Discovering the Yankee Doodle Boy: Digitization of the Edward B. Marks Music Company Collection on George M. Cohan

FAIN: PW-253754-17

Museum of the City of New York, Inc. (New York, NY 10029-5221)
Morgen Stevens-Garmon (Project Director: July 2016 to December 2019)
Lindsay Turley (Project Director: December 2019 to November 2021)

The archival processing of the Edward B. Marks Music Company Collection, including 900 scripts, scores, and parts, as well as the digitization of up to 750 items, which would be made available through the Museum of the City of New York’s digital collections portal. The collection represents the largest group of materials on the American composer, songster, and musical theater figure George M. Cohan (1878­–1942).

The Museum of the City of New York seeks an implementation grant of $129,467 for a two-year, $259,816 project to improve stewardship of and increase public access to approximately 900 scripts, scores, and published sheet music that make up the Edward B. Marks Music Company Collection on George M. Cohan.

Media Coverage

Museum of the City of New York Receives National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to Digitize the Definitive George M. Cohan Collection (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Museum of the City of New York
Publication: Museum of the City of New York
Date: 4/11/2017
Abstract: Press release announcement
URL: http://www.mcny.org/sites/default/files/2017-04/NEH%20Cohan%20Grant%20Press%20Release.pdf

Associated Products

The Yankee Doodle Boy gets Digitized (Blog Post)
Title: The Yankee Doodle Boy gets Digitized
Author: Morgen Stevens-Garmon
Abstract: Since 1968, the Museum has been home to a large collection of scripts, sheet music, and scores created by George M. Cohan, the most prolific theater artist in the first half of the 20th century. Cohan wrote, produced, directed, or starred in over 100 Broadway productions and penned such enduring hits as “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “You’re a grand old flag,” “Give my regards to Broadway”, and “Over there.” Currently, anyone wishing to view this material must make a research appointment and plan to visit the Museum, and access is limited to those with the means to travel to and stay in New York City. However, this is all about to change.
Date: 04/11/2017
Primary URL: https://blog.mcny.org/2017/04/11/the-yankee-doodle-boy-gets-digitized/
Website: MCNY Blog: New York Stories

George M. Cohan: NYC's Song and Dance Man (Blog Post)
Title: George M. Cohan: NYC's Song and Dance Man
Author: Morgen Stevens-Garmon
Abstract: There is a statue in Times Square that stands on the north side of 46th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue; not the Father Duffy sculpture for which the intersection is named, but a slightly smaller work found to the south of the formidable World War I priest. This statue depicts the great American song and dance man George M. Cohan. Measuring a solid three feet taller than its subject did in life, the statue celebrates a man who composed, directed, produced, or starred in over 100 Broadway productions, making him the most prolific musical theater artist in history.
Date: 11/05/2017
Primary URL: https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/george-m-cohan-nycs-song-and-dance-man
Website: Gotham: A Blog for Scholars of New York City history

Now Playing! George M. Cohan (Blog Post)
Title: Now Playing! George M. Cohan
Author: Morgen Stevens-Garmon
Abstract: The Museum of the City of New York is very happy to announce that the first group of material is now available online through the Museum’s Collections Portal! Over 400 objects have been digitized, including manuscripts, annotated typescripts, actors’ sides, sheet music, and individual instrument orchestrations from over 13 musicals and plays by Cohan.
Date: 04/24/2018
Primary URL: http://www.mcny.org/story/now-playing-george-m-cohan
Website: Museum of the City of New York: Stories

MCNY Collections Portal: George M. Cohan Collection (Web Resource)
Title: MCNY Collections Portal: George M. Cohan Collection
Author: Museum of the City of New York
Abstract: The Edward B. Marks Music Co. Collection on George M. Cohan documents the career of one of the 20th century’s most prolific theatrical artists. Born in 1878, George Michael Cohan joined his parents’ vaudeville act in infancy. His first full-length production opened on Broadway when he was just 23, and for the next 40 years he wrote, composed, directed, produced, or starred in over 100 Broadway productions. Thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for Humanities Collections and Reference Resources, the Museum is engaged in digitizing over 70 of Cohan’s plays, musicals, and sketches, which will be made publicly available for the first time on the Collections Portal.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://collections.mcny.org/Explore/Featured/George%20M.%20Cohan%20Collection/

Describing Medium of Performance in the Edward B. Marks Music Co. Collection on George M. Cohan (Blog Post)
Title: Describing Medium of Performance in the Edward B. Marks Music Co. Collection on George M. Cohan
Author: Lauren Robinson
Abstract: Description of the process of cataloging the Edward B. Marks Music Co. Collection on George M. Cohan including the tools and authorities used for controlled vocabulary terms.
Date: 11/06/2018
Primary URL: https://www.mcny.org/story/describing-medium-performance-edward-b-marks-music-co-collection-george-m-cohan
Website: Museum of the City of New York: Stories

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