913-1932 Contains music for the dance known as the Fox Trot.
Subseries 5, Galop, 1842-1924, undated Contains music for the dance known as the Galop.
Subseries 6, Gavotte, 1874-1978, undated Contains music for the dance known as the Gavotte.
Subseries 7, Jigs and Reels, 1891-1951, undated Contains sheet music and folios of jigs, reels, contra dance, Morris dances, and strathspens.
Subseries 8, Lancers, 1857-1903, undated Contains music for the dance known as the Lancers.
Subseries 9, Maxixe, 1913-1914, undated Contains music for the dance known as the Maxixe.
Subseries 10, Mazurka, 1854-1940, undated Contains music for the dance known as the Mazurka.
Subseries 11, Minuet, 1875-1968, undated Contains music for the Minuet, also spelled Menuet.
Subseries 12, One Step, 1910-1921 Contains music designated as the One Step.
Subseries 13, Polka, 1845-1975, undated This section is divided into three parts --early editions, later editions, and folios. More polka music might be found with the accordion music in Series 19, Musicians and Musical Instruments.
Subseries 14, Quadrilles, 1831-1883, undated This section is divided into four parts --illustrated editions, unillustrated editions, quadrilles from operas, and folios. Note that contra dance appears with one of these folios, as well as in subseries 7, Jigs and Reels.
Subseries 15, Redowa, 1853-1908, undated Contains music for the dance known as the Redowa.
Subseries 16, Schottische, 1850-1944, undated This section is divided into four parts --illustrated editions, unillustrated editions, later editions, and multiple editions. Note that there are a variety of spellings for this dance.
Subseries 17, Skirt Dance, 1891-1893, undated Note the short time that music was designated for this dance style.
Subseries 18, Square Dance, 1926-1964 Contains music and folios for square dances. Also see Series 16, Country, Western, and Folk Music for Barn Dances and other country-style dances.
Subseries 19, Tango, 1909-1952 Compositions denoting the Tango Argentine are in a separate folder.
Subseries 20, Three Step, 1903-1913 Contains music for the dance known as the Three Step.
Subseries 21, Two Step, 1894-1925 Compositions by F. H. Losey are in a separate folder.
Subseries 22, Varsova, 1851-1917, undated Contains music for the dance known as the Varsova.
Subseries 23, Waltz, 1812-1968, undated This section comprises almost one third of the entire series. Sub-headings are as follows: Boston/Hesitation Waltz, Syncopated Waltz, Male and Female Images on Covers, Harry J. Lincoln Compositions, Early Editions, Later Editions, and Folios.
Subseries 24, Folios, 1888-1953, undated Folios designating a specific dance are placed with that dance. Sub-headings in this subseries are as follows: Scandinavian, Hungarian and Polish, Slovenian, Dance Folios (Feist, Gem, Jack Mills, Robbins, Select, Star, Victor, Witmark, Miscellaneous Dance), and Miscellaneous folios.
Ephemera Includes promotional items and brochures relating to dances and dancers; DeVincent's 'see' notes referencing other parts of the Collection; and folios with dance instructions.
Arrangement
Arrangement
Arranged in 25 subseries.
  • 18.1: General Songs about Dance
  • 18.2: Ballroom Dancers and Dance Institute
  • 18.3: Charleston
  • 18.4: Fox Trot
  • 18.5: Galop
  • 18.6: Gavotte
  • 18.7: Jigs and Reels - Folios
  • 18.8: Lancers
  • 18.9: Maxixe
  • 18.10: Mazurka
  • 18.11: Minuet (Menuet)
  • 18.12: One Step
  • 18.13: Polka
  • 18.14: Quadrilles
  • 18.15: Redowa
  • 18.16: Schottische
  • 18.17: Skirt Dance
  • 18.18: Square Dance
  • 18.19: Tango
  • 18.20: Three Step
  • 18.21: Two Step
  • 18.22: Varsova
  • 18.23: Waltz
  • 18.24: Folios
  • 18.25: EPHEMERA
Administration
Author
NMAH Staff
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
This collection was purchased by the Smithsonian Institution in 1988 from Sam and Nancy Lee DeVincent.
Digital Content
Dance
Dance
Using the Collection
Preferred Citation note
The Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use note
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.
Materials in Other Organizations
Materials in Other Organizations
Sam DeVincent Collection of American Sheet Music, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
This collection contains duplicates of materials in the Smithsonian collection, as well as materials acquired by Mr. DeVincent after the donation to the Smithsonian. The phonograph records described above were transferred to the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Donald J. Stubblebine Collection of Musical Theater and Motion Picture Sheet Music and Reference Material, 1843-2010 (AC1211)
Forms Part Of
Forms Part Of
An ongoing, updated list of DeVincent topical series is available via the Smithsonian finding aid portal.
Repository Contact
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu