Music Copyright Registrations

Collection

Identifier: A3289

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of copyright registrations issued by the Library of Congress Copyright Office to various St. Louis composers and music publishing companies. The notices are arranged chronologically in two folders, one for H. Bollman and Sons and a second folder for various composers and companies. The documents date from 1878 to 1920 with gaps from 1895 to 1908, 1910 to 1913, and 1916 to 1919.

The registrations include the following information: registration number, date; name/location of applicant, a description of the work with title and composer name(s), and signature of official which was often the Librarian of Congress. After the description of the work, the form reads, “the rights whereof they claim as Proprietors in conformity with the laws of the United States respecting Copyrights.” Please note that the names of the applicant/publishing company often vary from the names of the composers. There are seven registration cards issued to Thiebes-Stierlin Music Company and to Thiebes Piano Company from 1909 to 1920, which also provide publication dates of the sheet music. Most of the notices were issued to Henry Bollman and H. Bollman and Sons (f.1). Composers listed on the registrations include, but are not limited to: Charles Humphrey, Al Mellinger, Gertie Hutcheson, William G. Merkel, Mrs. Edna McElhiney, Alfred G. Robyn, Mrs. Joseph Bogy, John J. Schallert, and Louis Galgano.

Dates

1878-1920

Creator

Library of Congress. Copyright Office (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Historical Sketch

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, St. Louis had music publishing companies printing original compositions and arrangements. The Copyright Act of 1831 included sheet music in its protection of intellectual property. Music publishers and composers registered works with the Copyright Office in order to protect their products, the sheet music, and their intellectual property. Among St. Louis music publishing companies were H. Bollman and Sons, founded by musician Henry Bollman, Thiebes Piano Company, and Thiebes- Stierlin Music Company.