It all started with
a box of movie sheet music at a garage sale.
Coupled with a childhood love of movies and the desire to start a
collection that that would one day be a gift that would benefit scholars and
researchers, and you have the origins of the Vince Meades Popular American
Sheet Music Collection.
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| Mr. Meades |
Donated to San
Diego State University’s Library in 1998 by Mr. Meades, the Vince Meades Collection
has grown to include over 250,000 pieces of sheet music, 15,000 long-playing
vinyl records, and 990 books on the entertainment industry. All genres and themes are represented within
the collection, with the sheet music portion of the collection dating back to
the end of the Civil War. While popular
music from movies is the strongest category within the collection, it also
includes music from television and radio, as well as music from Broadway
musicals.
Not only is the collection a valuable resource for
researching the history and
development of American musical theatre and 20th century musical films;
it also serves as a record of American history.
In addition to providing a reflection of common emotions, values, and
experiences through popular song lyrics, the sheet music also features cover
artwork that is illustrative of its respective time period.
The Vince Meades
Popular American Sheet Music Collection offers a sampling of the work
created during the Roaring Twenties by many legendary writers and artists –
which includes numerous beloved jazz and musical theatre standards. Currently, a portion of this collection is
displayed in the 24/7 exhibit case to focus on Broadway’s busiest decade
and the legacy of late 1920s musicals.
Collaborating with
Special Collections and Arts Alive, the School of Theatre, Television, and Film
and the entire production team of The Drowsy Chaperone are thrilled to
highlight this important collection!
For more about our
collaboration, visit:
