Manuscript Collection

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CENTER FOR POPULAR MUSIC, MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, MURFREESBORO, TN

 

PRINTING PLATES COLLECTION                                                               05-023, 14-054

 

 

Type of Material:

Metal Printing Plates

 

Physical Description:

18 boxes of rare book and sheet music printing plates, totaling 131 plates

 

Dates:

circa 1911-1969

 

Abstract (Descriptive Summary):

This collection includes 129 metal printing plates for rare books and 2 for sheet music. The rare book plates are mainly for hymnal tunes, many of them in shape-note format. The sheet music plates are for a cover and a first page printed by the A.J. Stasny Music Company.

 

RESTRICTIONS:

All materials in this collection are subject to standard national and international copyright laws. Center staff are able to assist with copyright questions for this material.

Boxes marked [OXIDIZED] pose severe health concerns to patrons due to the oxidation of the metal – access is only allowed via permission of the Center Archivist.

 

Provenance and Acquisition Information:

This in an artificially assembled collection that has drawn materials from two sources. The “rare book” printing plates come from the Charles K. Wolfe Manuscript Collection (05-023). Dr. Wolfe’s widow, Mary Dean Wolfe, donated the plates following the death of her husband in 2006. The “folio” and “sheet music” printing plates were included with the Paul A. Riseman Collection (14-054). These materials were donated to the Center by Mr. Riseman’s widow, Wanda Riseman, in March of 2015.

 

Subject/Index Terms:

Printing plates

Hymns

Shape-note hymnals

Gospel music

A. J. Stasny Music Co.

 

Scope and Content:

This collection contains metal printing plates used for rare book and sheet music printing. Series 1 includes 54 printing plates of hymnal tunes, many of which are in shape note format, from circa 1937-1969. Several plates have songs that were written and/or printed by Mr. M.H. Woodard, who had a very successful family printing business of gospel music books. Series 2 also contains 73 hymnal tunes of the same nature as Series 1; however, these printing plates are mounted on wooden blocks. Boxes 5-9 of this series are oxidized and have been separated from the other mounted plates due to health risks.

 

Series 3 contains 2 folio printing plates used by the A.J. Stasny Music Company. This series contains a plate for an advertisement for two other books published by the Stasny Company and a cover plate for “Al Bernard’s Modern Spirituals.” Series 4 includes 2 sheet music printing plates. One plate is for the first page of “Thurston (March & Two-Step)” by Anthony J. Stasny, published in 1911 by the A.J. Stasny Music Company. The second is the cover page for “The Clarinet Polka (Will Tingle-Ingle in Your Heart),” also published by Stasny Music.

 

Collection Contents (Box List):

18 boxes total. 4 series.

 

Series 1 - Rare Book Printing Plates (alphabetical)

Box 1

Are You Ready to Go - Rev. Carl Loy (1965)

Awake and Sing

The Beautiful City - Rev. Dr. James L. Lowe (1965)

Beautiful Haven - M.H. Woodard (1965)

Beautiful Home Awaiting - N. Poley Hardwick (1965)

Be Not Weary - M.H. Woodard (1956)

Beyond the Hills is Home - H.A. Hardin

Christ Jesus Leads - Lonnie E. Hardin (1965)

 

Box 2

Christ Will Come Again - William R. Wallace (1965)

The Crystal River - M.H. Woodard (1957)

Every Moment - L.L. Hornsby (1965)

God Is Good - M.H. Woodard (1965)

God's Tender Mercies - T.E. Woodard (1965)

Glory Revealed - Rev. Carl Loy (1965)

Heavenly Father - T.E. Woodward (1965)

He'll Give You Comfort - Gordon Terrell (1965)

 

Box 3

He's Coming Back Again - N. Poley Hardwick (1965)

The Highway of Life - Rev. J.D. Vardaman (1965)

The Hill Top of Glory - C.B. Woodard (1965)

Hold On - Viba Munden Nixon (1965)

The Homeland Is Drawing Near - Eugene McCammon (1965)

I'm Waiting the Call - K. Wayne Gully (1965)

I've Preached and Sung a Long Time - H.Z. Doc Tanksley (1965)

I Left the World - Rev. Dr. Alfred Barratt (1965)

 

