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Bryn Mawr College songbook collection
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Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]Bryn Mawr College Library, 101 N. Merion Avenue, Bryn Mawr 19010
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Bryn Mawr College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Traditions at Bryn Mawr College have existed in many forms since the founding of the school (1885). Songs have always been integral to these traditions. Each freshman class has either written (classes prior to 1980) or chosen a song to represent their class spirit; these are known as class songs. Songs also may be associated with specific traditions (such as "Sophias" and "Pallas Athena," which are only sung on Lantern Night) or other occasions (such as the "Anass," which is sung only in moments of celebration). There are also songs that are only sung at Step Sings. All of these songs have been recorded in Songbooks, printed annually and given to students.
Step Sings are special events that occur after the four major Bryn Mawr traditions. These traditions, in order, are: Parade Night, Lantern Night, Hell Week, and May Day. At around 8pm after each tradition (except for Hell Week, which lasts four days and does not have a regular Step Sing), students gather with their lanterns around the Senior Steps of Taylor Hall (the exterior staircase directly under the clock tower) and sit according to class year. The senior class sits on the Senior Steps. The sophomore class is directly across from them on the walkway of Thomas Hall. The freshmen sit on the road next to Taylor Hall closer to Senior Row and the Juniors sit on the road next to Taylor Hall closer to Pembroke Arch. The songsmistresses stand at the axis of this arrangement to lead the Step Sing and lead the classes through the songs for the evening. Candles are handed out for lanterns and songbooks are handed out to students. Typically, each class sings their class song, popular songs are sung, (such as "A Colossal Pain a Thesis" and "Build me Up Buttercup") and the senior class sings "Bread and Roses."
Parade Night is the first major tradition of the school year, taking place on the Friday of the first week of fall semester classes with the purpose of welcoming new students to the Bryn Mawr community. At the Parade Night Step Sing, the freshmen class chooses a song in secret in order to surprise the other students. The freshmen class also sings a Parade Night Song, which is a parody created by the freshmen songsmistress changing the lyrics of a popular contemporary song to be about Bryn Mawr College. The sophomore class then sings a parody of the freshmen class Parade Night Song, using the same song, but with humorous lyrics changed to gently poke fun at the "baby" freshmen.
Lantern Night is the second major tradition of the school year, during which new students receive their lanters. The ceremony is said to represent students passing along "the light of knowledge." Taking place on a Sunday evening in late October or early November in the Cloisters of Thomas Hall, juniors and seniors sing "Pallas Athena" while sophomores bring lanterns to the new students standing in lines. Once every new student receives a lantern, they sing "Sophias" once through themselves before processing out of the Cloisters, accompanied by the juniors' and seniors' rendition of "Sophias."
The third major tradition of the school year is Hell Week, which takes place on the second or third week of February, beginning on Wednesday at sundown and concluding on Saturday morning. This tradition is meant to be a way for new students and upperclassmen to become better acquainted through dedicated time and space to bond with each other. While Hell Week does not have a Step Sing event, music remains an integral aspect of the tradition. Hell Week originated with a musical production generated by the freshmen class each year, known as the Freshmen Show. In the early years of the college, the class years were small enough that the entire class would participate in the Show. The Show and its music, written entirely by the students, gave the freshmen class the space to establish their personality within the college. By the late 20th century and early 21st century, Hell Week no longer included a Freshman Show, but the origins of the tradition remain. New students are invited to do a one minute performance before the undergraduate student community in Thomas Great Hall on the Thursday evening of Hell Week, as well as a three minute performance before the undergraduate student community in Goodhart Auditorium. While these performances don't typically include singing, they do usually incorporate songs popular within the college community.
The academic year's major traditions conclude with May Day, which takes place on the first Sunday after spring classes have ended. This fourth and final major tradition presents a celebration for the completion of the academic year, especially congratulating the seniors who will graduate. May Day Step Sing honors the seniors with their final official moment as members of the Bryn Mawr student community. With this emphasis, seniors sing most of the songs, including their class song, their original Parade Night Song, "Bread and Roses," and others. May Day Step Sing concludes with the junior class rushing the Senior Steps, gathering as a large group to run up to the steps chanting. This moment denotes when the junior class becomes the new senior class. Privileges that come with being seniors include standing on the Senior Steps, initiating the "Anass," and walking down Senior Row.
