Robert Watson Schmertz was born in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Squirrel Hill in 1898. He was the grandson of Robert Schmertz, the owner of Schmertz & Company, the Duquesne Glass Works and a director of the Pittsburgh Bank For Savings in the late 1800's.
Robert found his musical inspiration when the clan Schmertz would gather for family orchestras, a sort of inter-generational hootenanny where he would sing and strum the banjo with the kin. The banjo was copacetic; someone left it at the house and young Schmertz, who had never played an instrument, picked it up. Little did he know then where that long-necked, five-string banjo would lead him.
Schmertz went to Peabody High School, where he first met his wife, Mildred. He then enrolled at Carnegie Tech (now CMU), where he was part of its first school of architecture class and co-wrote the Tartan spirit song "Fight for the Glory of Carnegie."
Robert and Mildred had a son and two daughters: John, Mildred, and Gretchen.
Schmertz taught as a professor for 35 years in the School of Architecture at Carnegie Tech and operated a thriving private practice out of the Seventh Avenue Century Building in town, a few short blocks from where his grandfather ran his business.
He planned the construction of St. Michael's of the Valley Church in Rector, Mt. Lebanon Presbyterian Church's Education Building, Morewood Gardens in Oakland, the renovation of Latrobe's Unity Chapel and was part of the Saxonburg Cyclotron design team (it closed in 1969; it was a nuclear lab campus for Carnegie Tech, complete with its own atom-smasher, that was situated at the spot where KDKA once broadcast) among his many projects. He also designed homes for several prominent local families during his career.
His reputation as a composer and folk performer spread by word-of-mouth beyond the city, with many of his tunes based on Pittsburgh's own lore. It took years for his friends to convince Schmertz to get his music on vinyl. In 1949 a group of friends donated money and bought Schmertz recording time at a local studio. The resulting 78 LP was only pressed 300 times, but had a big influence.
People in folk circles likened him to a contemporary Stephen Foster, and his earthy lyrics won him the title of "Troubadour of the Two by Four." None other than Pete Seeger recalled that "Bob Schmertz was a very good songwriter."
Sometimes derivative in his music, his writing was a brilliant example of the genre. He could rhyme any couplet, keep the words in appropriate dialect and make them flow off a singer's tongue. Telling a simple folk story through song was his forte, and not one easily mastered.
Pete Seeger recorded "Monongahela Sal," a song Schmertz had written in 1947, on the "Story Songs" album from 1961. Burl Ives, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Statler Brothers and Gary Crosby all recorded versions of "Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord." Ives was a particular fan of Schmertz, recording his "Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee," "The Lock Tenders Lament," and "Quack Quack Paddle-Oh." Local folkies The NewLanders included "Monongahela Sal" on their 2003 CD "Where the Allegheny Flows."
But Seeger is the guy who shined the spotlight on Bob Schmertz. Beside "Sal," he played other Schmertz compositions all around America, and always credited the writer. He wasn't alone; every folkie that came through the City visited and often played alongside Schmertz.
Seeger appeared with the American Wind Symphony in the early sixties, performing from their floating stage "Point Counterpoint," which was moored at Point State Park. He brought Schmertz on stage to join him in singing "Monongahela Sal" and several other songs.
But most of Schmertz's performances were at small stages and often concluded in the wee hours at local homes after the gig. He also collaborated with Chatham College's Viv Richman, who recorded 1959's "Vivien Richman Sings Folk Songs of Western Pennsylvania," a Smithsonian Folkways release.
Schmertz did eventually give up his studio shyness in his later years. He recorded three more albums, 1955's "Robert Schmertz Sings His Songs," 1959's "Sing Oh! the City Oh!: Songs of Early Pittsburgh," and 1960's "Ladies Beware of an Architect: Songs for Architects and Their Girlfriends."
His first real LP, "RS Sings His Songs," was a George Heid Productions disc, assisted by Carnegie Tech. It included a couple of his better known songs, "Monongahela Sal" and "Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee," among its thirteen tracks.
