As noted in the Introduction to Broadway Sheet Music May 31, 1918, and earlier ,this listing is intended to dovetail with the seminal work of Donald J. Stubblebine, Broadway Sheet Music: A Comprehensive Listing, 1918-1993. North Carolina: McFarland, 1996.  Although not explicitly stated, it appears that his listing starts with the 1918-1919 theatre season, which ran from June 1, 1918, to May 31, 1919. 

The SMTC listing of music from June 1, 1918, and later, starts with the Stubblebine’s highest numbered show, 2562, Zulu and the Zayda, and goes upward numerically (and alphabetically).  This will enable us to extend the list to accommodate all 2562 shows.  

However, due to copyright restrictions, we are only listing shows that are more than 95 years old.  So, for example, in 2025, we will list shows only through 1929.  This means the many of the shows will not be listed for years and the numbers of the shows, while in numerical (and alphabetical) order, will skip many numbers.  Also Stubblebine did not limit his listings to Broadway shows.  He included Off-Broadway, Night-Clubs, Tryouts, regional shows, and shows that closed before Broadway.  We will include all of them.

As noted, we have also added a new feature.  Every song has been given a unique number.  It starts with the four-digit number of the show.  Then the two-digit number for the cover; Finally, the two-digit number of the song.  We hope you will find this useful in referring to the songs.  The songs can be cited as follows (for example):  SMTC 2563.02.05. 

We have not included any revivals or return engagements of shows in our listing unless new sheet music was published in connection therewith.  We have also not included vocal scores, and instrumental sheet music such as Selection, Waltz, and Two-Step.

We have relied heavily on the very detailed work of Richard C. Norton, A Chronology of American Musical Theatre, New York: Oxford University Press, (3 volumes), 2002 for the listing of the shows and their songs.  The illustrations come from the Stern Musical Theatre Collection, the Lester S Levy Sheet Music Collection, and the Library of Congress.  We are extremely indebted to the latter two for making their listings available.