Essex Hymnal Collection
The Essex Hymnal Collection dates from 1774 to 1920 and illuminates the
changing history of the United States over a 150 year period. The collection
traces the development of the American religious experience through its 443
identified hymnals. These include psalms, tune books, children's hymnals,
revival and camp meeting songbooks, Sunday School and multi-denominational
hymnals. Represented are abolition, temperance, patriotic and social gospel
hymns. Distinct differences can be observed between colonial, pre-Civil War,
Civil War, and post-Civil War hymnals. The Essex Collection represents
hymnals from a wide spectrum of Christian denominations, and the Jewish
religion. Some volumes are shape-note editions while many others are accompanied
by instruction in the rudiments of music. One of the collection's greatest
strengths is its coverage of significant Sunday School hymnals. Also noteworthy
is the existence of several editions or revisions of the same hymnal, which
allows for study of a particular hymnal's evolution over time. The Essex
Hymnals represent a unique collection of primary source materials of
interest not only to serious scholars, but also to elementary and secondary
schoolteachers for classroom use, as well as to the general public interested in
American culture and music.
Item 106. Joseph Funk. A Compilation Of Genuine Church Music.
Winchester, VA.: The Republican,1832.
Essex Hymnal Titles (Bibliography)
http://www.siue.edu/~tdickma
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