The album "Songs of Early Pittsburgh," is a collection of tunes Schmertz wrote to celebrate Pittsburgh's 200th birthday bash. The songs featured the rock stars of pre-revolutionary Western PA like George Washington, Christopher Gist, General John Forbes and Seneca Queen Aliquippa. Some of its other tracks were "La Vierge de la Belle Riviere," "Flintlock Finnegan," and "The Prettiest Girl in Pittsburgh Town." This LP is the only one of his works to make a transition from vinyl, reissued as a CD by the Smithsonian Folkways label.
His final "Ladies Beware" was a tongue-in cheek sort of release, and was distributed by the Pittsburgh Architectural Club during its 70th anniversary. It had tunes commemorating Frank Lloyd Wright, IM Pei and Lorenzo Di Medici, along with "The Doric Column Is Coming Back," "Industrious Carpenter Dan" and "Queen Anne's Front" that played to the whimsy of the blueprint set.
He also authored "A Picture Book of Songs and Ballads." That's all the body of work that Bob Schmertz, who passed away in 1975, has left behind.
Additional Schmertz-related material may be found at CMU's Ryan Library as part of the school's architectural archives.
http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.com/2012/05/bob-schmertz-banjo-folklorist.html
Robert Schmertz Collection, 1898-2001, CAM.SCHM.2015, Center for American Music, University of Pittsburgh
This collection was processed by Kathryn Miller Haines in September 2015.
All of Mr. Schmertz's music pieces and sound recordings are still under copyright. It is up to the user to secure appropriate permissions for reproduction purposes.
There are no restrictions in this collection.
The Robert Schmertz Collection was donated to the Center for American Music in 2000 by Schmertz's daughter, Gretchen Schmertz-Jacobs. Additional items were collected by the Center related to Schmertz-Jacobs death and subsequent memorial service.
The Robert Schmertz Collection contains instruments, concert posters and programs, music manuscripts, published scores, songbooks, photos, and sound recordings of Schmertz' own performances and those of the major recording artists who recorded his works, including Burl Ives and Pete Seeger.
The collection is arranged into the following 11 series:
Series I. Instruments
Series II. Concert Posters and Programs
Series III. Music Manuscripts
Series IV. Published Scores
Series V. Poems
Series VI. Plays
Series VII. Photographs
Series VIII. Newsclippings
Series IX. Songbooks
Series X. Sound Recordings
Series XI. Miscellaneous
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This series contains posters and programs related do Schmertz's public performances.
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Concert program. 6 pages.
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Program for QED Children's Festival Chorus performance.
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Program for concert series by the Allegheny Historic Preservation Society.
Poster advertising a Hootenanny at the Carnegie Lecture Hall, Oakland. Brown cardboard with black screen printing. Correction made in marker.
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Program for A Celebration of Gretchen Schmertz Jacob, September 16, 2001, Hazlett Theater.
This series contains manuscripts of Schmertz authored songs written in his hand.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. Ink on paper. 4 pages. Written by Robert Schmertz and Matthew W. Frey.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 3 pages.
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Music Manuscript. 3 pages. Words by Robert Schmertz. Music by Robert Schmertz and Adolph Herzberg.
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music manuscript. 1 page.
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music manuscript. 1 page. arranged by J.L. Rosen.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. 2 copies (one on photostat).
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music pages. 4 pages. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music manuscripts. 1 page each song. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Music manuscript. 4 pages. Words by Robert Schmertz, Music by Robert Schmertz and Adolph Herzberg.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by J.L. Rosen.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by J.L. Rosen.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages. Arranged by J.L. Rosen.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 1 page.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Music manuscript. 3 pages. Words by Robert Schmertz. Music by Matthew Frey.
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Music manuscript. 4 pages. Words by Robert Schmertz. Music by Robert Schmertz and Adolph Herzberg.
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Music manuscript. 4 pages. Words by Robert Schmertz. Music by Robert Schmertz and Adolph Herzberg.
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Music manuscript. 5 pages. Words by Robert Schmertz, music by Paul B. Dickey.
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Music manuscript. 4 pages.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Music manuscript. 4 pages. By Robert Schmertz and Matthew Frey. Manuscript in Matthew Frey's handwriting.
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Music manuscripts. 4 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 4 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 4 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 3 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 page.
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Typed manuscript. 3 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 3 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 4 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. Three pages.
