Irving Berlin Sheet Music Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains approximately 238 pieces of original Irving Berlin sheet music.
Dates
- Creation: 1908-1952
Creator
- Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989 (Person)
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers, except items that may be restricted due to their fragility, or privacy.
Use Restrictions
No permission is required to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection, as long as the usage is scholarly, educational, and non-commercial. For inquiries about other usage, please contact the Director of Collections and Engagement at mmeyers@ajhs.org.
For reference questions, please email: inquiries@cjh.org
Biographical Note
Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was born Israel Isidore Baline (Beilin) in Russia, possibly in what was then Belarus. Berlin was one of eight children born to Moses and Leah Lipkin Beilin. Berlin’s family immigrated to the United States and settled in the Lower East Side of New York City in 1893 after living through pogroms in their native land. Moses had been a cantor in Europe but found that he could not find a comparable position in New York and became a kosher butcher. He died five years after their arrival in New York. Berlin’s family struggled to support themselves and Irving eventually ran away from home where he became a street performer.
Berlin eventually took jobs as a singing waiter and became known to various performers and music publishers. In 1911, Berlin became an overnight success when he performed his “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” at the Friar’s Frolic of 1911. Berlin went on to become one of Tin Pan Alley’s and Broadway’s most prolific songwriters of his day and eventually scored many Broadway shows and movie musicals.
References
- "Irving Berlin." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin. Accessed January 17th, 2013.
Extent
3 Linear Feet (3 Oversized OS4 size boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains approximately 238 pieces of original Irving Berlin sheet music.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into a single series chronologically as follows:
Acquisition Information
Acquisition information is unknown
Subject
- Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989 (Person)
- Jolson, Al, 1886-1950 (Person)
- Smith, Kate, 1907-1986 (Person)
- Snyder, Ted, 1881-1965 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Irving Berlin Sheet Music Collection, 1908-1952 *P-878
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Tanya Elder and Sheldon Moline
- Date
- © 2013
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Revision Statements
- October 2020: RJohnstone: post-ASpace migration cleanup.
Repository Details
Part of the American Jewish Historical Society Repository
