Author: HAVERLIN, Carl (lyrics) and ROBINSON, Earl (music)
Title: Illinois People: In Honor of the Illinois Sesquicentennial Anniversary
Description: Chicago, Illinois Sesquicentennial Commission, n.y. Paperback. 4to. Stiff printed wrappers (spiral bound). 118pp. Very good. Front outer wrapper (only) slightly age toned and edgeworn. Probable sole printing of this "Dramatic Cantata" commissioned by the State of Illinois in 1966 for its 1968 celebrations -- a mimeograph of Robinson's hand-drawn score penned on "Les Fulle Music Papers" music notation paper. This copy came from the collection of RALPH G. NEWMAN (1912-98), chairman of the Illinois Sesquicentennial Commission (and founder of Chicago's noted Abraham Lincoln Book Shop), and in turn came from the collection of Newman's old friend CARL HAVERLIN (1899-1985), noted Lincoln and Civil War scholar, radio pioneer and president of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), whose collection he acquired upon Haverlin's death. This appears to be Haverlin's working copy. Page 12 bears a 2" X 2" slip tipped at lower right, with note penned in what we believe to be Haverlin's hand: "STRANGER: (one of the Indians) speaks alright, Tell the man what you've done with his land. Tell him. Tell him what you've been doing for him lately." Occasionally a line or two of music and lyrics are scribbled out in black ballpoint and here and there a phrase of lyrics are added (which can be difficult to differentiate from the printed lyrics). Several mimeographed replacement pages have been lightly tipped in at several spots and a few mimeographed replacement pages are laid in loose. Separate from this oversize spiralbound book, there is a mimeographed single-page "Instructions for INSERTS" page and a 21-page typescript (stapled at upper left) of additional material. How many copies of "Illinois People" were published in this homespun format is unknown; likely extremely few, only enough to accomplish its 1968 premiere. Robinson (1910-91) was a folk singer and prolific composer often remembered for his labor anthem "Joe Hill." A unique copy of this very scarce score. .

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