Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
L. Wolfe Gilbert papers, 1907-1971
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Gilbert, L. Wolfe (Louis Wolfe), 1886-1970
- Title
- L. Wolfe Gilbert papers
- Dates
-
1907-1971 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 21.5 cubic ft. (35 boxes) + 1 oversized box
- Collection Number
- 04374
- Summary
- Contains the papers of L. Wolfe Gilbert, a Russian-born American songwriter known for his work as part of the Tin Pan Alley group.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid has been made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
L. Wolfe Gilbert (1886-1970) was an American lyricist and composer during the twentieth century. Known as the "Dean of Tin Pan Alley", Gilbert was born in Odessa, Ukraine and immigrated to the United States with his family as an infant. He later moved to New York City and started working in vaudeville as a teenager. Gilbert wrote his first hit song, "Waitin' for the Robert E. Lee" in 1912 and went on to write more than 250 songs, including "Down Yonder" (1921), "Lucky Lindy" (1927), and "Peanut Vendor' (1931). His songs were performed and recorded by numerous performing artists, including Fred Waring, Count Basie, and Xavier Cugat. Gilbert also wrote lyrics and composed for radio, motion pictures, and television, and his work included writing music for the "Eddie Cantor Show", writing the lyrics for the song "Ramona" (which became the first ever motion picture theme song for the movie "Ramona" in 1936), and writing the lyrics for "Hopalong Cassidy March" (which became the theme song for Hopalong Cassidy's movies and television show during the 1940s and 1950s). In addition to his musical activities, Gilbert was an active member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, serving as its director from 1941 to 1944. He was also the author of his autobiography Without Rhyme or Reason (1956).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection contains L. Wolfe Gilbert's correspondence (business and personal), song lyric notes (handwritten, typed, and mimeographed), and subject files (containing clippings, sheet music, and printed materials). Collection also contains photographs (mostly of Gilbert and other show business personalities), original manuscripts of Gilbert's autobiography Without Rhyme or Reason, and several scrapbooks (which contain clippings, correspondence, and song lyrics). Numerous 78 rpm phonograph records of L. Wolfe Gilbert songs recorded by various artists (including Fred Waring, Count Basie, and Xavier Cugat), published sheet music of Gilbert's songs, award plaques and certificates, and a handful of original musical scores are also present in the collection.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThe Theodore Dreiser papers at the University of Pennsylvania contain correspondence with Gilbert, The Lilac Domino [collection]: Operetta in Three Acts at the University of Wisconsin contains works by Gilbert, and an oral history with Gilbert resides at Columbia University.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThis material was received from Rose Wolfe Gilbert (spouse) from 1972 to 1991 and the UNC Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library in 2018.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in August 2012 and updated by Jamie Greene in April 2019.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. CareerReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Sub-series 1. General |
||
Box | ||
5 | ASCAP Membership Meeting reports |
1952-1955 |
6 | ASCAP printed materials |
1939-1969 |
5 | ASCAP West Coast Membership Meeting reports |
1950-1952 |
6 | ASCAP West Coast Membership Meeting reports |
1955-1957 |
2 | ASCAP |
1925-1971 |
5 | ASCAP |
1930-1968 |
31 | Plaque - "To Wolfie with much affection and gratitude for
devoted service from the West Coast 'Guys and Gals' of
ASCAP," |
1961 |
31 | Plaque - To a Great American for the Millions of Happy Hours
You Have Given Countless People from The Larry Finley Show,
KFWB |
1953 July 24 |
31 | Plaque - To L. Wolfie Gilbert on his Seventieth Birthday, the
Members of the Board of Directors of the American Society of
Composers, Authors and Publishers salute him:… |
1956 August 31 |
31 | Plaque of appreciation from West Coast Membership of
ASCAP |
1959 February 25 |
10 | Radio scripts - Art and Dotty Todd |
1954 April 23 |
10 | Radio scripts - Ed Lowry Show |
undated |
9 | Radio scripts - Eddie Cantor |
1933-1934, undated |