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Music manuscript. 4 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript. 3 pages.
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Music manuscript. 10 pages. Arranged by Frank C. Jarema.
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Music manuscript. 1 page. Typed and handwritten.
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Music manuscript. 4 pages.
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Music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typescript of lyrics with handwritten notation on onion skin paper.
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Typed manuscript. Multiple copies.
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Typed photocopies of music manuscript.
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typed manuscript.
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Photocopy of typed music manuscript.
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Photocopy of typed music manuscript. 4 pages.
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Typed music manuscript. 3 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript. 3 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript. 2 pages. 3 copies.
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typed manuscript. 2 page.
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Photocopy of typed music manuscript. 3 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript. 2 pages. 3 copies.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript.
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Typed music manuscript. 2 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript. 3 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript. 4 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript with guitar chords. 4 pages.
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Photocopy of typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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typed and handwritten manuscript. 2 pages.
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typed and handwritten manuscript. 1 page.
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Title page only. Words by Robert Schmertz. Music by Adolph Herzberg and Robert Schmertz.
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copy of handwritten manuscript. 4 pages. Words by Robert Schmertz. Music by Robert Schmertz and Adolphe Herzberg.
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copy of handwritten song lyrics on lined paper. 6 copies.
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Music "Pretty Red Wing"; wordy by Bob Schertz. Typed manuscript of song, front and back.
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handwritten manuscript on card stock.
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Music manuscript. Photostat Negative. 4 pages.
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Music manuscript. Photostat negatives. 4 pages.
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Handwritten manuscript. Photostat negatives. 4 pages.
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Music manuscript. Photostat negatives. 3 pages.
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Music manuscript. Photostat Negatives. 4 pages.
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Music manuscript. Photostat negatives. 4 pages.
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Music manuscript. Photostat negatives. 5 pages.
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Music manuscript. photostat negative. 3 page.
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Music manuscript. photostat negatives. 5 pages.
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Music manuscript. Negative photostat. 3 pages.
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typed manuscript with corrections.
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copy of manuscript (?) with penciled notations.
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Music manuscript. Last page only.
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Music manuscript. 1 page. Music by Carl Snyder. Words by Bob Schmertz.
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Photostat of music manuscript. 3 pages.
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copy of manuscript. Two pages.
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Paste up of a manuscript for General Forbes.
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Paste up of typed manuscript of Bushy Run.
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typed, pasted up manuscript. 2 pages.
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Pasted up typed manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed, pasted up manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed pasted up manuscript. 2 pages.
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Typed, pasted up manuscript. 2 pages.
This series contains commercially published songs of Robert Schmertz and others.
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Published score. 9 pages. New York: Carl Fischer, Inc. CM 7013. SATB with Piano. Two copies.
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Music by M. Rosenthal. Words by R. Schmertz. Published by W. R. Black, Jos. Cooney, 1919. 3 pages.
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Words and Music by Robert Schmertz. NY: Ludlow Music, Inc., 1951. Two pages.
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Text and music by Robert Schmertz. Arranged by Thomas Gronau. German text by Ernst Bjelke. Published NY: Ludlow Music, 1951. 2 copies.
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For a chorus of mixed voices with piano. SATB. Words and music by Robert Schmertz. Arranged by Charles Touchette. Published by Carl Fischer, 1953. 7 pages.
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Two complete songs: "Nellie of Meadow Farm" and "The Lip that Touches Saxophones" words and music by Robert Schmertz. 3 pages. Two copies.
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Words and Music by Robert Schmertz. Arranged by Robert Schmertz for chorus of men's voices with baritone solo and piano. Published by Carl Fischer, 1954. 2 copies.
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Music by A. Herzberg, words by R. Schmertz. Published by W.R. Black and Jos. Cooney.
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Music by A. Schoepf. Words by R. Schmertz. No publisher info. 3 pages.
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Tear sheet from book. Words and Music by Robert Schmertz. Published by Carl Fischer, Inc., 1956.
This series contains manuscripts of poems written by Schmertz.
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Typed manuscript with handwritten corrections. 1 page.
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Typed manuscript with handwritten notes. 2 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 1 page.
