Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
Robert Grimes Collection, Preliminary Inventory
Date(s)
- 1895 - 2011 (Publication)
Extent
Approximately 570 cubic feet; 276 bankers boxes
Name of creator
Biographical history
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The collection contains 34,000 pieces of sheet music, 14,000 recordings, 3,300 books, 200 publicity photographs, news clippings and correspondence.
System of arrangement
The sheet music comprises the bulk of the collection. Approximately 80% of it has been processed in its original order and is sorted into 6 series: Songs by Title, Songs from Musicals and Movies, Songs about Places, Songs by Composer, Songs by Performer, and Songs by Subject Matter.
The books in this collection have been cataloged and can be found in our LibraryWorld catalog (link can be found on homepage). The remainder are still in process.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
All material is open to the public without restriction. Copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Great American Songbook Foundation. Music written prior to 1925 is in the public domain. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library & Archives.
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Some sheet music is not in English.
Finding aids
Due to the immense size of this collection, the attached finding aid includes only the sheet music inventoried through the end of 2017 and will not be regularly updated. If you would like to request a specific piece, please contact the staff of the Library & Archives info@thesongook.org.
Uploaded finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Received from Robert Grimes on December 14, 2009 in San Francisco, CA. Funds to purchase collection were donated by the Gershwin Trust.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Recordings and books that were duplicates or outside the scope of the GASF collection development policy were disposed of in accordance with our collection management policy.
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Sheet Music Consortium https://digital2.library.ucla.edu/sheetmusic/
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
- Processing information: The sheet music is in process by Marcia Jansen.
- Citation: Cite as Robert Grimes Collection, Great American Songbook Foundation.
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
Description created by Ashlee James, November 2017.
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Grimes, Robert (Accumulator)