Newberry Library - James Francis Driscoll collection of American sheet music [box ], ca. 1770-1959

Overview

Loading details...

You do not have the permission to view Original image

Title James Francis Driscoll collection of American sheet music [box ], ca. 1770-1959

Creator Driscoll, J. Francis, (James Francis), 1875-1959

Date 1770-1959

Place United States

Language English

Subjects Dance music, Minstrel music, Music, Popular music, Songs

Summary The Driscoll sheet music collection consists of well over 80,000 pieces of sheet music, divided into twenty sections by the collector, with many further subdivisions under each main section. There is considerable overlap between the Sections: one may find the same piece of sheet music in Illustrated Imprints as in History and Politics, and also in Type collection, for example. Some sections or parts of sections have been removed from the original groupings and cataloged separately in the Newberry's online catalog; they can be searched by author, title, or subject, but not by original grouping. The sections where music has been removed and cataloged separately are: Section 1: Early American Imprints; Section 4: Publishers' Imprints; Section 5: Illustrated Imprints; Section 12: Ethnic and Religious; Section 18: Foreign Imprints; and Section 19: Books.

Biographical/Historical Note James Francis Driscoll (1875-1959) was born into a prominent family in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was by profession a civil engineer, but music was always his passion. He was for many years the organist at Boston's Sacred Heart Cathedral and also its choral director. Having a great interest in history, he lectured before the Brookline Historical Society and the Bostonian Society. As early as the 1890s, however, Driscoll was well on his way to amassing one of the largest collections of American sheet music extant. Interested in history, fascinated by the graphic arts, and devoted to music, his interest never flagged. His children related anecdotes of the times when as youngsters, they spent many Saturdays trailing after their father as he made the rounds of book dealers, pawn shops, junk yards and auction houses. Driscoll made it his policy to swap less perfect pieces and duplicates in favor of as perfect specimens as could be found. He was famous (or infamous, depending on one's point of view) among others of the music-collecting fraternity for his sharp bargaining, and his reluctance to part with any of his "highspots".

Extent 20.0 shelves (426 boxes)

Format Scores, Sheet music, Songs

Archival Collection Title James Francis Driscoll collection of American sheet music

Link to Catalog View record

BibID 991684068805867

Rights Status Copyright Not Evaluated

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 13016px × 16886px 628.85 MB

File Created 05/02/2023

Filename 991684068805867_ord_driscoll_box_series_0009_0206_cycle.tif

Unique Identifier NL11N0N9

Help Need help finding, searching, sharing, or downloading? Check out our help page!

Projects Tag Driscoll Sheet Music Cover Project 2009