Sam DeVincent loved music and art and began collecting sheet music with lithographs at an early age.
Series 2: Armed Forces contains circa 3,400 pieces of sheet music and song folios documenting the military history of the United States; there are only a handful of foreign imprints.
An overview to the entire DeVincent collection is available here: Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music.
Scope and Contents note:
The Armed Forces series contains circa 3,400 pieces of sheet music and song folios documenting the military history of the United States; there are only a handful of foreign imprints. The World War I subseries (2.4) is particularly impressive with circa 1,150 items. The Post-World War II subseries (2.6) is very small. Some additional military items can be found in the DeVincent file for Presidents of the United States.
The illustrated covers offer the military historian fine portraits of well-known officers, visual evidence about uniforms and other military regalia, and dramatic portrayals of battle scenes. The series also contains material of interest to the social and cultural historian as well as the musicologist. The changing character of the songs indicates something about the accepted public face of different eras--from the Civil War's anguished songs of youthful death to the World War II songs of near denial of the possibility of death; from the Civil War's primary relationship of the soldier boy to his mother to a World War II emphasis upon the relationship of the young service man to his girlfriend.
The material dates from circa 1810 to 1983. Many early imprints are in the armed forces series, subseries 2.1--Pre-Civil War. Most pre-1840 imprints are not dated. Estimates have been made for the dates of many early imprints by checking publisher and address of the publisher in the "Index of Publishers, Engravers and Printers" in volume III of Richard Wolfe's Secular Music in America 1801-1825: A Bibliography and in Oscar Sonneck's A Bibliography of Early Secular American Music. Several sheets that appear to be very old could not be dated by this method.
The Ephemera file, arranged in the same subseries as the sheet music, is described after the subseries. The armed forces ephemera file is placed in two document boxes numbered with the same series and subseries numbers as the sheet music.
The seven subseries in the armed forces series are arranged chronologically except for the last subseries, Naval History. These subseries includes: 2.1 Pre-Civil War; 2.2 Civil War; 2.3 Pre-World War I; 2.4 World War I; 2.5 World War II; 2.6 Post-World War II; 2.7 Naval History; 2.8 Marine Corps.
Arrangement:
Arranged in 9 subseries.
2.1: Pre-Civil War
2.2: Civil War
2.3: Pre-World War I
2.4: World War I
2.5: World War II
2.6: Post -World War
2.7: Naval History
2.8: Marine Corps
2.9: Ephemera
Materials in Other Organizations:
Sam DeVincent Collection of American Sheet Music, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
This collection contains duplicates of materials in the Smithsonian collection, as well as materials acquired by Mr. DeVincent after the donation to the Smithsonian. The phonograph records described above were transferred to the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History:
Donald J. Stubblebine Collection of Musical Theater and Motion Picture Sheet Music and Reference Material, 1843-2010 (AC1211)
Forms Part Of:
Series 2: Armed Forces forms part of the
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music
.
An ongoing, updated list of DeVincent topical series is available via the Smithsonian finding aid portal.
Series 2: Armed Forces forms part of the Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music .
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music
Series 1: Transportation
Series 2: Armed Forces
Series 3: African-American Music
Series 4: Songwriters Volumes I and II
Series 5: Politics and Political Movements
Series 6: Moving Pictures and Movie Stars
Series 7: Sports
Series 8: Geography
Series 9: Domestic and Community Life
Series 10: Sacred Music and Religious Themes
Series 11: Entertainment
Series 12: Plants and Animals
Series 13: Agriculture, Business, and Law
Series 14: Calendar, Time, and Weather
Series 15: Holidays and Celebrations
Series 16: Country, Western, and Folk Music
Series 17: The Human Condition, Physical, Mental, Behavioral
Series 18: Dance
Series 19: Art and Literature
Series 20: Newspapers
Series 21: Musical Instruments
Provenance:
This collection was purchased by the Smithsonian Institution in 1988 from Sam and Nancy Lee DeVincent.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Citation:
The Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of the collection was funded by the Getty Grant Program; digitization of the collection was funded by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art. Glass plate negatives in this collection were digitized in 2019 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
United States Women in Aviation 1940-1985 Research Materials, NASM.1995.0062, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
This subseries consists primarily of personal correspondence, including holiday cards and invitations, although letters related to commissions and exhibitions are scattered throughout.
This subseries includes the letters of W. Langdon Kihn, Alfred and Carrie Kihn (his parents), and Helen Kihn (his wife). Langdon Kihn's correspondence contains letters to his parents from his early trips out west, and drafts and fragments of letters to colleagues promoting his early exhibitions. There is also a selection of Christmas cards of his own design, which he sent to friends and family.
Notable correspondents, most of whom are also represented in the chronological correspondence, include the Canadian ethnographer, Marius Barbeau; well-known collectors, Dale and Maud Chester and Sir Henry Wellcome; artists Maynard Dixon and Guy Wiggins; French biophysicist and philosopher Pierre du Noüy; and military historian Captian Russell V. Steele, whose letters frequently include illustrations of soldiers in military uniforms.