Box 4

I Will Look Unto the Lord - Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Eargle

I Will Walk With God - A.J. Thompson/M.H. Woodard (1965)

Jesus Watching and Waiting - M.H. Woodard (1965)

Jesus Will Do What He Says

Jesus Will Guide Me - M.H. Woodard (1965)

Jesus Will Not Pass Me by - Dolphus R. Roper/M.H. Woodard (1965)

Just Wait Upon the Lord - Rev. Carl Loy (1965)

Keep Sight to Christ - W. Sephus Cruce/M.H. Woodard (1965)

 

Box 5

Prepare To Meet Him - E.R. Ward (1965)

The Promised Land - Samuel Stennett

Quit You like Me - M.H. Woodard (1965)

Revive Us Again - W.M. P. Mckay

Room Enough in Heaven for All - Mrs. Frank Osborn/E.R. Ward (1965)

Saviour, Let Us Walk with Thee - B.F. White/M.H. Woodward (1965)

Saviour of Calvary - M.H. Woodard (1965)

Show Others the Way - M.H. Woodard (1965)

 

Box 6

Soaring Wings - M.H. Woodard (1965)

Something Calls - Wayne D. Catner (1965)

Song and Story - M.H. Woodard (1965)

The Stars Will Fall - O.P. Nunley (1965)

That Sunless Land - Rev. Dr. Alfred Barratt/M.H. Woodard (1957)

There's a Beautiful Land

There's a Crown of Glory for You - Rev. Carl Loy/M.H. Woodard (1965)

Time Is Precious - M.H. Woodard (1965)

 

Box 7

Turn Away From Sin - E.R. Ward (1965)

The Way That Leads to Glory - E.B. Hornsby (1965)

What a Glad Time - Rufus L. Hardwick/M.H. Woodard (1965)

What A Time We'll Have Together - Rev. Carl Loy/M.H. Woodard

When I Met My Saviour - U.G. Carr/M.H. Woodard (1965)

Wonderful Jesus - J.L. Freeman (1965)

 

 

Series 2 - Rare Book Mounted Printing Blocks (alphabetical)

Box 1

A cross for a Crown – Bill Stewart Hr. (1960)

Be Faithful in Each Task – Avis L. Hasford (1962)

Come to the Savior – George R. Root

Crown Him Lord of All – T.E. Woodard

Happy All the Time – L. Duke (1937)

I Talked With My Saviour – M.H. Woodard (1959)

In the Happy By and By – Avis L. Hasford

In Time of Storms He Leadeth Me – C.B. Woodard (1945)

Just Look Up and Follow Him – Lonnie C. Williams (1962)

 

Box 2

Let the Hallelujahs Roll – Edgar Baker (1962)

Let Us Be Grateful – H.M. Woodard (1959)

Magnify His Name – Dr. Alfred Barratt (1959)

Marching On the Glory Road

Marching On the Glory Road

Morning, Evening, Night – M.H. Woodard (1961)

Moses A True Leader

My Faith is Calling to Thee – Dr. Alfred Barratt

My Saviour Remembers Me

 

Box 3

Oh, Let Us Give Praise

On the Wall – Dolphus Roper (1962)

Pray Like Daniel – Thomas M. Stevens

Prayer – Dolphus R. Roper (1962)

Rest in the Kingdom for Me – C.B. Woodard (1945)

Rocket Ship of Love – H.H. Conway (1962)

Rocket Ship of Love

Sing Happy Praises – M.H. Woodard (1962)

Sing Praises to Jehova – Thomas M. Stevens (1962)

 

Box 4

That Golden Shore – Dr. Alfred Barratt (1959)

That Sunless Land

The Counsel of the Lord – M.H. Woodard (1959)

The Hills of God – M.H. Woodard (1959)

The Saviour’s Waiting – U.G. Carr (1966)

To My Mother – Dolphus R. Roper (1962)

Tones of Melody – M.H. Woodard (1956)

Walk Up-Right – T.E. Woodard (1963)

Whisper His Name in Prayer – Freddie L. Carr

 

*Boxes 5-8 are labeled [OXIDIZED] and are listed alphabetically

 

Box 5 [OXIDIZED]

A Dream of Heaven

Be Faithful to the Savior

Glorified in Thee – T.E. Woodard (1959)

