Musical Treasures

Libraries are often touted as places of imagination and thought, a great way to explore world history from the comfort of one location. The books lining the shelves of the Zach S. Henderson Library certainly document history through the ages, but tucked away within its walls are historic treasures of another sort that are attracting national attention.

The Library’s Special Collections section contains nearly 3,000 original pieces of sheet music that have been selected by the American Library Association to host a national traveling exhibit next March, called “A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, 1910-1965.”

The yearlong exhibit documents the importance of Jewish artists and their contributions to American culture, focusing on the lives and works of Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Sammy Cahn, Jerome Kern, Al Jolson, Richard Rodgers and others. Colorful posters from Broadway shows and photographs of the composers, singers and casts of hit musicals are just some of the items to be displayed.

The exhibit will also feature a performance of songs from the University’s sheet music collection by local artist Harriet Ziegler, a concert by the Georgia Southern Symphony Orchestra conducted by music professor Adrian Gnam, and a panel discussion on Jewish influences and participation in the early 20th-century American stage.

“We have one of the largest collections in the Southeast,” said Marvin Goss, head of Special Collections, “and pieces from most of these composers will supplement the exhibit.” Special Collections is one of 55 sites – and one of only two in the state of Georgia – selected to host the exhibit.

“Some of our pieces include Berlin’s “White Christmas,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” and “God Bless America,” he revealed. In addition to the Jewish composers, their collection contains several unique pieces ranging from the Soviet National Anthem to Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” as well as sheet music from Brahms and Mozart.

Goss revealed that the bulk of their collection is from the estate of a former silent movie pianist in Savannah. “Almost 2,000 pieces of sheet music came from Leonora Lieuwenkamp. Her collection also included books of theme music that she played as an accompanist for silent movies,” he said.

Through the years, Special Collections has been contacted with some exclusive requests pertaining to their sheet music collection. “Once, we received a phone call from an out-of-state resident requesting a copy of some sheet music. Her father had just passed away, and she wanted his favorite song from 1910 to be played at his funeral. She had looked everywhere unsuccessfully for the music, until she discovered from our Web site, that we had a copy,” said Goss.

Goss was also contacted by the daughter of John Kellette, the composer of a popular 1918 waltz called “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” which was recorded by most major singers and bands through the early 1920s. “She was putting together a collection of her father’s music and had searched everywhere for this particular song when she found that we had this piece of music,” he said.

Special Collections offers more than just original sheet music, said Goss. The section also includes other artifacts, rare books and manuscripts, including unpublished papers, photographs, scrapbooks and other items, most of which are stored in the Library’s Automated Retrieval Collection (ARC). Due to the fragile nature of the collection, visitors are welcome to look at any artifacts, but only in the Special Collections reading room. That specific room also contains office furniture on display from former Georgia Southern President Zach Henderson. “We are preserving pieces of history for scholars and researchers,” said Goss.