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handwritten manuscript on lined paper.
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Typed manuscript. 2 pages. Stapled.
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handwritten manuscript. 3 pages.
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Poem in letter format. handwritten front and back on lined paper.
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handwritten manuscript on lined paper. 1 page.
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Typed manuscript on legal sized paper. 1 page.
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Letter to Schmertz congratulating on his poem honoring Christopher Renfew. 1 page on letterhead.
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Handwritten manuscript on lined yellow paper. 1 page.
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handwritten manuscript on 1 page. Upside down on letterhead.
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Typed manuscript on legal sized onion skin. 1 page.
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Poem published in The Charette Volume XXII, No. 9. 1 page.
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typed manuscript with a handwritten note from "Steve."
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Tear sheet from Journal of the A.I.A. 4 pages.
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Typed manuscript with penciled corrections. 1 page.
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Letter to Jackson. handwritten 4 pages on lined yellow paper.
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handwritten manuscript. 3 pages.
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handwritten manuscript on lined paper. 1 page.
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Tear sheet from Journal of the AIA. 4 pages.
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Typed manuscript. 1 page.
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handwritten manuscript on lined yellow paper. 5 pages.
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Tear sheet from the Journal of the A.I.A. November 1956.
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Typed poem on onion skin with handwritten changes. 1/2 page.
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Tear sheet from the Charette.
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Typed manuscript on Schmertz and Erwin letterhead. Title handwritten.
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Poem handwritten on Mrs. Robert W. Schmertz letterhead.
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Mimeographed poem. 1 page.
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Typed manuscript on onion-skin. 1 page.
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Mimeographed poem. 1 page.
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Tear sheet from the Journal of the A.I.A. 4 pages.
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mimeographed poem. 1 page
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mimeographed poem. 1 page.
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Typed manuscript with handwritten music notation. two pages. Stapled.
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Handwritten manuscript with illustrations. 3 pages. 2 photocopies. all attached with paperclip.
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Typed manuscript with handwritten corrections. 1 page.
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handwritten manuscript on lined yellow paper. Two pages.
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Handwritten manuscript on lined yellow legal sized paper. 1 page.
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copy of typed manuscript. Two pages. Stapled.
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Clipping of published poem from unnamed publication. 1 page.
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typed manuscript with handwritten notes. 1 page.
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Illustrated poem published in The Charette. Date unknown. One handwritten correction.
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Published poem in The Charette (no date known). 1 page.
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Mimeographed poem. 1 page.
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Typed manuscript on onion skin. 1 page.
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handwritten manuscript marked on small yellow paper. 4 pages.
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handwritten poem on lined paper. 1 page.
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16 handwritten poems about animals on lined paper. 4 pages. Typed manuscript of 7 of the poems. 4 copies.
This series contains play manuscripts written by Robert Schmertz.
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bound, typed play manuscript with handwritten corrections. Unnumbered pages.
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Typed bound manuscript. Music by Elie Siegmeister. Book and lyrics by Edward Mabley.
This series contains photographs of Robert Schmertz and others.
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black and white photo mounted on black construction paper.
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Photo of Bob Schmertz seated with banjo. 8 x 10.
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group of people seated and standing singing, some playing banjos, guitars, and tambourine.
This series contains newspaper clippings of articles about Robert Schmertz, performers who played his music, and other Schmertz family members.
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newsclipping about Mildred Schmertz design work.
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News clipping about Bob Schmertz. No source identified.
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Obituary of Robert Schmertz from unnamed paper.
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obituary from unnamed paper of Robert Schmertz. 2 copies.
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Obituary of Robert Schmertz from unnamed paper.
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Article from The Pitt News describing an event Schmertz performed at. (2 copies)
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Article by Rex Rutkoski in the Valley News Dispatch describing a benefit to raise money to publish "A Picture Book of songs and Ballads of Robert Schmertz."
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article about Seeger's performance at the Carnegie Lecture Hall that mentions Bob Schmertz. From The Pittsburgh Press, May 14, 1992.
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Article about Schmertz in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Donald Miller (2 copies).
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Article by Pete Bishop in unnamed paper. Mentions Robert Schmertz.
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Article from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Not clear why it was kept (doesn't mention Schmertz).