10 | Radio scripts - Eddie Cantor |
1932-1934, undated |
9 | Radio scripts - Jack Benny |
1952 February 3 |
12 |
Without Rhyme or Reason manuscripts |
undated |
13 |
Without Rhyme or Reason manuscripts |
undated |
14 |
Without Rhyme or Reason manuscripts |
undated |
Sub-series 2. Lyric notes |
||
Box | ||
17 | A Garden in Encino |
1940 |
18 | A Life Time, Is No Time |
undated |
18 | A Mender of Broken Hearts |
undated |
19 | A Waltz in the Clouds |
undated |
17 | A Weepin' and a Wailin' Song |
undated |
17 | Are You Going to the Texas Oil Man's Ball? |
undated |
17 | As Love Goes Marching On |
undated |
17 | At Journey's End |
undated |
17 | At the Double Diamond Ranch |
undated |
17 | Baby, You Slay Me |
undated |
17 | The Bells of Montebello |
undated |
17 | Benny the Bow-Legged Bowler |
undated |
17 | Bless Your Little Heart My Dear |
undated |
17 | Bo Weevil |
undated |
17 | Bouncin' on the Bayou |
undated |
17 | Broken Dolly and Me |
undated |
17 | Broken Dreams to Mend |
undated |
17 | Calling All Cars |
undated |
17 | Child Wonder |
undated |
17 | Chiquita |
1926, 1928 |
17 | Colorado Sunset |
undated |
17 | The Cosmopolitan |
undated |
17 | Cotton Moon |
undated |
17 | The Cross Roads of the World |
undated |
17 | Cry Baby |
undated |
17 | Cry of a Soul |
undated |
17 | The Cry of the Wolf |
undated |
17 | Cuttin' Corners |
undated |
17 | Dancing with an Angel |
undated |
17 | The Dartmouth Twirl |
undated |
17 | Don't Let Me Down |
undated |
17 | Down Yonder |
1951-1952 |
17 | Entre Nous |
undated |
17 | Ess Ess Mein Kindt (notes, score, and 45 RPM vinyl record) |
1966 |
17 | Eternally Yours |
undated |
17 | Forever and a Day |
1929 |
17 | Funny Paper Capers in a Dream |
undated |
17 | Gimme a Girl |
undated |
17 | The Greatest Enemy of Love |
undated |
17 | Hotcha Yascha Lovanoff |
1938 |
17 | I Can't Say Manyanna |
undated |
17 | I Could Be Wrong |
undated |
17 | I Laughed at Love |
undated |
17 | I Live for You |
undated |
17 | I Lost My Way |
undated |
17 | I Miss My Swiss |
1925 |
17 | I Smiled at the Moon |
undated |
17 | If I Were You and You Were Me |
undated |
17 | I'm Buying a Bond for My Baby |
1942-1944 |
17 | I'm the Best Bad Gal in Town |
undated |
17 | I'm Winding Up My Affairs |
undated |
17 | In a Wistful Vista |
undated |
17 | In My Corral |
undated |
17 | In My Network Nightmare Dream |
undated |
17 | In the Cradle of Your Arms |
undated |
17 | Is That Asking too Much? |
undated |
17 | It's Always a Waltz |
undated |
18 | Junior Auxiliary |
1950-1961 |
18 | The Kiss that was Stolen |
undated |
18 | Labels |
undated |
18 | Laffs and Lies |
1959 |
18 | The Land I Love |
undated |
18 | Land of Glamorous Girls |
1939 July 27 |
18 | Last Night I Missed You in My Dreams |
undated |
18 | The Last Time I Saw Paris (recitation) |
undated |
18 | Let Doctor Cantor Worry for You |
undated |
18 | Lips Like the Rose |
undated |
18 | Listening |
undated |
18 | Little Bronze Lady in the Harbor |
1940 |
18 | London's Truckin' Now |
undated |
18 | Lost a Man's Best Pal |
undated |
18 | Love Called Me This Morning |
undated |
18 | Lucky Lindy |
1927-1971 |
18 | Mama Don't Want No Peas an' Rice an' Cocoanut
Oil |
1952 |
18 | Man Behind the Badge |
1955 |
18 | Maria, My Own |
undated |
18 | The Masquers |
1960 |
18 | Meet the Family |
undated |
18 | The Meeting at the Summit |
undated |
18 | Mio Rio de Janeiro |
1936 |
19 | Miscellaneous |
1926-1942, undated |
18 | Mister Publisher |
undated |
18 | Music, Wine, an Old Bouquet |
undated |
18 | My Absent Lover |
undated |
18 | My Diary |
undated |
18 | My Midnight Cinderella |
undated |
18 | My Mother's Eyes |
undated |
18 | My Pillow |
undated |
18 | My Smoke Dream Lady |
1936 |
18 | My Son, My Son |
1939 |
18 | Neath California Skies |
undated |
18 | Neath the Moon at Saskatoon |
1937 |
18 | Nobody's Lost on the Wholesome Trail |
undated |
18 | Octogenarian |
undated |
18 | The Old Arm Chair |
undated |
18 | On Christmas Day |
undated |
18 | One More Smile |
undated |
18 | One of a Kind |
undated |
18 | Only the Brave |
undated |
18 | Over Yonder Hills |
undated |
18 | Peanut Vendor |
undated |
18 | Ramona |
1955-1970 |
18 | Rather do Without You Baby |
undated |
18 | Ringing the New Year In |
undated |
19 | Shades of Night |
undated |
19 | She's a Gypsy from Brooklyn |
undated |
19 | Song of Mojave |
undated |
19 | The Song of the Rabbit |
undated |
25 | Songwriting scrapbook |
1925, undated |
19 | The Sweetest Day |
undated |
19 | Take Good Care of My Baby |
undated |
19 | Take It with a Grain of Salt |
undated |
