“Old Memories” was deposited for copyright on December 5, 1853, by Firth, Pond & Co.

A guitar arrangement of the song was submitted for copyright on September 27, 1854, also by Firth, Pond, & Co.

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family: 

Other songs that Stephen published in 1853 were “Old Memories” and “Little Ella,” neither of which became so popular as “Old Dog Tray.” It is evident that most of his hard work that fall was put on the Social Orchestra.