Religion

One hallmark of the American experience captured in the Museum's collections is the nation's broad diversity of religious faiths. Artifacts range from Thomas Jefferson's Bible to a huge "Sunstone" sculpture carved for a Mormon temple in Illinois in 1844 to a household shrine from the home of a Pueblo Indian in the 1990s. Furniture, musical instruments, clothing, cooking ware, and thousands of prints and figures in the collections have all played roles in the religious lives of Americans. The most comprehensive collections include artifacts from Jewish and Christian European Americans, Catholic Latinos, Protestant Arab Americans, Buddhist and Christian Asian Pacific Americans, and Protestant African Americans. One notable group is the Vidal Collection of carved figures known as santos and other folk religious material from the practice of Santeria in Puerto Rico.

This sheet music is for the song “Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight (for Her Daddy Over There).” The song was written by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young, and the music was composed by M.K. Jerome. The sheet music was published by Waterson, Berlin and Snyder Co.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight (for Her Daddy Over There).” The song was written by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young, and the music was composed by M.K. Jerome. The sheet music was published by Waterson, Berlin and Snyder Co. of New York, New York in 1918. The cover features an illustration of a young girl kneeling on her bed in prayer, which is signed by Barbelle.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by American artist and designer Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957). With a prolific career spanning over forty years, Barbelle created cover art for sheet music and albums.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1918
lyricist
Lewis, Sam M.
Young, Joe
composer
Jerome, Maurice Kraus
publisher
Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co.
ID Number
1983.0313.07
accession number
1983.0313
catalog number
1983.0313.07
This sheet music is for the song “Easter Sunday with You,” words and music by Don Reid and Henry Tobias. It was published by Leo Feist, Inc. in New York, New York in 1944.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Easter Sunday with You,” words and music by Don Reid and Henry Tobias. It was published by Leo Feist, Inc. in New York, New York in 1944.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1944
lyricist; composer
Reid, Don
Tobias, Henry
publisher
Leo Feist, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0529.02
accession number
1983.0529
catalog number
1983.0529.02
This sheet music is for the sonfg “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!” with words and music by Frank Loesser. It was published by Famous Music Corp.
Description

This sheet music is for the sonfg “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!” with words and music by Frank Loesser. It was published by Famous Music Corp. in New York, New York in 1942.

On a Sunday morning in December 1941, a chaplain had his most difficult assignment — to say a prayer to sailors aboard a U.S. navy ship actively under low–flying attack by the enemy firing from all directions. He quickly realized the best he could do was walk the ammunition line saying, “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!” Stories of the overheard phrase quickly turned into legend and passed between soldiers, eventually reaching the press and one Broadway composer and lyricist, Frank Loesser. He served in the Radio Productions Unit charged with mounting shows of popular guest stars for boosting morale of the troops.

