Stephen Foster's Sketchbook
This fully digitized version of Foster's sketchbook includes draft texts for sixty-four different songs including several of his most popular ones; a few pages include sketches of the music. Several of the draft lyrics are for unpublished songs (these are noted with brackets around the titles). The book also contains odd jottings, scribbles, doodles, and exercises in which Foster apparently practiced his signature and initials.
Foster's Sheet Music
Each edition of Stephen Foster's sheet music held by our collection has been digitized. To access them, search the individual song title in the University's online catalog (Pittcat) and follow the link in the catalog entry.
The Foster Hall Collection
All of Foster's correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, and other ephemera, as well as his family's correspondence and business papers, have been digitized and may be accessed through the Foster Hall Collection finding aid.
"Old Folks at Home" arranged by Antonin Dvorak
The fully digitized version of the1894 manuscript of Dvorak's arrangement of Foster's song.
The Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh: A Tribute to the Composer Whose Melodies Have Become Heart Songs of the American People
The fully digitized version of the pamphlet written for the dedication of the Stephen Foster Memorial in 1937.
The Minstrel of the Alleghenies by Harvey B. Gaul.
The fully digitized version of the pamphlet describing Stephen Foster's life.
The Chronicles of Stephen Foster's Family, Volume I, by Evelyn Foster Morneweck.
The fully digitized version of the first volume of Foster's niece's biography of her famous uncle, including extensive illustrations and full texts of family letters.
The Chronicles of Stephen Foster's Family, Volume II, by Evelyn Foster Morneweck.
The fully digitized version of the second volume of Foster's niece's biography of her famous uncle, including extensive illustrations, full-text of family letters, and genealogical information on the Foster family.
Center for American Music
Stephen Foster Memorial
University of Pittsburgh
4301 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
The Center for American Music Library and Stephen Foster Museum are both closed to the public for Summer 2023.
To request access, please send us a request at least 48 hours in advance.
You do not have to be affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh to use the Collection.
