Sims Songs Slides Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS S12

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Two hundred twenty-six glass lantern slides to project sheet music to a group of people. The slides feature music for a variety of genres, including folk and classical songs, school cheers, holiday music, and popular songs of the time. The collection also include copy of a newspaper article from The Index, the newspaper of what is now Truman State University, about the slides.

Dates

1830s-1924.

Creator

Sims Song Slide Corporation (Organization)

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Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Board of Governors for Truman State University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Researchers further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, and their officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of collections held by the library.

Historical Note

Glass lantern slides were used in community gatherings in order to display music, photographs, or early forms of animation. For singing groups and clubs, lantern slides were an easier and cheaper way for groups to access popular songs as they no longer needed to purchase sheet music for each member. Sims Song Slide Corporation was founded in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1924 by Barrett Stout (a music professor at Kirksville State Teachers College) and his business partner, Grover Sims. The company worked with music companies in order to obtain copyrights for songs so the slides could be produced, with the companies getting royalties from each purchase. Most music of the time was marketed towards solo singers rather than groups, so Sims Song Slide Corporation allowed these companies to tap into the market of ensemble singers.