The Songbook Collection houses the student songbooks published by Bryn Mawr College. This collection, which dates from 1889 to 2017, consists of printed booklets, published bound books, printed sheets, and handwritten sheets with annotations and music notations, evidencing the tradition of oral songs and singing in Bryn Mawr College undergraduate student life. The collection is not a full run of songbooks from every year, but contains a sampling of songbooks from every decade with large gaps in the 1880s and 1890s and a gap from 1998-2011. The majority of the songbooks contain only song lyrics, but a select few contain full sheet music and many also have loose sheet music that was added by the original owner/user. The Songbook Collection displays the creative spirit and community oriented nature of Bryn Mawr College undergraduate students across the history of the college. This collection only has one series, which contains the entire collection of songbooks. Researchers interested in Bryn Mawr College's undergraduate traditions, the traditions of women's colleges, the history of the Seven Sisters, products of student self governance, and undergraduate student life may find this collection to be a valuable resource. Many of the songbooks include handwritten sheets of lyrics, music, and staging information related to the Freshman Show tradition. Many songs included in late 20th century and 21st century songbooks can be traced back through decades of songbooks, which allow for a more complex understanding of the context of contemporary traditional songs. The lineage revealed in this collection confirms that previous Bryn Mawr students wrote many songs popularly chosen to be included in 21st century songbooks, as well.
This finding aid was published as part of the Museum Studies Field Work Seminar course, spring 2017.
- Publisher
- Bryn Mawr College
- Finding Aid Author
- Cassandra Paul (BMC 2018)
- Finding Aid Date
- 2017 March 28
Collection Inventory
4 small 4-page pamphlets from 1889 2 single sheets from 1897 1 copy noted with inscription: "gift of Mrs Charles Bennett Brown (Mary B. Durfee '30)"
3 copies of songbook with full sheet music, red cover with arts and crafts style design 1 copy inscribed: "Edith Campbell...1900" 1 copy includes the playbill for a play "1902—The Dark Lady of the Sonnets"
7 copies of songbook with lyrics, some contain handwritten additions 1 copy inscribed: "Mabel...Austin" also includes 3 handwritten sheets 1 copy inscribed: "Ruth Helene Males, Bryn Mawr College, 1902" 1 copy inscribed: "E. K. P..., Pembroke West, Class 1902" 1 copy inscribed: "Marion H. N..."
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound by light blue cord, green cover 1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with fleur-de-lis fastener 1 copy inscribed: "Sally...1903" 1 copy inscribed: "Gift of Elizabeth R. Barker '32"
3 copies of professionally published Songs of Bryn Mawr College with full sheet music and translations, full page illustrations 1 copy inscribed: "Nathalie...1913, 49 Pembroke East"
5 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, light blue cover 1 copy inscribed: "A. M. Boring" and "gift of Clarissa Compton Dryden '32, October 1987" 1 copy inscribed: "Mrs. P. F. Clark, 2/36 Van Hise St. Madison, Wis." And " Alice Edith...46 Pembroke West, Bryn Mawr, May 28-1904" 1 copy includes donor information from October 18 1974 and a handwritten lyric sheet 1 copy inscribed: "Gertrude Klein"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with spine stitches, red cover with pegasus 1 copy inscribed: "F. E. Mason" 1 copy inscribed: "C. Terry, Trophy Club Property, Please do not Remove" 1 copy inscribed: "Mabel Austin...1905" includes hand written lyrics sheets
7 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with spine stitches, blue cover with decorative triangle 1 copy inscribed: "Mary R....1906" 1 copy inscribed: "Mariane Louise Coffie" 1 copy inscribed: "Mary R. Waler"
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with side stitches and adhesive, green cover 1 copy inscribed: "Margaret Ayer, November 1906"
5 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, light blue cover, one missing cover 1 copy inscribed: "Madeleine M. Fauvre, Pembroke East, Bryn Mawr PA" 1 copy inscribed: "Lydia T. Sharpless, Haverford PA'
6 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with red cord, red cover 1 copy inscribed: "gift of Clarissa Compton Dryden '32, October 1987" 1 copy inscribed: "Dorothy Child" 1 copy inscribed: "Anna Elizabeth Harlan" and "gift of Betty Harlan Clay d. of Elizabeth (Anna) Harlan '09" 1 copy inscribed: "Hilda Sprague-Smith, 4 Pembroke Hall West" and "Mrs. U...Slārzenski, 202 Roberts Road, Ardmore PA. Ardmore 255" 1 copy inscribed: "Evelyn Holt Lowry" 1 copy inscribed: "gift of Charles Perry"
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, dark blue cover, decorative swirl 1 copy inscribed: "Trophy Club Property, Please do not Remove"
