Borowitz Sheet Music collection

Finding Aid

Prepared by Stephanie Wachalec, September 23, 2003; Updated August 7, 2007; Last Updated: May 2020

Inclusive Dates: ca. 1850-1985
Extent:  56 cubic feet (96 small newspaper boxes and 73 document cases)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Scope and Content: This collection of nearly 7000 pieces of sheet music was donated by Albert and Helen Borowitz. It contains a wide variety of sheet music from the mid-19th century to contemporary music of the mid-1980s. Popular music from the inclusive dates as well as early musical productions of the nineteenth century and musical productions from most of the twentieth century are included. Some notable large holdings include composers Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Harry Warren and performers and productions such as Al Jolson and the Ziegfeld Follies.

Arrangement: The music is arranged by composer, performer, production, or genre (ie: French, Blues, Literary, etc.). The music is further separated by size: large format and modern (smaller) format. Please note that some large format items are contained in the modern format listing because they had been cut down in size by previous owners, due to tearing.

Related Materials: See also the Borowitz Song Books, Musical Scores, and Music Albums, ca. 1845-1986 which complements the sheet music collection. For additional sheet music, see the Donald MacLaren Simmons Sheet Music Collection.

Conditions Governing Reproduction: All photocopies will be provided in compliance with the Duplication Policy of the Department of Special Collections and Archives. Photocopies are provided for research purposes only. Due to staff time involved, we cannot provide lyrics from sheet music, via email. If you need the lyrics for a particular piece, you will need to simply request a photocopy of the sheet music in question.

Requests for information about this collection should be directed to the specialcollections [at] kent.edu (Department of Special Collections and Archives).

Alphabetical Listing
(Click on letters below to browse entries alphabetically by category or use the site search box below.)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M-ME MI-MZ N O P R S T V W Y Z