Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 27: Gypsies

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0300.S27
Creators:
DeVincent, Sam, 1918-1997
Dates:
1900-1950
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3 Boxes
Repository:
Sam DeVincent loved music and art and began collecting sheet music with lithographs at an early age. An overview to the entire DeVincent collection is available here: Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Contains material documenting the cultural values and popular attitudes toward gypsies in the United States. The bulk of the material dates from 1900 to 1950. The material is arranged alphabetically by title in three boxes. The compositions are mostly arranged for piano and piano/vocal, with a few pieces made for violin and guitar. Subjects include stories and tales of gypsies, types of dances such as polka, gypsy carnivals, romance, and warnings against gypsies. Most of the songs discuss the day to day lives of gypsies traveling on caravans, wandering, camping, and walking along trails. They also focus on the role of the gypsy as a countess, a young woman, and a romantic. The illustrations in the series depict women in stereotypical gypsy attire, full of color and different patterns.

Administration

Author
NMAH Staff, Justine Thomas
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
This collection was purchased by the Smithsonian Institution in 1988 from Sam and Nancy Lee DeVincent.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Eva Buchanan, Katie DeFonzo, and Stephanie Haeg, interns, summer 2017; Amanda Scott; Monisha Bernard; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist.

Digital Content


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.

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu