Hugo Keesing Collection on Music and World War I
Originally referred to as "the war to end all wars," the First World War officially began in July 1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918, when Germany, the last of the Central Powers still standing, signed an armistice. This was one of the largest and deadliest wars in world history, involving over 70 million military troops, not to mention the millions of civilians that were affected and lost their lives. Hundreds of songs were written in the United States during and about the war, pertaining to themes such as patriotic duty, separation from loved ones, and the noble bravery of the troops, all of which provided valuable insight into the culture and mindset of Americans during the War. The Hugo Keesing Collection on Music and World War I consists of sheet music and newspaper publications from the United States published contemporaneously with, or pertaining to, World War I. The bulk of the materials cover the period 1917–1919, from the onset of American involvement to the years immediately following the war. The collection is organized into two series. A single publication from the year 1818 is also contained within this collection in Series 2: Newspapers.
