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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.
Pamphlet with a campaign song for Theodore Roosevelt written by C. W. Johnson. The song is titled “Roosevelt’s Call to Duty, It is Up to You and Me” set to the tune of “There’s Music in the Air.” The obverse features a fact sheet for Johnson, the Republican candidate for county treasurer of Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1904
Sheet music and lyrics for “San Juan,” including a message from Silvio Contreras, Maria Teresa Vera, and Justo Quijano written during World War II. The authors explain that the music and title represent Cuba’s struggle for independence as an example for the current struggle against Nazism and Fascism. The song celebrates the leadership of Calixto Garcia Iniguez and praises Theodore Roosevelt, “the immortal Yankee” who fought with Garcia for Cuba. The final page is an explanation for using “San Juan” as the song title.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1943-07-04
List of songs printed in the program for a memorial service held for Theodore Roosevelt on Sunday, February 9, 1919. The songs listed are “The Star Spangled Banner,” “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” “America,” “Battle-Hymn of the Republic,” and “How Firm a Foundation.”
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1919-02-09
Program for a memorial held in honor of Theodore Roosevelt in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on February 9, 1919. The program includes a “Roosevelt creed” and excerpts from Roosevelt’s speeches.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1919
Sheet music arranged by Frederic Mullen that combines the Japanese and Russian national anthems. “Hail Columbia,” a song representing the United States, concludes the arrangement. The song is in response to the Treaty of Portsmouth which ended the Russo-Japanese War. The front cover displays an angelic figure, representing peace, above the portraits of President Roosevelt, S. Vitte, and Jutaro Komura; three of the negotiators that worked together to end the war.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1905
Sheet music for “God Save Our President, “a new national hymn” with lyrics by Josephine C. Goodale and music by J. H. Petermann. A portrait of President Roosevelt is positioned to the right of the music. The American flags forming the top and bottom border were added after publication.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1902
Pocket song card for the chorus of the official Roosevelt booster song, “Teddy, you’re a bear.”
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1916
Sheet music for “Roosevelt March Song” with a cover illustration of President Roosevelt in his Rough Rider uniform. Page six has a handwritten note from Ward Baker, the composer, “Music is God’s voice heard in a language without words.”
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1904
Song sheet featuring patriotic songs and campaign songs for Theodore Roosevelt and his running mate, Governor Johnson, during the Progressive Party campaign of 1912. Songs include “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and an adaptation of “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” The Jane Addams Chorus was “first organized and named in Los Angeles, August 26th, 1912.”
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1912
Song sheet featuring patriotic and campaign songs for Theodore Roosevelt and his running mate, Governor Johnson, for the Progressive Party campaign of 1912. Cover page features photos of Roosevelt, Johnson, and the Progressive Party candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, Charles Bird Sumner and Daniel Cosgrove.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1912
Song sheet featuring patriotic and campaign songs for the Progressive Party campaign of 1912. Cover features an illustration of a moose head and the New York State seal. At the top of the page is a pencil inscription, “Papa give to me March 2, 1913.”
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1912
Program booklet for the George Washington birthday celebration held by the Union League Club of Chicago on February 22, 1896. Commissioner Roosevelt gave the commemorative address. The program features a fully notated printing of “America.”
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1896-02-22
Sheet music for “Gavotte Debut,” an instrumental dance piece to commemorate the introduction of Alice Roosevelt to Washington, D.C., society. The cover is printed in green with a floral motif and a photograph of the White House. The piece is dedicated to Alice Roosevelt.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1902-01-03
Sheet music for “The Nell Brinkley Girl” from Flo Ziegfeld’s musical revue, The Follies of 1908. The cover features a female jester juggling the heads of President Roosevelt, Secretary Taft, William Jennings Bryan, Governor Hughes, and Vice President Fairbanks.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1908
Sheet music for “Take Me ‘Round in a Taxicab” from Flo Ziegfeld’s musical revue, The Follies of 1908. The cover features a female jester juggling the heads of President Theodore Roosevelt, Secretary of War William H. Taft, William Jennings Bryan, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, and Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks. All but Roosevelt were candidates for president in 1908. The cover also features a red-tinted photograph of the singer, Grace Leigh. The back cover contains advertisements for other songs from Maurice Shapiro, a music publisher.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1908
Sheet music for “Mack and Teddy,” a 1900 presidential campaign song supporting President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. The front cover shows photographs of McKinley and Roosevelt with an American flag.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1900
Sheet music for “Inaugural Ball Two Step,” a piece celebrating the inauguration of President McKinley after his victory in the presidential election of 1900. The cover features a blue and red colored print of McKinley and Vice President Roosevelt beneath a draped American flag and a bald eagle and in front of a dance floor full of dancers. The back cover features other popular pieces of sheet music for piano from Jay V. Youmans.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1900
Sheet music for “Just For Your Country’s Sake,” a campaign song in support of the 1904 Roosevelt-Fairbanks Republican presidential ticket. Cover features photographs of President Roosevelt and Senator Fairbanks surrounded by a an eagle and two fasces.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1904
Song depicts President Roosevelt and “Bill Bailey,” an African American caricature, spending time at the White House. In 1901, Roosevelt hosted Booker T. Washington for dinner at the White House, and this action became very controversial, especially in the South. The cover depicts African Americans, with fine clothing, dining and relaxing alongside Roosevelt in a Rough Rider uniform. There is also a photograph of a young Buster Keaton who sang the song “with great success.” Keaton was nine years old in 1904 and toured with his family’s vaudeville act. Keaton would become one of the most famous film directors and entertainers of the early 20th century.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1904
Sheet music for “Inaugural March,” a piece commemorating the inaugural ceremonies for President McKinley and Vice President Roosevelt. The cover page shows circular portraits of McKinley and Roosevelt flanking the Washington Monument with an American flag blanketed beneath them. At the bottom, there are drawings of the White House and the United States Capitol. Between the drawings of the two buildings are portraits of three men from the Inaugural Executive Committee; William H. Rapley, the chairman of music; John Joy Edson, chairman; and T. E. Roessle, vice chairman.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1901