3 copies of Supplement to Songs of Bryn Mawr College 1903, full sheet music with translations, full page illustrations 2 copies with preservative bindings, 1 loose 1 copy noted: "Gift of Janet Baldwin in memory of...Ross, class of 1911"
4 copies of songbook, bound with green cord, green cover 1 copy inscribed: "Emma Forster, 1911, 5-Pembroke East" 1 copy inscribed: "Elizabeth Ross"
Oral song I Am the Goat dictated by Edna Aston Shearer, type written and pasted to notebook paper Includes mailing envelope
4 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, light blue cover, decorative swirly triangle 1 copy inscribed: "Helen D. B...1912" and "Gift of Ellen M...Nov. 1988" 1 copy inscribed: "Mary Peirce" 1 copy inscribed: "Trophy Club Copy" 1 copy inscribed: "Loraine Mead 1912" and "Gift of Catherine M. McEmiry"
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with red cord, red cover, same decorative swirly triangle as 1912 1 copy inscribed: "Trophy Club Copy"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, dark blue cover, decorative "T" shape looks like a tree 1 copy inscribed: "Evelyn Shaw" and "Gift of John McCutcheon (son)"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with green cord, green cover 1 copy inscribed: "Dorothea May Moore" and "Gift of Dorothea Moore 1915" 1 copy inscribed: "Myra S. Richards" and "Gift of Myra Richards (Jessen) Aug. 1984"
2 copies of song book with lyrics, bound with red cord, red cover, decorative rose Folder includes donor letter from Suzy Edelstein 3/24/2008 1 copy inscribed: "Alice Beardwood" 1 copy inscribed: "Helen M. Harris"
3 copies of Supplement to Songs of Bryn Mawr College 1903, full sheet music, full page illustrations 1 copy with preservative binding, 2 copies with original binding
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, dark blue cover, same decorative swirly triangle as 1912 and 1913 1 copy inscribed: "Miss Jeffries" and "Gift of Frieda Wagoner Woodruff 1957" 1 copy inscribed: "M. F. Stevens, M. F. Charles, 1918, Rockefeller Hall"
4 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, dark blue cover Leather texture similar to that of songbooks from 1920s may indicate its status as a reunion songbook or a reprint
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with green cord, green cover, same decorative swirly triangle as 1912, 1913, and 1918 Folder includes donor letter from Nancy G. Frederick, October 16, 1986 1 copy has a photograph tucked inside 1 copy inscribed: "Margaret Henry S..." 1 copy inscribed: "Mary Morris Ramsay"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, light blue cover, decorative lyre and wreath design 1 copy inscribed: "Gift of Kathleen Van D..."
4 single sheets and 1 stapled packet of song lyrics Single sheet Oral Song Revised to Fit the Case of 1920 on onion skin paper Stapled Packet Songs of 1920 3 remaining single sheets untitled on onion skin paper
Folder label states: "'Follow the Gleam,' prize song won by Bryn Mawr delegation to Silver Bay YWCA Conference, June 1920, College News September 28, 1920, pages 3 and 6" 2 copies of "Follow the Gleam" sheet music Many letters of correspondence regarding the song "Follow the Gleam" and the prize won by the Bryn Mawr delegation
5 copies of songbooks with lyrics, bound with tan cord, red cover, lit lamp on book motif 1 copy inscribed: "Eleanor Ganfield King N..." 1 copy inscribed: "H. R..." 1 copy inscribed: "Eugenia...Sheppard" 1 copy inscribed: "Grace Lubin, Merion Hall, 1921" and "Grace Lubin '21" 1 copy inscribed: "Elizabeth Matteson 1921" 1 copy includes handwritten oral song
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, holes for decorative cord, dark blue cover, stylized tiger with open mouth and long curling tail motif 1 copy missing cover and has broken bindings 1 copy inscribed: "Margaret Bailey Speer"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, holes for decorative cord, green cover, stylized roaring dragon motif Also includes stack of "1923 Class Song" sheets tied together with white string 1 copy inscribed: "Virginia B. V..." 1 copy inscribed: "Grace Allen C..." 1 copy inscribed: "Nancy Fitz Gerald" 1 copy includes a typed oral song and a printed sheet with music and lyrics for "The Forbidden City (Curtain song to Freshman Show)"
4 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, holes for decorative cord, light blue cover, stylized "1924" inside of an oval motif 1 copy inscribed: "Katharine B Neilson '24, 53 Pem West" 1 copy inscribed: "Virginia F. Miller"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, holes for decorative cord, 1 copy has red ribbon, red cover, 2 large birds facing each other flank "1925" written vertically in the center of the cover 1 copy has a loose front cover 1 copy inscribed: "gift of Margaret Boyden M...'25" 1 copy inscribed: "Margaret Boyden" 1 copy inscribed: "M...C..."
