Books › Ayars, Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston (1937) — the Squier, Farley, Rettberg, Rockwell and Elias Howe matter, 1937 › scan 57
Scan 57
Ayars, Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston (1937) — the Squier, Farley, Rettberg, Rockwell and Elias Howe matter, 1937
14 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 35. See the scan on archive.org.
1These publications with their authors and editors bespeak the great contribution made by the Oliver Ditson Company to the advancement of music throughout the musical world.
3WHITE-SMITH MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY
5Charles A. White, as a composer, had found that it was difficult for Americans to get their works published. Hence in 1867 he with W. Frank Smith, previously a retail clerk at Oliver Ditson's, and John F. Perry of New Bedford organized the company, White, Smith and Perry, located at 298 & [address hidden]
7"Charles White, born in Dighton, Massachusetts, played the violin at an early age and, starting out as a dancing master, was at one time professor of dancing and fencing at the United States Naval Academy when it was located at Newport, Rhode Island. It was at this time that he wrote a number of successful songs which were published by Oliver Ditson & Co."18 After he had gone into the publishing business his songs, Put Me in My Little Bed, I'm Goin' Back to Dixie, When the Leaves Begin to Turn, and best known of all Marguerite attained a nationwide sale. The last named was so popular in its day that over one million copies of it have been sold. Altogether Mr. White wrote and published over one thousand compositions, many of them under various pen names.
9In 1874 the firm became White, Smith & Co. at [address hidden] as Mr. Perry withdrew and carried on as a separate publisher and dealer in music and pianofortes until about 1883. About 1890 the company was first listed in the directory as White-Smith Music Publishing Co. Upon the death of Mr. Smith in June 1891 his interests were bought by Mr. White, who took his son Daniel L. into partnership. After the death of Charles A. White the company was incorporated in 1897 with Daniel L. White as President. Upon his death in August 1919 his only son Charles A. White, grandson of the founder, became and still is president of the company.
11This firm was one of the earliest to specialize in engraving, printing and binding of music, starting this phase of the business within a few years after its establishment. The firm's contribution in this field will be discussed under the heading "Music Engraving and Printing."
1318 Fisher, William Arms. One Hundred and Fifty Years of Music Publishing in the United States pp. 120-21.
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