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