Arrangement note:
Folders are arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent name. Letters and letter fragments with missing or illegible signatures have been filed in a folder titled "Unidentified," which is located at the end of this subseries.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
W. Langdon Kihn papers, 1904-1990, bulk 1904-1957. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art
National Air and Space Museum. Department of Space History Search this
Extent:
6 cu. ft. (6 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1983-1993
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of correspondence, memoranda, meeting agenda and notes, exhibition proposals and research, and program development records which were created
by military historian Gregg Herken, Chairman of the Department of Space History, National Air and Space Museum.
National Air and Space Museum. Space History Division Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Black-and-white photographs
Color transparencies
Date:
1988-2001
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records documenting the research, professional, and programmatic activities of Gregg F. Herken, Senior Historian and Curator, 1988-2003,
and Chair, 1988-1996. Herken specialized in military history, especially atomic weapons and the Cold War. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, research files, lecture
scripts, grant materials, trip reports, manuscripts, object images, and related materials. The Space History Division was previously named the Department of Space History.
This accession consists personal papers created by military historian Gregg Herken, Chairman of the Department of Space History, National Air and Space Museum. These
papers contain research notes for his three books, Cardinal Choices: Presidential Science Advising From the Atomic Bomb to SDI, The Winning Weapon: The Atomic Bomb
in the Cold War, 1945-1950, and Counsels of War. Included are notes from telephone interviews, background material for oral history interviews, articles, and other
notes.
Restrictions:
Donor permission required, Transferring office; 2/8/1996 Agreement of Transfer; Contact reference staff for details.
Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, 1967-1968, 1970-1972, 1976. Correspondents include Lee F. Murray. Partly concerns a lecture given in 1972 by Louis Casey at a meeting of military historians in Chilliwack.
Collection Creator::
National Air and Space Museum. Department of Aeronautics Search this
Container:
Box 4 of 73
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 330, National Air and Space Museum. Department of Aeronautics, Correspondence
National Air and Space Museum (U.S.). Associate Director for Collections and Research Search this
Container:
Box 1 of 2
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 02-178, National Air and Space Museum (U.S.), Associate Director for Collections and Research, Subject Files
The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives'
record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program
staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted
by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Pogue was interviewed for the Oral History Collection because of his distinguished career in military history and pioneering role in the field of oral history.
Descriptive Entry:
This interview of Pogue by University of Maryland student James Tapley in 1986 covers his education, military service, research and administrative careers. The collection
consists of 1.0 hours of audiotape recording and 28 pages of transcript.
Historical Note:
Forrest C. Pogue (1912-1996), military historian, received the A.B. from Murray State College in 1931, M.A. from the University of Kentucky in 1932, and Ph.D. from
Clark University in 1939. He taught for several years before joining the historical section of the United States Army during World War II. He pioneered the use of oral history
interviews to compile battlefield histories. He was appointed Director of the George C. Marshall Research Center in 1956 and later directed the Marshall Library and Marshall
Research Foundation until 1974. During this time, he began a four volume biography of General George C. Marshall. In 1974, Pogue was named Director of the newly established
Eisenhower Institute for Military Research at the Smithsonian and continued in that position until his retirement in 1986.
Rights:
Restricted. Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.
The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives'
record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program
staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted
by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Philip K. Lundeberg was interviewed for the Oral History Collection to document his career as Curator of Naval History at the National Museum of American History and because
of his seminal role in the development of museum security practices at the Smithsonian.
Descriptive Entry:
Lundeberg was interviewed in 2000 and 2002 by Smithsonian Institution Archives Historian Pamela M. Henson. The interviews discuss his childhood and education, service
in the U.S. Navy during World War II, years teaching at St. Olaf's College and the U.S. Naval Academy, and career at the Smithsonian as a curator in the Division of Naval
History, including exhibits, collections acquisitions, research and publications, reminiscences of colleagues, and work on the first museum security committee at the Smithsonian.
The collection consists of 6.0 hours of audiotape recording and 170 pages of transcript.
Historical Note:
Philip Karl Boraas Lundeberg (1923- ) was Curator of Naval History at the National Museum of American History. Lundeberg was born on 14 June 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
and grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where his father was a professor at Duke University. He received the B.A. from Duke University in 1994, majoring in history. He served
in the U.S. Navy for the remainder of World War II, surviving the sinking of the U.S.S. Frederick Davis in 1945. He pursued graduate studies at Duke University, receiving
the M.A. in 1946, and Harvard University, receiving the Ph.D. in 1954. From 1951 to 1953, he worked for the Office of Naval History under Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison, preparing
a history of the Battle of the Atlantic. Lundeberg then taught at St. Olaf's College from 1953 to 1955 and the U.S. Naval Academy from 1955 to 1959.
In 1959, he joined the staff of the Division of Naval History at the National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History (NMAH). From
1962 to 1984, Lundeberg was Curator of Naval History. In 1984, when the Divisions of Naval and Military History were merged to form the Division of Armed Forces History, he
was named Curator of Armed Forces History. Following his retirement in 1986, he was named Curator Emeritus of Armed Forces History in 1987. During his career at the NMAH,
Lundeberg oversaw the acquisition of the gunboat Philadelphia and worked on exhibits including Magnificent Voyagers. During the 1970s, he became involved in
the first committee to develop policies for museum security at the Smithsonian and at the International Council of Museums, working with Robert G. Tillotson.
Rights:
Restricted. Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.