1 copy of reunion songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, tan cover Cover reads "1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, Joint Dinner, June 1st, 1925, Pembroke Hall"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, dark blue cover, stylized crest with 2 or perhaps winged lions 1 copy inscribed: "Clare Hardy, April-25" 1 copy inscribed: "Miriam S. Lewis"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, green cover, stylized motif of unknown object/subject (looks like a mini golf course obstacle) 1 copy inscribed: "Mary Der..." 1 copy inscribed: "Sara C. P..." 1 copy inscribed: "Ellenor Morris"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, light blue cover, stylized cat face printed over negatively printed "1928" 1 copy inscribed: "Helen N. Tuttle" 1 copy inscribed: "Margaritta M. S..., Merion Hall-6" 1 copy inscribed: "Josephine Young"
2 copies of songbook with full sheet music, sewn/glued binding, tan cover, titled Bryn Mawr College Song Book, college crest printed on cover
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, green cover, stylized crest with zebra head 1 copy inscribed: "H...H. Turner" and "Gift of Hilda Mumford AB '31, MA '32"
4 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with blue cord, light blue cover, stylized crest with bat 1 copy replaced blue cord with binder rings and added sheet music and hand written lyric sheets, includes inscription: "Margaret J. Woods '32, 10-12 Pembroke East, Bryn Mawr" 1 copy inscribed: "Gift of Elizabeth R. Barker '32"
5 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, stylized crest with bust of faceless man in top hat and tuxedo holding a cane 1 copy inscribed: "Jeane Darlington" 1 copy inscribed: "F. de V..." 1 copy inscribed: "Jeane Darlington..." 1 copy inscribed: "Jane..."
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, dark blue cover, stylized crest with anthropomorphized insect wearing a sweater/graduation robe, insect arms seem to make letters 1 copy inscribed: "Eva Leah Lewis" Includes donor letter
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, light blue cover, stylized crest with roman numerals and cartoon-like figure wearing a potentially Mexican style hat 1 copy inscribed: "Property of Mrs. L...Spitzer Jr."
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, stylized crest with a turtle 1 copy inscribed: "Louise Stengel"
1 copy of Summer School for Women Workers songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, purple-looking cover
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, dark blue cover, stylized crest with unknown shape printed in white ink
4 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, green cover, stylized crest with earthworm 1 copy inscribed: "Jean Chandler Smith 1939" 1 copy inscribed: "Frances T. Bourne 1939", includes sheet music for "Sophomore Lantern Hymn" aka "Pallas Athena"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, light blue cover, stylized crest with octopus
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, dark blue cover, stylized crest with mailman 1 copy inscribed: "Margaret S. Gilman", includes sheet with lyrics for "Class Song 1942"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, light blue cover, cartoon-like fish wearing graduation cap in a fishbowl
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, profile of Athena wearing plaid shirt and typical helmet, owl on shoulder, carrying books, holding glasses and lantern or flag 1 copy inscribed: "P. Webster"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, dark blue cover, tiny stylized crest with human face and 2 owls, 2 coffee rings
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, green cover, cartoon-like monkey in a graduation cap on top of a clock tower 1 copy inscribed: "Linn K..., Denbigh Hall, Bryn Mawr College, PA" also includes over a dozen handwritten pages Cover has small note next to monkey reading "Alas poor Yorick!"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, light blue cover, hand drawn clock tower (maybe Taylor Tower) with unknown object flying towards it
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, hand drawn person in costume poking another person in costume in the butt with an arrow
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, tan cover with dark blue print, drawing of the top of a circus tent with a flag flying, below stands an owl holding a lantern, a student in sports gear holding a lacrosse Stick and a student in cap and gown 1 copy inscribed: "Gift of class of 1954"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with dark blue print, two students stand at the left one in sweater and skirt holding a pile of books, the other in a sweater with an "H" and shorts, 2 flowers sprout from the ground 1 copy inscribed: "28 May 1955 gift of the class of 1955"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with red print, student with headscarf leans on a larger than life lantern and holds a songbook 1 copy inscribed: "Ann Morris, Merion" and "Gift of Ann Morris '57"