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Article by Lester Sullivan about Schmertz's album "Robert Schmertz sings his songs."
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Article about Schmertz by William Marlin in The Christian Science Monitor.
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Article by Karl Krug in Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Unclear why it was retained (no mention of Schmertz)
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Obituary in the Pittsburgh Press.
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Article about Gretchen Schmertz, Robert's daughter. Written by Mary Irene Moffitt.
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article on Schmertz from Architectural Record.
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Letter to the editor by Margaret Hodges hailing Gretchen Jacobs' leadership at Liberty School.
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Article with Photo about the Scotch 'n Soda Club at Carnegie Tech's production, which includes Gretchen Schmertz. In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Article about Carnegie Tech's Scotch 'n Soda's production, starring Gretchen Schmertz. Article appears in The Tartan, Carnegie Tech's student paper.
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Article about The 1981 Smoky City Folk Festival that mentions The Friends of Robert Schmertz.
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Article about the Pittsburgh Savoyards, which a number of Schmertz relations are participating in. Written by Gretchen Haller in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Article mentions "Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lawd," sung by Gary Crosby, Bing Crosby's son. Article by Kaspar Monahan in The Pittsburgh Press.
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profile of Robert Schmertz's album "Robert Schmertz Sings His Songs" from Pittsburgh Magazine.
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Article about Seeger in The Valley News Dispatch by Rex Rutkoski.
This series contains published songbooks that include Schmertz songs.
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Edited and arranged by Richard C. Pisano. Published by Hollis Music, Inc. 38 pages.
Contents: Alouette; Barbara Allen; Bury me Not on the Lone Prairie; Git on Board, Little Children (The Gospel Train's A Comin'); Goodnight, Irene; I Ain't Goin' Study War No More (Down By the Riverside); If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song); Jesse James; Michael, Row the Boat Shore; Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord; On Top of Old Smoky; Pick a Bale O' Cotton; Red River Valley; Sally, Don't You Grieve; Shenandoah; So Long (It's Been Good to Know Yuh); Sweet Betsy From Pike; This Land is Your Land; Tom Dooley; Vive L'Amour; Were You There?
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Compiled and edited by Alfred H. Johnson and members of the Carnegie Tartan Staff. Handwritten notation on the fly leaf that this was Robert Schmertz's personal copy.
contents:
New Alma Mater; Women's Song; Carnegie Tech; Lau Carnegie; Amici; Glory of the Plaid; Sing Praises to Alma Mater; Dear Old Tech; Fight for the Glory of Carnegie; Cheer Song; On the Warpath; Sing the Praises; Hail to Carnegie; Si McNadd; Tech, Tech, Tech, Tech; I Love an Engineer; Come on Along to tech; Nile Song; Eskimo Baby; Hieroglyphic Ditty; Whimsical Women; Ship Ahoy; Love's Waltz; Moonlight Maid; Any Old Place at All; In Barcelona Wedding Bells; Yells
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21 songs with words and guitar chords. A Publication of Sanga Music Inc.
Contents: When the Stars Begin to Fall; A Man Come Into Egypt; I'm Standing on the Outside of Your Shelter; Who's Gonna Be Your Man; The Ladybug and the Centipede; Full Fathom Five; East Texas; Red Ram of Darby; Take Matty and Go; Monongahela Sal; On My Journey; Juanita; Cuddlebug; Coorie Doon; The Bells Ring Over Erin; Bright Golden Buttons; Guilford Fair; To the Year That's Away; Motherless Childen (sic); Skillet; Long About Now
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5 copies. Edited by Jo Davidson. Arranged by Lee B. Thomssen.
contents: Biographical Sketch of Robert W. Schmertz; Notes on the Transcriber-Arranger and Editor; "Eine Kleine Nactmusik, or My Musical Heritage" by Robert W. Schmertz; Monongahela Sal; Lock Number Ten; Lorenzo; II Magnifico; The Palazzo Massimi; Hyacinth Harry; Nellie of Meadow Farm; The Rambling River Line; Jose (Hozay) the Horse; The Folks of the Ohio; Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee; Christmas Song for Gretchen; The Lonely Grenadier; Cousin Althalia; Mon Petit Lapin; Never Touch Water; The Knight of Small Reknown; Lord, Lord I've Got Some Singing to Do; Gideon Bible; My Baby Eskimo; Forty-Nine Angels; The Queen Anne Front (and the Mary Ann Behind); "The Biggest Living Room in Town; Bob Schmertz Sings" by Gretchen Haller Pearson; Production Notes by Richard F. Myers, Buzzard's Knob Associates
This series contains sound recordings on LP, 78, and CD of Schmertz's songs.