19 | There Goes My Sugar Girl |
undated |
19 | There's No Song Like an Old Song |
undated |
19 | There's No Substitute for Love |
undated |
19 | There's Nobody Else But You |
1942 |
19 | The Things That Count |
undated |
19 | The Things We Love Will Live Again |
undated |
19 | This Belongs to You |
undated |
19 | Three Blind Mice |
undated |
19 | Three Little Sugar Girls are We |
undated |
18 | Tournament of Roses |
1952-1961 |
19 | Two Against One - 'Taint Fair |
1938 |
19 | Two Hearts in Silhouette |
undated |
19 | Waiting for the Robert E. Lee |
1929-1968 |
17 | We Went to Work in the Morning |
undated |
19 | We're Gonna Hit - Hit - Hitler |
undated |
19 | When a Latin Falls in Love |
undated |
19 | Who Do You Belong to? |
undated |
19 | Why am I the Way, I am About You |
undated |
19 | You're Only Fooling Yourself |
undated |
Sub-series 3. Articles |
||
Box | ||
22 | Anesthesia Hit Parade, Best Hypo to a Songwriter |
1963 January 9 |
22 | Does Practical Payola Pay Off? |
1960 November |
22 | Down in Melody Row |
1925-1926 |
22 | Hits That Almost Missed |
1960 January 6 |
22 | I Tangled with Sime |
undated |
22 | The Illiteracy Test |
1965 |
22 | Miscellaneous |
circa 1926-1959 |
22 | The Original Giveaway Program |
1956 November 19 |
22 | The Penny Arcade |
1961 November 14 |
22 | Rubbed Elbows with - |
1961 January 8 |
22 | The Song Belters |
1963 November |
22 | They're Playing Our Song |
undated |
22 | Truly a Yankee Doodle Dandy |
undated |
22 | What Have You Written Lately? |
1961 January 4 |
22 | Who Wrote That Song? |
undated |
22 | With His Hat in His Hand |
1956 January 4 |
Series II. Audiovisual materialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
34 | ASCAP group photograph, Coliseum, Treasure Island
(3) |
1940 September 24 |
36 | Phonograph record album |
1948-1949, undated |
27 | Phonograph record albums (2) |
1926-1942, undated |
25 | Phonograph record albums (4) |
1912-1957, undated |
26 | Phonograph record albums (5) |
1937-1955, undated |
29 | Phonograph record albums (6) |
circa 1915-1955, undated |
30 | Phonograph record albums (6) |
circa 1912-1936, undated |
28 | Phonograph record albums (6) |
1923-1966, undated |
34 | Phonograph records - ASCAP on Parade (8) |
undated |
32 | Phonograph records - assorted (3) |
1951-1955 |
33 | Phonograph records - Cavalcade of Music Concert (8) |
1940 September 24 |
32 | Phonograph records - Greek Relief Fund Show (6) |
1941 February 25 |
34 | Phonograph records - Let's Write a Song (2) |
1940 June 7 |
33 | Phonograph records - Men of Music - Shakespeare (2) |
undated |
34 | Phonograph records - Ridin' the Range (2) |
undated |
34 | Photographs (some signed) |
1929-1953, undated |
9 | Photographs |
undated |
11 | Photographs |
1936-1968, undated |
26 | Reel-to-reel tape recordings of Gilbert's work (2) |
undated |
Series III. Printed materialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
3 |
The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors,
& Publishers, edited by Daniel I. McNamara (contains
Gilbert) |
1952 |
4 |
The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors,
& Publishers, edited by Daniel I. McNamara (contains
Gilbert) |
1948 |
3 |
The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors,
& Publishers, Second Edition, edited by Daniel I.
McNamara (contains Gilbert) |
1952 |
3 |
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
Biographical Dictionary, compiled and edited by The Lynn
Farnol Group, Inc. (contains Gilbert) |
1966 |
21 | Binder - sheet music in English & Chinese |
1929, undated |
22 | Birthday - 65th |
1951 August |
22 | Birthday - 70th |
1956-1957 |
22 | Birthday - 71st |
1957-1968 |
22 | Birthday - 72nd |
1958 August |
22 | Birthday - 73rd |
1959 |
22 | Birthday - 74th |
1960 August |
22 | Birthday - 75th |
1961 |
22 | Birthday - 76th |
1962-1963 |
22 | Birthday - 77th |
1963 |
22 | Birthday - 78th |
undated |
22 | Birthday - 79th |
undated |
22 | Birthday - 80th |
1966 |
22 | Birthday - 81st |
1967 |
22 | Birthday - 82nd |
1968 |
22 | Cole Porter |
1956 |
1 |
Deep in My Heart by Elliott Arnold (inscribed by
author) |
1949 |
22 | Eddie Cantor |
1950 April 3 |
23 | Elson's Pocket Music Dictionary |
1909 |
23 | Examiner Christmas Benefit Show |
1954 December 17 |
22 | Ferde Grofe |
1967 April 3 |
23 | Friars' Club |
1949-1964 |
35 | Galley proofs of The Zionist Record Annual on
Gilbert |
1952 September |
22 | George Jessel |
1946, undated |
22 | The Guardian |
1962-1971 |
22 | Gus Edwards |
1955, undated |
1 |
Harmony and Harmonics by Arthur Lange, Mus. D.
