Ralph A. Cafaro, Jr. Sheet Music Collection
Scope and Contents
The collection contains sheet music spanning a wide variety of genres and eras. It is particularly strong in music from the stage and screen, patriotic/war songs, college songs, and non-English popular songs.
Dates
- Creation: 1831 - 2001
Creator
- Cafaro, Ralph A., Jr. (Collector, Person)
Biographical / Historical
The collection was amassed by Cafaro beginning with random purchases in the 1980’s. As a teenager in Seneca Falls, NY, Cafaro played trumpet and led small ensembles. On the way home from performances, he and his friends would often harmonize on the hits of the day with Cafaro as baritone. After retirement as an executive at G.D. Searle and Company in the 1990’s, he began collecting in earnest. His collection was driven by a love for old melodies from records or radio performances, as well as the visual art found on the covers. Cafaro’s son Paul Cafaro, a musician, also contributed several hundred songs to the collection (primarily foreign works and humorous songs). Cafaro used his collection for educational purposes, curating presentations at community centers.
Extent
Approximately 43 Boxes (43 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
While the majority of the collection was amassed by Ralph A. Cafaro, Jr., Paul Cafaro contributed to the collection as well.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by the Cafaro family in 2023.
Processing Information
This collection is currently being processed.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Box: 6 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 7 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 8 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 9 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 10 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 11 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 12 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 13 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 14 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 15 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 16 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 17 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 18 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 19 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 20 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 21 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 22 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 23 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 24 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 25 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 26 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 27 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 28 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 29 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 30 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 31 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 32 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 33 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 34 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 35 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 36 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 37 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 38 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 39 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 40 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 41 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 42 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 43 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 44 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 45 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 46 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA
specialcollections@lists.jhu.edu