Copyright Lore uller m u Irving Berlin Gives “God Bless America”

Royalties to Scouting A l by m photo judith Nierman

Irving Berlin (1888–1989), the famed American songwriter and composer, a new world political situation and war Telegra rld Wo again menacing Europe, Berlin altered a Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin, and Oscar Ham- held numerous copyrights in his 900 songs, 19 musicals, and 18 movie few of his original words. Smith performed merstein II. Seated in back is Helen Tamiris. They scores. Berlin immigrated from Russia to America with his parents at the song on November 10, 1938, and the are watching hopefuls who are being auditioned response was immediate. America loved it. on stage of the St. James Theatre. the age of five to escape pogroms. Helping to support The Rodgers & Hammerstein his family from the age of eight, Berlin grew up Organization states that Berlin decided to give away all royalties from, and control poor, but he learned music. Berlin, who was a of, perhaps his most famous song. A Read more! prolific author, sometimes stashed his generous and patriotic man who knew the opportunities afforded him in America, Listen to “God Bless America” here: work for years until he finished it or Berlin did not wish to receive any profit www.loc.gov/item/ihas.100010431/ needed it for a project. from “God Bless America.” When his publisher disagreed, Berlin set up the To see Irving Berlin’s copyrights that Such it was with “God Bless America,” Irving Berlin Music Company to control are administered by the trust, search called by the Library of Congress the use of his songs. And he established the Copyright Office public catalog the “unofficial national anthem” of the God Bless America Fund with three on “God Bless America Fund.” “God America. Berlin was serving in the trustees to control the use of the song Bless America” is listed in document U.S. Army in 1918 at Camp Upton for which the trust was named, receive number V1771P085. in Yaphank, New York, when he royalties from the song, and distribute penned the words to the song. funds to the Boy Scouts and the Girl For further information on Irving Not quite satisfied, Berlin put the Scouts. So far, the contribution to scouting Berlin, go here: song away for decades. has amounted to $10 million. The song will • www.arcamax.com/knowledge/ In 1938, Kate Smith, a well- not enter the public domain until 2034. trivia/s-175319-659638 known singer and host of a America continues its affection for “God • www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/ popular CBS radio program, Bless America.” Berlin himself sang it to trm019.html was looking for a song to former Vietnam prisoners of war in the • www.cnn.com/2011/12/11/opinion/ sing for Armistice Day. Berlin White House in 1973. When members of greene-berlin/ remembered his work of 20 Congress assembled on the steps of the • http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/ years before and got out his U.S. Capitol after the September 11, 2001, story/2011/01/american-tune/ song. The original words terrorist attacks in New York, what else • http://history.house.gov/Historical- were written in response to would they sing? 1 Highlights/2000-/The-singing- an ongoing war. In 1938 with of-“God-Bless-America”-on- September-11,-2001/ Irving Berlin and wife, Dorothy Goetz, who died six months after their marriage in 1912. Library of Congress Prin ts and Photo graphs Division 13