(inscribed by author's wife) |
1958 |
4 |
A History of Popular Music in America by Sigmund
Spaeth (inscribed by author) |
1948 |
23 | The Hollywood Reporter |
1965 November 16 |
4 | I Ring Doorbells by Russell Birdwell (inscribed by
author) |
1939 |
4 |
I'll Cry Tomorrow by Lillian Roth (inscribed by
author) |
1954 |
22 | Irving Berlin |
1936 January 20 |
22 | Jimmy McHugh |
1954 |
22 | Jules Bledsoe |
1941 May 15 |
3 |
The Mirth of a Nation by Jimmy Lyons (inscribed by
author) |
1953-1954 |
23 | Legal material |
1949-1969 |
24 | Miscellaneous clippings |
1921-1969 |
23 | Miscellaneous programs |
1925-1969 |
1 |
More Poems by Nick Kenny (inscribed by
author) |
1948-1951 |
15 | Music books |
1915-1949, undated |
16 | Music books |
1915-1943 |
23 | Music charts |
1951-1961 |
35 | News clippings scrapbook |
1936-1937 |
27 | News clippings scrapbook |
circa 1917-1924 |
27 | News clippings scrapbook |
circa 1930-1938 |
36 | News clippings scrapbook |
circa 1937-1942 |
23 | Palace Theater |
1923 |
3 |
Passport to Paris by Vernon Duke (inscribed by
author) |
1955 |
22 | Paul Whiteman |
1913-1928 |
4 |
The Politician by Stephen and Ethel Longstreet
(inscribed by author) |
1959 |
35 | Press book |
1907-1922 |
14 | Publicity for Without Rhyme or Reason
|
1955-1958 |
19 | Sheet music - A |
1917-1961 |
19 | Sheet music - B |
1931-1952 |
19 | Sheet music - C |
1914-1961 |
20 | Sheet music - D |
1920-1955 |
20 | Sheet music - E |
1966, undated |
20 | Sheet music - F |
1929-1954, undated |
20 | Sheet music - G |
1919-1952 |
20 | Sheet music - H |
1912-1951 |
20 | Sheet music - I |
1914-1955 |
20 | Sheet music - J |
1928 |
20 | Sheet music - L |
1917-1966 |
20 | Sheet music - M |
1911-1956 |
21 | Sheet music - miscellaneous |
1936-1953 |
21 | Sheet music - N |
1927-1954 |
21 | Sheet music - O |
1915-1962 |
21 | Sheet music - P |
1915-1958 |
21 | Sheet music - R |
1927-1953 |
21 | Sheet music - S |
1916-1950 |
21 | Sheet music - T |
1912-1952 |
21 | Sheet music - U |
undated |
21 | Sheet music - W |
1926-1954 |
21 | Sheet music - XYZ |
1913-1958 |
19 | Sing-along sheets |
1927-1954 |
1 |
They All Had Glamour by Edward B. Marks (inscribed
by author) |
1944 |
23 | Travel |
1955-1957 |
35 | Variety |
1940-1969 |
1 |
Vaudeville by Joe Laurie, Jr. (inscribed by
author) |
1958 |
22 | W.C. Handy |
1954 |
22 | William Boyd - Hopalong Cassidy |
1950-1965 |
1 |
Without Rhyme or Reason by L. Wolfe
Gilbert |
1956 |
23 | Young Americans |
1969 |
Series IV. Personal itemsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
34 | Certificates (4) |
1959-1968 |
27 | Certificates (4) |
1960-1968 |
10 | Certificates |
1938-1967 |
7 | Correspondence |
1938-1951 |
8 | Correspondence |
1952-1969, undated |
6 | Gilbert family material |
1920-1970 |
31 | Plaque - Appreciation from the Conference of Jewish Women's
Organizations, Los Angeles |
1963 May 23 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Composers -- United States -- 20th century.
- Lyric writing (Popular music)
- Lyricists -- United States -- 20th century.
- Popular music -- United States -- 20th century.
- Popular music -- Writing and composing -- United States.
Corporate Names
- American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
Form or Genre Terms
- Phonograph records.
- Scrapbooks.