5 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with blue print, illustration of student wearing glasses and long scarf holding a guitar sitting next to lantern and ball of yarn with knitting needles
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with red print, illustration of student wearing large coat and scarf singing in front of steps with an owl wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette flying in background 1 copy inscribed: "Ann Levy, Rockefeller Hall" and "Ann Levy (Lathrop)"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with green print, illustration of simplistic owl with hearts for eyes
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with light blue print, illustration of rose with thorns
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with red print, seated woman playing a recorder (or similarly held instrument)
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with green print, owl wearing sunglasses and flip flops holding protest sign with a single music note on it 1 copy inscribed: "gift of Susan Klaus '67"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with black and light blue print, sketch of person holding lantern leaning against the title
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with black print, floral design
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with black print, illustration of group of students holding protest signs, one reads "Down with Step Sings" another "Turn on Lantern Night" and the third "No More Sing-Song"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover with blue print no illustration 1 copy inscribed: "Judy Mittleman '72, to Sheila O'Shauenessy '73, to Jill Dill '74, to Laurie Medill '75, to Lou Lukens '76, to Sr. Songmistress"
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, profile of student sitting with lantern
6 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, yellow cover, rear view of student holding lantern standing on title and reaching up
3 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, blue cover, college crest 1 copy inscribed: "Edith Meyer, Haffner Hall, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Penn. 19010" 1 copy inscribed on back cover: "Debbi Tenzel"
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, blue cover, photo of Taylor Tower
Stapled packet of "Class of '82 Lyric Song"
5 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, green cover, owl 1 copy inscribed: "To the Archives of Bryn Mawr College, The Class of '83 Ruth Hsu Sr. Songsmistress" 1 copy inscribed: "To the President of our College, Mary Pat McPherson, The Class of '83 Ruth Hsu Sr. Songsmistress" 1 copy inscribed: "To the Dean of our Junior Class, Mary Dunn, The Class of '83 Ruth Hsu Sr. Songsmistress"
4 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, cover design all text both English and Greek perhaps
1 copy of "Centennial Reunion Songbook" white cover with green print
1 copy of songbook with lyrics and some sheet music, bound with staples, white cover with dark blue print, line of owls with first owl wearing phd robes 1 copy of songbook mockup
1 copy of songbook with lyrics and some sheet music, bound with staples, blue cover, chorus of students singing inside of a lantern
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover, college crest 1 copy inscribed: "Brooke Stengel '91, x7637"
4 copies of "1993 Reunion Songbook" yellow cover
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, blue cover, corner illustrations of lantern (taken from Pem Arch) and owls reading (taken from Rock Arch) and decorative swirls and knots
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, green cover, daisies and swirls
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, unbound, light blue cover, sketch of cloisters
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, profile of Athena, "Athena's Revenge"
1 copy of Songs of Bryn Mawr College professionally published with lyrics and photos
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, white cover, picture of lantern 1 copy inscribed on back cover: "Cassie Paul, Parade Night Sept 2012" Includes 4 loose sheets "Parade Night 2012 Song Order" and "2016 Class Round" and "2016 Parade Night Song" and "2016 Class Song"
1 copy of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, picture of lantern
one copy reunion songbook with lyrics and sheet music, black and white cover with text design, printed copy paper bound with book fabric
2 copies of songbook with lyrics, bound with staples, red cover, picture of lantern 2 copies inscribed on back cover: "Cassie Paul, Parade Night Sept 2016" Includes loose sheet with sheet music of "Sophias" on one side and "Pallas Athena" on the other side