Princeton Music Collection, 1849-2009 (mostly 1894-1941)

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Collector:

Princeton University. Library. Special Collections

Title:

Princeton Music Collection

Repository:

Princeton University Archives

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/9593tv137

Dates:

1849-2009 (mostly 1894-1941)

Size:

14 boxes and 2 items

Storage Note:

Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-14

Language:

English

Abstract: This collection contains various songbooks printed for Princeton University including bound volumes and small booklets. Among the former is a nearly complete series of the Carmina Princetonia. There is also a second series dedicated to sheet music comprising various songs written for Princeton University, including many pieces written by alumni.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

This is a collection of music written about Princeton University including traditional songs such as "Old Nassau," "The Princeton Cannon Song," and "The Triple Cheer."

A substantial part of this corpus is a chronological collection of the Carmina Princetonia from its first publication in 1869 until its centennial anniversary in 1969, with only the twelfth and twentieth editions missing. This songbook is the single largest compilation of Princeton songs sung by students and alumni over the years and was frequently updated and revised.

Other songbooks include a series of Campus/Class booklets roughly 3" x 2" in size with some variations. Students have used these for senior step-singing and at annual reunions. The time frame covered is 1854 to 1982, and all contain traditional songs such as "Old Nassau," along with several popular songs from each year and at times the class song.

There are also a number of special editions of "Old Nassau" containing several arrangements of the song, as well as an autobiography by the composer Karl Langlotz and a biography of the lyricist Harlan P. Peck printed between 1905 and 1906. The presentation edition was autographed by Langlotz.

In addition to a number of miscellaneous songbooks and songs with Princeton as their theme, the Princeton Music Collection includes five collegiate songbooks immortalizing a variety of colleges.

The final component of the collection is a series of sheet music consisting for the most part of spirit, football, and reunion songs. The sheet music includes autographed pieces by alumnus Kenneth S. Clark, Class of 1907 ("What Do We Want? Touchdown" and "Princeton Forward March"), J. F. Hewitt, Class of 1907 ("Come, Ye Men of Princeton"), Arthur H. Osborn, Class of 1907 ("The Princeton Cannon Song"), and Harold Nason, Class of 1898 ("Orange and Black March"). There is also a limited numbered edition of "Old Nassau" signed by Karl Langlotz.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into two series:

Collection History

Acquisition:: Alumni and their families donated a large portion of the collection to the University.
Appraisal: No appraisal information is available.
Processing Information: This collection was processed by Liza Gijanto with the help and supervision of John S. Weeren between January and March of 1999. Finding aid written by Liza Gijanto in 1999, John S. Weeren in January and March of 1999. Additions were made to the collection by Christie Peterson with assistance from Suchi Mandavilli '14 between November 2010 and January 2011.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.

For instances beyond Fair Use where the copyright is not held by the University, while permission from the Library is not required, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

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