Items are arranged according to the order assigned to them by catalog numbers which the two radio stations employed, or by accession number when an item came from another source.
These items are searchable in the main UNT Libraries catalog.
The materials from WFAA and WBAP accumulated through the decades in which those stations employed live radio orchestras, and are a major resource for performance, study, and local and national broadcasting history. Don Gillis, whose collection is also housed in the UNT Music Library, assisted in the acquisition of the WBAP collection.
The popular song collection consists primarily of piano-vocal scores, often with chord symbols and even chord grids for guitar and/or ukulele. These materials are of interest from numerous angles, including the development of the American Songbook and canon of "standard" jazz tunes, propaganda from the two World Wars and Great Depression, the status of immigrant and ethnic groups, and other topics. Many titles are quite rare, and in many cases, the collection includes the more obscure works even of the better-known composers and lyricists.
Acquired:
Accruals/additions are ongoing in the song, orchestra, and octavo collections.
Restrictions: Access to this collection is provided only by special arrangement. Please contact the Music Library for more information.
Rights: Reproduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Music Library. Copyright restrictions may apply.
Access Notes: Collection is housed in the UNT Music Library. Advance notice for use is required. Please contact the Music Library for further information.
Scope and Contents: The collection consists of thousands of published ensemble arrangements and sheet music for popular songs from roughly 1890 through the 1950s. Many items are also stamped for WBAP sister station KGKO.
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