AHJ_ah07464 Inventory of the Tot Seymour Papers, 1921-1960 Seymour (Tot) Papers University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2018

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Leslie Waggener. 2018 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Seymour, Tot, 1889-1966. Tot Seymour papers 1921-1960 07464 1.54 cubic ft. (3 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Papers of a female lyracist who wrote popular music and music for radio, drama, film and variety shows. Biography of Tot Seymour

Tot Seymour (1889-1966) was born Grace Mann in New York City. She was a staff lyricist at Irving Berlin’s publishing company (Waterson, Berlin and Snyder), a contract writer for Paramount, and wrote special material for Fannie Brice, Mae West, Sophie Tucker, and for the Ziegfeld Follies. In addition, she wrote radio and drama scripts. She also collaborated with tunesmiths Sigmund Romberg and J. Fred Coots (with whom she wrote I Miss a Little Miss). Other hits included Swingin' on a Hammock and I'm Makin' Hay in the Moonlight (In My Baby's Arms).

Lyricist Seymour paired with pianist/composer Vee Lawnhurst to form a successful partnership. Their publishing company, Famous Music, touted them as "the first successful team of girl song writers in popular music history." Individually and together Tot Seymour and Vee Lawnhurst were pioneers in the new medium of radio, and their songs were ubiquitous with the popular music landscape of the 1930's.

 Scope and Content

The collection contains agreements; correspondence (1921-1960); memoranda and notices regarding Tot Seymour's career; radio scripts; song lyrics; and song manuscripts written by Seymour. Titles include Divine Lady, Four and Twenty Bluebirds, I’m Willing, Midnight in Manhattan, Mountain Music, Please Play that Record Again, Strollin’ Through the Goldenrod with You, Waikiki Wedding, What’s Wrong with this Song, You Don’t Love Me, and others. The collection also includes phonograph records (78 rpm) of popular music, including Jipi Japa, The Little White Rose Bush, Night on the Plains, Now is the Moment, Sweethearts in the Summer, Swingin' in a Hammock, Us on a Bus, Watchin’ the Trains Go By, and When You Said Goodbye.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

 Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Tot Seymour at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

This material was received from Genevieve Wolfe in 1980.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Lawnhurst, Vee. Romberg, Sigmund, 1887-1951. Coots, J. Fred, 1897-1985. Women composers -- United States. Film composers -- United States. Radio music. Radio -- Songs and music. Popular music -- United States. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Music Performing Arts Container List

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 Link to Container List (PDF)