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33 1/3 rpm record. 1 song on each side. No music label or publication information.
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45 rpm disc with one song on each side. Performed by Steel City Four. Recorded by George Heid Productions, Pittsburgh. Corona Records. GHP475A & B
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45 rpm disc. 1 song on each side. Performed by Bruce Low and Orchester Charles Nowa. Ariola Records. C 10407A & B.
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33 1/3 disc. Two songs on each side. Sung and played by Robert Schmertz, Vivien Richman, Charles Cabulic, Anne Shapiro, Jack Schmertz, Gretchen Schmertz-Jacob, and Jo Davidson. Master Artists Recordings, 1972. 4385A & B. 3 copies, one not in a sleeve.
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Unlabeled record. Title written on manila envelope from Varbee Records.
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45 rpm disc. Two Sides. Performed by Burl Ives. Decca children's series, Record No. 9-88167 (45-86056)
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45 rpm disc. Two sides. Performed by Gary Crosby with Orchestra directed by Buddy Bregman. Decca Records. Record No. 9-29779 (L-8652)
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2 sides. Performed by Burl Ives. Decca Children's Series, 88867 (88208).
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3 album set. Composed by Robert Schmertz. Recorded by George Heid Productions, Pittsburgh, PA. S100, 101, and 102. (2 sets)
Contents:
The Queen Anne Front and the Mary Anne Behind Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord Nellie of Meadow Farm Spring on the Campus Palazzo Massimi Monongahela Sal
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33 1/3 record. Performed by Pete Seeger. Columbia Records CL2503.
Contents: Medley: Robin the Bobbie; Mary, Mary quite contrary; Little Jack Horner; Die Gedanken sind Frei (Thoughts are Free); Jackaro; Never Wed an Old Man; John Brown's Body; Going Across the Mountains; Harry Simms; King Henry Medley: Ode to Joy; Goliath, Goliath; Queen Anne Front; Joe Hill's "Casey Jones"; One Grain of Sand; The Pill; The Draft Dodger Rag; Mao Tse Tung; Walking Down Death Row; Two from Shakespeare: Full Fathom Five/ Perchance to Win; Beans in my Ears
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33 1/3 disc. Jersey City: Bobtone Rcord and Tape Co. FLP 2066
Contents: I'm Gonna Live the Life I Sing About; When I First Came to This Land; The Queen Anne Front; Nine Hundred Miles; The Lost Ballad of Wiscasset; Freedom Songs; This Land is Your Land; Cindy Hora Banechar; All the Pretty Little Horses; Layla, Layla; Whistle, Daughter, Whistle; Jamele, Jamele; Finjan; Oh, What a Beautiful City
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33 /13 Record. Folkways Records FG 3568. Autographed by Vivien Richman
Contents:
The Glooms of Ligonier; The Forks of the Ohio; Sinclaire's Defeat; The Mouse's Courting Song; James Bird; The Conestoga Wagoner's Complaint; The Hero of Erie; The Jolly Lumbermen; Hold on; Aja Lejber Man; A Still Mill Tragedy; "Pittsburgh" Hymn; I'm a Beggar; Red Iron Ore; Handsome Mary, the Lily of the West; The Twenty-inch Mill; Soho on Saturday Night; Pittsburgh Town
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Record sleeve only. Album missing.
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Record sleeve only. Record is missing.
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CD. Performed by Robert Schmertz. No track list.
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CD transfer of album.
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CD transfer of Schmertz 33 rpm discs. No contents listed.
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CD transfer of folkways 03568.
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CD Transfer of Folkways 05258
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CD Transfer of Robert Schmertz Sings His Sons.
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CD transfer of original recording.
