This listing is based in large part on the seminal work of Donald J. Stubblebine, Early Broadway Sheet Music: A Comprehensive Listing of Published Music from Broadway and Other Stage Shows 1843-1918. North Carolina: McFarland, 2002 (the “Book”).  Although not explicitly stated, it appears that his listing starts with one show from 1843 and ends with the 1917-1918 theatre season, which ran from June 1, 1917, to May 31, 1918.  The sheet music during that period was “large format” (approximately 10.5” x 13.5”).  The sheet music starting around 1918 became standard size (approximately 9.25” x 12”). 

The SMTC listing follows the alphabetical listing of the Book.  Every song has been given a unique number.  It starts with and “E” (for “Early”) and then the four-digit number of the show from the Book.  Then the two-digit number for the cover; and 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 E0553.01.05. 

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

We have also 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 images 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.

For alphabetizing purposes, in the titles of shows we have moved the words “The,” “A,” and “An,” and the like to the end of the title.  In the titles of songs, we have kept those words in place.