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Some people use the term “collector” when viewing Dr. Crew’s amazing political sheet music collection; however, he believes the term “hoarder” is probably more accurate. Prior to embarking on a life-long collector’s odyssey, his interests included music, politics, and history. History and politics were reflected in his choice of government for his college major and history as his minor, while music was his spare time personal passion (trombone in high school band and banjo, guitar, and accordion in his spare time).
His sheet music collecting started in 1972 when he found himself wandering around an antique shop in Tallahassee, Florida. He noticed several campaign buttons for the 1900 campaign of McKinley and Roosevelt. The store owner indicated that he had a trunk full of items in the back of the store: There were scores of old campaign souvenirs including buttons, ribbons, banners, and a large stack of sheet music. Dr. Crew bought the entire lot. At home he began sorting through the items; and the sheet music stuck out as particularly interesting. He remembers a piece of Teddy Roosevelt sheet music, awash in bright colors, with his portrait almost jumping off the page, and he concluded that sheet music was a wonderful way to combine his love of politics, history, and music into one inexpensive collectible.
Today, Crew’s collection of political-related items exceeds 13,000 pieces, including the nation’s largest collections of music related to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and with over 450 pieces, Theodore Roosevelt. The collection led Dr. Crew to author four published bibliographies on political sheet music and formed the basis of his PhD in music history from the University of Sunderland (UK).
Read Dr. Crew’s essay on sheet music as public discourse here.
See below to view items from the collection.
Sheet music for “The Peacemaker,” which celebrates President Roosevelt’s role in settling the Russo-Japanese War. The song is dedicated to Roosevelt and feature a photograph of him on the cover.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1905
Sheet music for “Parade of the Teddy Bears,” a “characteristic march and two-step.” The cover features an illustration of a teddy bear marching band; one of the bears holds a banner with the likeness of President Roosevelt and the famous Roosevelt greeting, “De-lighted.” Fully five years after the famous incident that inspired the teddy bear craze, the public was still gripped in teddy bear fever. Much of this fever was expressed in the popularity of actual stuffed toy bears as made and sold by companies such as Steiff; however, it’s direct association with President Roosevelt also remained strong.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1907
Sheet music for “‘Neath Freedom’s Shrine,” a patriotic song referencing Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The cover features a photograph of Mount Rushmore. The song is dedicated to Gutzon Borglum and the people who worked to build the monument.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1950
Sheet music for “Land of sunshine,” which describes the wonders of South Dakota and features photos of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Corn Palace of Mitchell, South Dakota.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1952
Sheet music for “Camp Roosevelt,” which celebrates Camp Roosevelt, an R.O.T.C. summer camp for high school boys from the Chicago, Illinois, area. The camp was founded by Angus Hibbard and other Chicago-area civic-minded residents in 1918. The cover features an illustration of a camp with a bugler and an oval photograph of Theodore Roosevelt.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1924
Sheet music for “Emblem of Freedom,” a piece honoring the American flag, George Washington’s leadership during the American Revolution, and the courage of the patriots who served. It is dedicated to President Roosevelt. The cover features a framed, oval illustration of Roosevelt flanked by American flags.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1902
Sheet music for “The Man of the Moment,” a tribute to President Roosevelt. Cover features an oval photograph of Roosevelt flanked by a wreath and two fasces.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1903
Sheet music for “As Teddy Went Over the Top,” a memorial tribute to Theodore Roosevelt.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1919
Sheet music for “U. S. W. V.,” a Spanish language song for the Cuban and American veterans of the Spanish-American War who fought for a free Cuba. The cover features intertwined Cuban and American flags. The second page has an introductory statement welcoming American soldiers and praising their military heroes, including Theodore Roosevelt.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1928
Song book of ten patriotic songs, including titles such as “Our Country, May She Always Be Right,” “Our Own Native Land,” and “When the Troops Come Home.” The cover includes small, oval portraits of General Miles, General Shafter, Theodore Roosevelt, and General Wheeler.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1898
Sheet music for “Oh! What a Difference in the Morning,” a popular song which the cover claims to be the favorite song of Alice Roosevelt and Marguerite Cassini. The cover features a well-dressed man on stage with two female audience members clapping. There is also two small portraits of Roosevelt and Cassini.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1905
Sheet music for “Roosevelt!,”a campaign song heralding Theodore Roosevelt’s ability to stand up to corruption and the forces of political “ill will.” The song was performed by the Jane Addam’s Chorus. The music was a supplement in the Los Angeles Daily Tribune.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1912
Sheet music for “While the Battle-Ships are Sailing,” a march which celebrates the embarkation of the Great White Fleet on its around-the-world cruise.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1908
Sheet music for “The Golden Star,” a memorial march. The song is dedicated to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1919
Sheet music for “Garryowen,” a popular Irish tune distributed here as a newspaper supplement from the Boston Sunday Globe. According to a note at the bottom of this piece (not shown in the photo), President Roosevelt said on his New England tour that “Garryowen” was one of his favorite tunes.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1902-09-14
“Roosevelt the American Man” commemorates the deeds that make Theodore Roosevelt the “Great American Man” while he is away on safari.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1910
“Roosevelt Waltzes” are three waltzes for piano.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1906
“We Know Our Business” is a collection of political and patriotic songs including “The Workingman’s Best Friend,” “We are Ready! Mac and Teddy!,” and “Tell McKinley, We’ll Be There.”
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1899
“Willie Taft” highlights the policies of William H. Taft with a focus of tariffs. On the cover is an illustration of Taft.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1908
“Jack Tars March Song” is a patriotic celebration of the Navy. The front cover has a photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, two other men, and a ship. A page or pages of the song are missing.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
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