Contents:
Nellie of Meadow Farm; The Palazzo Massimi; Lorenzo il Magnifico; Spring on the Campus; Hyacinth Harry; When That Architect Comes to Jordan; When I Was a Young Nouveau; The Queen Anne Front; The Doric Column is Coming Back; Walter and Mies and Corbu; John Lally of Boston Baby; I Don't See Eye to Eye; The Old White Bones of Christopher Wren
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BASF Reel to Reel tape. #4385
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33 1/3 rpm disc. Performed by Burl Ives. Decca Records DL 8125.
Contents: The Locktender's Lament; Ox Driver's Song; The Bold Soldier; The Young Married Man (Cod Liver Oil); Sad man's song (Fare Thee Well, O Honey); The Harlem Man; The Western Settler; Waltzing Matilda (The Jolly Swagman's Song); The Wild Rover; Frankie and Johnny; The Deceiver (Oh, How He Lied); The Sailor's Return; When I was Single; Prisoner's Song (Midnight Special); John Henry
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33 1/3 rpm album with full color book and words. ST 3924
Contents:
The Moon's the North Wind's Cookie; Little Lost Angel; What Are Little Boys Made Of?; All Through the Night; Indian Lullaby; Cradle Song; Lady Moon; Sweet and Low; Punkydoodle and Jollapin; Goodnight Sweet Dreams; Tom, the Piper's Son; Sleep and Rest
English.
Recorded by the Statler Brothers. Mercury Records SRM-1-1051.
Contents:
In the Beginning; Even Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord; Have a Little Faith; The Dreamer; Led Out of Bondage; The ten Commandments; Samson; Song of David; Song of Solomon; The Fourth Man; The King is Coming
English.
33 1/3 record. Performed by the Folksmiths. Folkways Records, 1958. FA2407
Contents:
Lord, I've Got Some Singing to Do; Hava Na Shira; John Henry; Old Hannah; Glory Be to the New-Born King; Come Up Horsey; Three White Gulls; Mary Had a Baby; Sinner Man; Blood-Strained Banders Hold On (Keep Your Hand on the Plow); Kum Ba Yah; Wade in the Water; Run to Jesus; Hey Langor; Tina; All Night Long
English.
33 1/3 Record. Performed by Ron and Jane Salof. Bobton Record and Tape Co. FLP 2060
Contents:
The Fire Ship; Proschay; Black is the Color; Four Nights; Drunk Dodi-Li; Greensleeves; Knight of Small Renown; Rolling Down the Mountain; As I Rode; Out Sur Le Route; Birds counting song; All the Pretty Little Horses; E Doce Morrer; Monongahela Sal; Spinster's Lament
English.
33 1/3 record. Performed by The Humbards. Cincinnati: Rite Record Productions.
Contents:
Suppertime; Noah Found Grace; Jesus, Wonderful Lord; Gathering Home; I'm Going Higher; When the Saints Go Marching; Wasted Years; Shadrack; Like a Melody; I Shall Not be Moved; Down From his Glory; I Will Not Be a Stranger; I've Found a Hiding Place; You Ain't Got Nuthin; He'll Understand and Say Well Done
English.
33 1/3 Record. Capitol Records T818.
Contents:
Just a Closer Walk with Thee; I Want to Be Ready; Take My Hand, Precious Lord; Stand by Me; When God Dips His Love in my Heart; Get on Board, Little Children; Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord; Were You There?; Peace in the Valley; I Know the Lord Laid his Hands on Me; Wayfaring Pilgrim; He'll Understand and Say "Well Done"
English.
Subtitle: Songs about early Pittsburgh by Robert Schmertz with Vivien Richman, Gretchen Schmertz Jacob, Eero Davidson, John Schmertz
Folkways Records FA 5258
contents:
Sing Oh, the City Oh!; Celeron Ohio Company; Forks of the Ohio; La Vierge Mon Petit Lapin; Braddock's Defeat; General John Forbes; The Lonely Grenadier; Flintlock Finegan; The Battle of Bushy Run; Prettiest Girl in Pittsburgh Town
This series contains miscellaneous items that didn't fit into the other series categories.
English.
Acrylic painting
English.
list of songs or acts handwritten on card stock.