Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

No usage restrictions; however copyright is retained by author following United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

Ballad of Caty Sage Sheet Music, Mss. Collection 2009.5, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, VA

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jack Neighbors in 2009.

Biographical/Historical Information

"The Ballad of Caty Sage " was originally a poem written by Eva Boyer in the 1930s in Carroll County. J. C. Pierce of Galax set the lyrics to music and performed it at the 1940 Galax Old Fiddlers Convention. The Grayson Gazette published the poem. Pierce later recorded the song on several small commercial labels. He created a sheet music version in 1964 with the assistance of Wanda Pierce and Mary Ruth Pierce and printed by Gazette Press of Galax, Virginia.

Sage was a young girl who was kidnapped by Indians on 11 April 1792 from her farm in Elk Creek Valley in present day Grayson County, Virginia. The daughter of James Sage and Lovis Sage, Caty was later found by her brother when he was in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She was living with her adopted Wyandotte Indian tribe where she remained until her death in 1853.

Scope and Content

The sheet music, "Ballad of Caty Sage: as Sung by J. C. Pierce of Galax, Virginia on MKB Reocrds, " was printed by Gazette Press, Galax, Virginia. Eva Boyer wrote the lyrics and Mary Ruth Pierce, Wqanda Pierce, and J. C. Pierce wrote the music. Copyright is held by J. C. Pierce, 1964.

A four page sheet, "The Story of Caty Sage, " is also included in this collection.