Irving Berlin Collection Processed by the Music Division of the Library of Congress Music Division, Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 2004 Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/perform.contact Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2012562128 Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Music Division, 2010 Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu012008 Collection Summary Title: Irving Berlin Collection Span Dates: 1895-1990 Bulk Dates: (bulk 1915-1990) Call No.: ML31.B48 Creator: Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989 Extent: 750,000 items ; 915 containers ; 400 linear feet Language: Material in English Location: Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Summary: Irving Berlin was an American lyricist and composer of over 1,200 songs. He was also a music publisher, theater owner, and a founding member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). The collection, which documents all aspects of his life and career, contains music scores, Berlin's handwritten and typewritten lyric sheets, publicity and promotional materials, personal and professional correspondence, photographs, business papers, legal and financial records, scrapbooks filled with press clippings, awards and honors, artwork and realia. Selected Search Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein. People Berlin, Ellin--Correspondence. Berlin, Ellin--Photographs. Berlin, Ellin. Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989--Archives. Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989--Correspondence. Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989--Manuscripts. Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989--Photographs. Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989. Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989. Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989. Selections. Kresa, Helmy, 1904-1991. Organizations American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Irving Berlin Collection (Library of Congress) Irving Berlin Music Company. Irving Berlin Music Company. Irving Berlin, Inc. Irving Berlin, Inc. Music Box Theater (New York, N.Y.) Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. Subjects Composers--United States. Motion picture music--Excerpts--Scores. Music publishing--United States. Music--Manuscripts--United States. Musical films. Musical theater--United States--20th century. Irving Berlin Collection 2 Musicals. Popular music--United States. Popular music--Writing and publishing--United States. Songs--Texts. Theater--United States. Form/Genre Artifacts (Object genre) Awards. Clippings (Information artifacts) Correspondence. Financial records. Photographic prints. Programs (Documents) Promotional materials. Scrapbooks. Scripts (Documents) Administrative Information Provenance Gift of Mary Ellin Barrett, Linda Louise Emmet, and Elizabeth Irving Peters, 1992. Accruals No further accruals are expected. Processing History The Irving Berlin Collection was processed by Ray White and Tom Barrick. The finding aid was coded for EAD by Janet McKinney in 2010. Transfers Audiovisual materials have been transferred to the Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division. The sound recordings have been cataloged and can be identified as part of the "Irving Berlin Collection (Library of Congress)." Copyright Status Materials from the the Irving Berlin Collection are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.). and other applicable international copyright laws. Access and Restrictions The Irving Berlin Collection is open to research, though some items have restricted access. In addition, boxes bearing shelf numbers beginning with "B" or "L" are stored offsite. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time. Microfilm The scrapbooks have been preserved on microfilm because of their fragile nature (Microfilm 92/20013 [MUS]). Irving Berlin Collection 3 Preferred Citation Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, and container number, as appropriate], Irving Berlin Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Biographical Sketch Date Event 1888, May 11 Born Israel Beilin to Moses Beilin and Leah Lipkin. One of eight children, his exact place of birth is unknown, although his family had been living in Tolochin, Byelorussia, (Russia) 1893 Beilin family immigrated to New York Family changed name to Baline 1901 Moses Baline died Izzy (Israel's nickname) quit school and left home to become a street singer 1905 Hired by songwriter-publisher Harry Von Tilzer to plug songs at Tony Pastor's Music Hall on 14th St., N.Y. 1906 Singing waiter at Mike Salter's Pelham Café, in Chinatown, N.Y. Began writing and performing his own lyrics and parodies 1907 Wrote lyrics for first published song, "Marie from Sunny Italy", and earned 37 cents in royalties Changed name to Irving Berlin 1908 Worked as a singing waiter at Jimmy Kelly's Wrote "The Best of Friends Must Part," the first song for which he composed both music and lyrics 