The library has about 25,000 pieces of sheet music in bound volumes or loose in boxes. The latter is divided into two categories, vocal and instrumental, and arranged alphabetically by composer.  Most of the sheet music was published in the United States, but there is also a considerable number of English and German publications. The collection encompasses the period from the late 18th century to the 1950’s and covers a wide variety of both classical and popular, sacred and secular music. There are many examples of lithographed covers, popular songs of the late 18th and early 19t centuries, original editions of Stephen Foster, the Christy Minstrel songs, early jazz and blues.  For more on our music holdings see our guide to music in the Watkinson.

The cover shown here is for a song written by Jesse Greer (1896-1970), a pianist and composer who was most active in the late 1920’s through early 1940’s. He often collaborated with lyricist Ray Klages (as here).

Fun Fact: The Greer Music Library at Connecticut College is named in honor of Jesse Greer and his wife, Josephine Lauter Greer.