Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 30: Marches and Quick Steps

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0300.S30
Creators:
DeVincent, Sam, 1918-1997
Dates:
1841-1940
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
7 Boxes
Repository:
Sam DeVincent loved music and art and began collecting sheet music with lithographs at an early age. Series 30 contains materials documenting Marches and Quicksteps 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

Scope and Contents
Contains material documenting the cultural values and popular attitudes toward Marches and Quicksteps created in the United States. The bulk of the material dates from 1887 to 1923. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title in seven boxes. The music is mostly composed for piano and piano/vocal. Most songs of the series embody ideas of patriotism, strength, freedom, and war. Particularly for songs published in the early years of World War II, their titles depict American soldiers, regiments, and American spirit. Other materials are named after famous battles, events, cavalry, war generals, and leaders. A few compositions are also named after knights, kings, and Roman generals. Illustrations on the covers and backs of the compositions depict themes of war, leadership, and power.

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.

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
Series 30: Marches and Quicksteps forms part of the Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music .
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