Religion

Page from the Koran

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.

Topic: World War, 1914-1918

“Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight (for Her Daddy Over There)”

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

German Shelters Near Varennes

Charcoal sketch on paper of German dugouts and shelters built on the side of a hill near Varennes, France. Shell-torn buildings are visible at the top of the hill at center. Railroad tracks run next to the hill at right.
Description
Charcoal sketch on paper of German dugouts and shelters built on the side of a hill near Varennes, France. Shell-torn buildings are visible at the top of the hill at center. Railroad tracks run next to the hill at right. On the left at the top of a set of stairs is apparently a makeshift cemetery with several crosses for gravestones. People can be seen walking among the various shelters and dugouts on the hill.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-10
associated date
1917 - 1918
associated person
War Department
Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
artist
Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
ID Number
AF.25834
catalog number
25834
accession number
64592

"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!"

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

“Good-Bye, Good Luck, God Bless You”

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

March of the Klansmen, The

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

"God Bless America"

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

A Prayer Book for Sailors and Soldiers

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1917
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U07

The Church at Lucy

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1917-1918
maker
Signal Corps' Army Pictorial Service and Army Communications Service
ID Number
2015.0076.0012
accession number
2015.0076
catalog number
2015.0076.0012

The Yanks Never Forget How to Sing

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-10-18
maker
Signal Corps' Army Pictorial Service and Army Communications Service
ID Number
2013.0327.0698
accession number
2013.0327
catalog number
2013.0327.0698

Singing in the Church

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-11-05
maker
Signal Corps' Army Pictorial Service and Army Communications Service
ID Number
2013.0327.0656
catalog number
2013.0327.0656
accession number
2013.0327

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