God is With Us – M.H. Woodard (1959)

Gold Holds the Future

His Blood Atoned for Me

I Need My Saviour

I’m Going Home – Louis E. Johnson (1959)

I’m Going Home – M.H. Woodard

 

Box 6 [OXIDIZED]

Jesus Rescued Me – M.H. Woodard

Let Us Sing – M.H. Woodard (1959)

Love’s In My Heart

Moses A True Leader – U.G. Carr (1963)

My Guide and Stay – M.H. Woodard (1959)

My Presence Shall Go With Thee

Nobody Else But Jesus

On Heaven’s Shore – M.H. Woodard (1959)

Rest in the Kingdom for Me

 

Box 7 [OXIDIZED]

Teach Me Thy Paths – P.J. Woodard (1957)

Teach Us the Way – M.H. Woodard (1959)

That Golden Shore – Dr. Alfred Barratt (1969)

The Great Glad Day – T.B. Mosley

The Light of His Love – P.J. Woodard (1959)

The New Born King – M.H. Woodard

There Is a Land – M.H. Woodard (1959)

When I Awake – M.H. Woodard (1959)

Whisper a Prayer – M.H. Woodard (1959)

 

Box 8 [OXIDIZED]

With Me Every Moment – T.E. Woodard (1959)

With Me Every Moment

Wondrous Joy and Gladness – P.J. Woodard (1959)

 

*Boxes 9 is labeled [EXTREMELY OXIDIZED] and is listed alphabetically

 

Box 9 [EXTREMELY OXIDIZED]

God is With Us

I know there’s a Home

My Guide and Stay – M.H. Woodard and Dr. Alfred Barratt

That Beautiful Home – James Rowe and M.H. Woodard

The World’s Redeemer

While the Years Roll On – M.H. Woodard

[?] – Unreadable tune

 

 

Series 3 - Folio Printing Plates

Box 1

“Two Great Books! - ‘Magic Steel Guitarist’ & ‘Faye and Cleo’s Home Song Favorites’” (folio advertisement)

“Al Bernard’s Modern Spirituals” – Stasny Music (folio cover)

 

 

Series 4 - Sheet Music Printing Plates

Box 1 [OXIDIZED]

“Thurston (March & Two-Step)” – by Anthony J. Stastny, 1911, J. Stastny Music Co. (first page of sheet music)

“The Clarinet Polka (Will Tingle-Ingle in Your Heart)” – Stasny Music (sheet music cover)

 

Arrangement:

Arranged into 18 boxes, grouped into 4 “series” and divided based on the condition of the material:

Series 1. Rare book printing plates: boxes 1-7, arranged alphabetically.

Series 2. Rare book mounted printing blocks: boxes 1-4, arranged alphabetically; boxes 5-8 are separated because of oxidation, and are also arranged alphabetically. Box 9 is labeled [EXTREMELY OXIDIZED] and is arranged alphabetically within this box.

Series 3. Folio printing plates: arranged by size.

Series 4. Sheet music printing plates: arranged by size.

 

Location:

All boxes are located in the Center’s closed stacks area, housed on shelving adjacent to the larger rare book collection.

 

Related Materials:

The Center has secondary sources related to gospel music and music printing available in the Reading Room and searchable through the MTSU Walker Library main catalog. The Center’s large collection of printed hymnals and gospel songbooks are also searchable via the Center’s online InMagic database. In addition to these, the M.H. Woodard Manuscripts and Gospel Songbook Collection (01-023) contains manuscript papers and shape note gospel songbooks printed by Mr. Woodard. Also, the Ruebush-Kieffer Company Corporate Collection (07-010), a digital manuscript collection chronicling the origins and business operations of this successful gospel music publishing company, is available upon request.

 

The Center contains a collection of over 75,500 pieces of printed sheet music of all formats and genres, including sheet music from the Paul A. Riseman Collection (14-054) in which the “sheet music” printing plates were removed from. Mr. Riseman was an avid collector of vintage jazz records and a sheet music and movie memorabilia dealer. Individual pieces of sheet music are searchable via the Center’s online InMagic database.

 

 

 

Processed and preserved by Luke Graves, October 2015-May 2016

Rehoused and finding aid written by Rachel K. Morris, October 2016