With the phrase as the song title, he combined the stories into one set of lyrics — fact mattered not as much as the need to inspire spirit. By 1943, the song, performed by Kay Kaiser and His Orchestra, had reached no. 1 on the Billboard chart, surpassing its peak of no. 8 the previous year when performed by the Merry Macs. Loesser donated his royalties for sale of the song to the Navy Relief Society. The chaplain originally quoted wished to remain anonymous, and the episode to remain legend. Many variations on the tale, the name of the chaplain, whether or not he himself manned a gun turret to participate in the battle, and the battle's whereabouts have existed over the years.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1942
composer
Loesser, Frank
depicted
Kyser, Kay
lyricist
Loesser, Frank
publisher
Famous Music Corp.
ID Number
1983.0424.108
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.108
This sheet music is for the song “The Rosary.” The lyrics come from a poem of the same name by Robert Cameron Rogers, and the music was composed by Georgia B. Welles. The sheet music was published by Eclipse Publishing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1908.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “The Rosary.” The lyrics come from a poem of the same name by Robert Cameron Rogers, and the music was composed by Georgia B. Welles. The sheet music was published by Eclipse Publishing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1908. The cover features a floral print background, and an inset illustration of a dark haired woman clutching a beaded rosary that is signed “Starmer.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1908
lyricist
Rogers, Robert Cameron
composer
Welles, Georgia B.
publisher
Eclipse Publishing
ID Number
1983.0424.020
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.020
This sheet music is for the song “Eli, Eli,” the opening words of Psalms 22:2, arranged and sung by Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt. It was published in New York, New York in 1919. Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt (1882-1933) was a Ukrainian-born cantor and composer.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Eli, Eli,” the opening words of Psalms 22:2, arranged and sung by Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt. It was published in New York, New York in 1919. Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt (1882-1933) was a Ukrainian-born cantor and composer.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1919
arranger
Rosenblatt, Joseph
ID Number
1986.0961.03
accession number
1986.0961
catalog number
1986.0961.03
This sheet music is for the song “Good-Bye, Good Luck, God Bless You.” This ballad had lyrics written by J. Keirn Brennan, and music composed by Ernest R. Bail. The sheet music was published by M. Witmark and Sons of New York City around 1916.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “Good-Bye, Good Luck, God Bless You.” This ballad had lyrics written by J. Keirn Brennan, and music composed by Ernest R. Bail. The sheet music was published by M. Witmark and Sons of New York City around 1916. The orange cover features a central illustration of a man wishing his woman farewell as she picks flowers. This sheet music is a good example of how many publishers used colorful covers to try to boost sales.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1916
lyricist
Brennan, J. Keirn
composer
Ball, Ernest R.
publisher
M. Witmark & Sons
M. Witmark & Sons
ID Number
1983.0424.011
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.011
This sheet music for the song "The Lord Is My Shepherd (23rd Psalm)" was written and composed by John B. Marsh and published by the William. A. Pond and Co. of New York, New York in 1898.
Description
This sheet music for the song "The Lord Is My Shepherd (23rd Psalm)" was written and composed by John B. Marsh and published by the William. A. Pond and Co. of New York, New York in 1898. This cover is plain paper with black text, but the phrase “The Lord” is underlined by the image of a shepherd’s staff. The contralto solo was written with affectionate regard to Mr. Warren Pond.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1898
composer
Marsh, John B.
publisher
William A. Pond & Co.
ID Number
1982.0439.35
accession number
1982.0439
catalog number
1982.0439.35
This sheet music for the song "The Shepherd Boy" was written and composed by G. D. Wilson. The song was published by the Armstrong Music Co. of New York, New York in 1903.
Description
This sheet music for the song "The Shepherd Boy" was written and composed by G. D. Wilson. The song was published by the Armstrong Music Co. of New York, New York in 1903. The cover features an illustration of a shepherd boy sitting on rocks among sheep and doing his best to woo a girl.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1903
composer
Wilson, G. D.
publisher
Armstrong Music Publishing Company
ID Number
1982.0439.30
accession number
1982.0439
catalog number
1982.0439.30
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1913
associated institution
Ku Klux Klan
composer
De Ree, Alira
publisher
Rodeheaver, Homer
maker
Rodeheaver, Homer
ID Number
1986.0309.07
accession number
1986.0309
catalog number
1986.0309.07
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1925
associated institution
Ku Klux Klan
publisher
Windle, Harry F.
lyricist; composer
Tillery, Noah F.
ID Number
1986.0309.09
accession number
1986.0309
catalog number
1986.0309.09
This sheet music is for the song “God Bless America,” written and composed by Irving Berlin, and published by Irving Berlin, Inc in 1938. Irving Berlin (1888–1989) wrote the song in 1918, at the end of World War I.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “God Bless America,” written and composed by Irving Berlin, and published by Irving Berlin, Inc in 1938. Irving Berlin (1888–1989) wrote the song in 1918, at the end of World War I. In 1938, with war again approaching, Berlin revised the work as a “peace song.” Kate Smith’s recording of the updated “God Bless America” became the number three hit in 1939.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1939
composer; lyricist
Berlin, Irving
publisher
Irving Berlin, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0320.07
accession number
1983.0320
catalog number
1983.0320.07
