Ragtime, instrumental, AC - AL

The instrumental ragtime collection is clearly very large, and this section does not include the works of notable ragtime composers such as Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, etc. Their work is placed in subseries 6: ragtime composers and publishers. Boxes 88 through 105 contain piano solos in the ragtime style, most items dating between 1900 and 1920, by a variety of composers. Sam DeVincent organized this piano solo music using a broad concept of ragtime, one that is in keeping with the thinking of the time. He includes many syncopated marches, two-steps, and some music for dances that grew directly out of the ragtime craze of the 1910s such as the Turkey Trot and the Tango. Many, but not most, of the rags have covers and titles that feature Afro-American stereotypes. Many of the instrumental rags had vocal versions published; these sheets are placed in series 4. (circa 2,000 items)