George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu
Amanda Menjivar
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Nellie M. Lee music manuscript book, C0411, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Purchased by Lynn Eaton in 2019.
Processing Information
Processing and finding aid completed by Amanda Menjivar in July 2023.
Biographical Information
The Nellie M. Lee who kept this notebook was likely from the Buffalo, New York area, and lived from 1856-1926. As of 1869 Lee worked in the local Buffalo City public school system as an assistant. She may have been married to Elmer E. Lee.
Everett L. Baker (1829-1896), often credited as E.L. Baker, was an American composer who resided in Buffalo, New York. Baker was a prominent figure in the area, as both the head music teacher for the local school system, as well as the organist and music director at multiple churches in the area.
Scope and Content
A music staff notebook kept by Nellie M. Lee from January 28, 1878 - February 2, 1881. The notebook contains handwritten music, along with lyrics, mostly composed by "E.L. Baker," likely the American composer Everett L. Baker from Buffalo, New York. The first page in inscribed "Nellie M. Lee Jan. 28th, 1878." Songs include "Name in the Sand," "Our own Sweet Thoughts to day," "Fierce raged the Tempest," and "The Merry Wanderer," among others. The notebook was only about half-used, and many of the pages are blank.
Arrangement
This is a single item collection.
Related Material
The Special Collections Research Center holds other collections of handwritten and printed music.
Brown University and Johns Hopkins University hold sheet music by Everett L. Baker.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Baker, Everett L., 1827-1896
- Folk music -- United States
- Music -- 20th century
Bibliography
"Buffalo City Directory.: Embracing a general directory of residents, a street and Avenue Directory, Climatology of Buffalo, city and county officers, societies and incorporated companies, Banks, telegraph and railroad companies, table of stamp duties, rates of postage, etc.. to which is added a business directory of Buffalo." Buffalo N.Y.: Published by Warren, Johnson & Co. Office of the Daily Courier., 1869. Accessed July 6, 2023 here.
"Everett L. Baker[.]" Find A Grave, accessed July 5, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180360865/everett-l-baker.
"History of St. Paul's church, Buffalo, N. Y., 1817 to 1888," 1903. Accessed July 5, 2023. https://archive.org/details/cu31924007766425/page/n13/mode/2up.
"Nellie McGuire Lee[.]" Find A Grave, accessed July 5, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99388923/nellie-lee.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Baker, Everett L., 1827-1896
- Lee, Nellie M., 1856-1926