This sheet music is for the song “In the Chapel in the Moonlight” written and composed by Billy Hill. The song was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Company Inc. of New York City in 1936.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “In the Chapel in the Moonlight” written and composed by Billy Hill. The song was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Company Inc. of New York City in 1936. The bright yellow cover features an illustration of a man standing in a chapel in the moonlight, signed by Barbelle. There is a large inset photograph of performer Phil Regan on the right of the cover.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by American artist and designer Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957). With a prolific career spanning over forty years, Barbelle created cover art for sheet music and albums.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1936
composer; lyricist
Hill, Billy
publisher
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc.
ID Number
1983.0313.09
accession number
1983.0313
catalog number
1983.0313.09
This sheet music is for the song “Easter Parade” from the revue show As Thousands Cheer. Irving Berlin wrote the lyrics and composed the music to the song. Irving Berlin Inc.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “Easter Parade” from the revue show As Thousands Cheer. Irving Berlin wrote the lyrics and composed the music to the song. Irving Berlin Inc. of New York City published this sheet music in 1933.The bright red cover has a bottom silhouette illustration of people jubilantly marching in the Easter parade.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1933
composer
Berlin, Irving
publisher
Irving Berlin, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0424.144
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.144
This sheet music is for the song “White Christmas” from the film Holiday Inn. Irving Berlin wrote and composed the song, and Irving Berlin Inc. published this sheet music in 1942.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “White Christmas” from the film Holiday Inn. Irving Berlin wrote and composed the song, and Irving Berlin Inc. published this sheet music in 1942. The cover has several different still photographs from the film, which starred Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, and Virginia Dale.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1942
composer
Berlin, Irving
publisher
Irving Berlin, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0424.148
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.148
This sheet music is for the song “The Maiden's Prayer” which was composed by Thécla (Tekla) Badarzewska in 1856. The sheet music was published by the Armstrong Music Publishing Company in the early 1900s.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “The Maiden's Prayer” which was composed by Thécla (Tekla) Badarzewska in 1856. The sheet music was published by the Armstrong Music Publishing Company in the early 1900s. The white and red cover features an inset illustration of a maiden kneeling before a cross and candles in front of her window, as light shines down on her face. This song was published in Polish and French prior to being published in English, which is why the sub-title is “La Priére D’une Vierge.”
Location
Currently not on view
composer
Badarzewska, Thecla
publisher
Armstrong Music Publishing Company
ID Number
1983.0424.015
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.015
This sheet music is for the song “The Troubles of the Reuben and the Maid.” The lyrics were written by J. Cheever Goodwin and the music was composed by Maurice Levi. The sheet music was published by The Rogers Brothers Music Publishing Company in 1902.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “The Troubles of the Reuben and the Maid.” The lyrics were written by J. Cheever Goodwin and the music was composed by Maurice Levi. The sheet music was published by The Rogers Brothers Music Publishing Company in 1902. The cover features inset illustrations from the song, and the cover is signed by Starmer. The tune came from the musical farce “The Rogers Brothers in Harvard” that was created by John J. McNally.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1902
lyricist
Goodwin, J. Cheever
composer
Levi, Maurice
publisher
Rogers Brothers
ID Number
1983.0424.051
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.051
This sheet music for the song "There's A Quaker Down in Quaker Town" was written by David Berg and composed by Alfred Soloman. The music was published by the Joe Morris Music Company of New York, New York in 1916.
Description
This sheet music for the song "There's A Quaker Down in Quaker Town" was written by David Berg and composed by Alfred Soloman. The music was published by the Joe Morris Music Company of New York, New York in 1916. The blue cover features an illustrated image of a Quaker girl walking through a village, with an image of four white flowers to her right.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1916
composer
Soloman, Alfred
lyricist
Berg, David
publisher
Joe Morris Music Company
ID Number
1982.0439.06
accession number
1982.0439
1982.0439
catalog number
1982.0439.06
This sheet music is for the song “Rock Me to Sleep Mother.” The song’s lyrics were written by Florence Percy (the pen name for Elizabeth Akers Allen) and the music was composed by John H. Hewitt. The sheet music was published by Julian A.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Rock Me to Sleep Mother.” The song’s lyrics were written by Florence Percy (the pen name for Elizabeth Akers Allen) and the music was composed by John H. Hewitt. The sheet music was published by Julian A. Selby of Columbia, South Carolina in 1861. The song expresses a desire to give up the sorrows of life and go back to being a child, being rocked to sleep by mother.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1861
lyricist
Percy, Florence
composer
Hewitt, John H.
publisher
Selby, Julian A.
ID Number
1983.0365.03
accession number
1983.0365
catalog number
1983.0365.03
This sheet music for the song "At a Georgia Camp Meeting," was written and composed by Kerry Mills and published by F.A. Mills in New York, New York in 1897.
Description
This sheet music for the song "At a Georgia Camp Meeting," was written and composed by Kerry Mills and published by F.A. Mills in New York, New York in 1897. The cover proclaims the song “a characteristic march which can be used effectively as a two-step, polka, or cake walk,” and shows images of blacks having a dignified party. The cake walk was often the last song at a dance and the best dancing couple was awarded a cake (the origin of the phrase “taking the cake”).
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1897
composer
Mills, Kerry
user
Woodside, Lura
publisher
F. A. Mills
ID Number
1979.1154.18
accession number
1979.1154
catalog number
1979.1154.18

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