1909 Hired by Ted Snyder Company, 112 W. 38th St., N.Y., as an in-house lyric writer Wrote "Dorando," his first song published by the Ted Snyder Company and first to achieve commercial success 1910 Wrote "Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon," his first number one selling song 1911 Dec. Became a partner with the Waterson, Berlin & Snyder publishing company, 112 W. 38th St., N.Y. 1911 First major international hit with "Alexander's Ragtime Band" Contributed four songs to the Ziegfeld Follies of 1911 1912 Feb. Married Dorothy Goetz, sister of songwriter E. Ray Goetz 1912 July Dorothy Berlin died of typhoid fever contracted in Cuba during their honeymoon 1912 Nov. Wrote "When I Lost You," his first important ballad Irving Berlin Collection 4 1914 Became a charter member of ASCAP Watch Your Step opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre, N.Y., his first score for the theater Waterson, Berlin & Snyder moved to the Strand Theatre Building at Broadway and 47th St., N.Y. Established Irving Berlin Inc., at 1571 Broadway, N.Y. 1918, Feb. 6 Became United States citizen 1918 Spring Entered the U.S. Army as a private 1918 Aug. Yip, Yip, Yaphank opened; Berlin wrote the Army show to raise money to build a service club at Camp Upton, N.Y. In the show he performed "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up In the Morning," and declined to include "God Bless America," (only to resurface 30 years later for the next World War effort) 1919 Honorably discharged from the Army Moved his offices to 1587 Broadway, N.Y. Wrote score for Ziegfeld Follies of 1919, including the hit "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" 1920 Built the Music Box Theatre on W. 45th St., N.Y., in partnership with Sam Harris 1921 Irving Berlin Inc. moved to 1607 Broadway, N.Y. Music Box Revue of 1921 opened at the Music Box Theatre, produced by partner Sam H. Harris 1922 Leah Baline (Irving's mother) died Music Box Revue of 1922 opened at the Music Box Theatre 1924 Met Ellin Mackay, daughter of Clarence Mackay, (owner of the postal telegraph company), and Katherine Duer Blake Wrote hits "All Alone" and "What'll I Do" Music Box Revue of 1924 opened, the fourth revue in his series at the Music Box Theatre 1925 Wrote "Always" and "Remember" The Cocoanuts opened in New York 1926, Jan. 4 Irving and Ellin married at City Hall accompanied by national press and against the wishes of her father; after an eight month honeymoon aboard the USS Leviathan, the couple returned to Manhattan 1926, Nov. 25 Daughter Mary Ellin Berlin born 1926 Dec. Wrote "Blue Skies" and on Christmas day presented it to his month old daughter, "for Mary Ellin, Christmas 1926" 1927 Ziegfeld Follies of 1927 opened, with complete score by Berlin Al Jolson sang "Blue Skies" in the first full-length soundtrack film, The Jazz Singer Irving Berlin Collection 5 1928, Dec. 1 Son Irving Berlin Jr. born (died 25 days later) 1928 The Cocoanuts opened in London Berlin wrote theme songs for the films The Awakening, Coquette, and Lady of the Pavement 1929 Wrote songs for the films Hallelujah, Mammy, including "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy," and Puttin' on the Ritz featuring the title song Film version of The Cocoanuts, shot in New York, was released 1930 Wrote the score for the film Reaching for the Moon. All but two songs were dropped due to the dying popularity of musicals 1932, Feb. 13 Face the Music opened in New York 1932, Feb. 21 Daughter Linda Louise Berlin born 1932 Songs "How Deep Is the Ocean" and "Say It Isn't So" were released 1933 Irving Berlin Inc. moved to 799 7th Ave., N.Y. As Thousands Cheer opened at Music Box Theatre; score included "Easter Parade," "Heat Wave," and "Supper Time" 1934 Appeared on cover of Time magazine 1935 New York premiere of film Top Hat, score included "Cheek to Cheek," "Isn't This a Lovely Day," and "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" 1936, June 6 Daughter Elizabeth Irving Berlin born 1936 New York premiere of film Follow the Fleet, score included "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket," "I'd Rather Lead a Band," and "Let's Face the Music and Dance" 1937 New York premiere of the film On the Avenue, score included "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," and "Slumming on Park Avenue" 1938, Nov. 10 "God Bless America" introduced by Kate Smith on an Armistice Day radio broadcast 1938 Films Alexander's Ragtime Band and Carefree released 1939 Film Second Fiddle released 1940 Louisiana Purchase opened at the Imperial Theatre, N.Y. 1941 Film version of Louisiana Purchase released Wrote three songs for the war effort and donated the royalties to the following organizations: the American Red Cross ("Angels of Mercy"); the Treasury Department ("Any Bonds Today"); and the Ordinance Department ("Arms for the Love of America") Irving Berlin Collection 6 1942, July 4 This is the Army opened at the Broadway Theatre in New York; Berlin appeared in the show and sang "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" 1942 Aug.