The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #92438 Message #1766181
Posted By: Jon Bartlett
21-Jun-06 - 11:46 PM
Thread Name: World Around Songs/Cooperative Recreation Service
Subject: Help, please: Co-op. Recreation Service
I've got about thirty of these little booklets, all w. & M., put out by the above named outfit from Delaware, O. I think the outfit was founded by a pair of sisters in the early '30s and ran till the 80's. Each of the songsters (that's what they are, really) is about 7" x 4", c. 96 pp., with about that many songs, and sold for a quarter. Some songs are in several books, but all the booklets I have have all have the same type of content: hymns, spirituals, play-party pieces, some chanteys: there's nothing offensive since there is clearly a church connection. Titles are almost all generic: "Work and Sing", "Nive Songs to Know and Remember", "Sing a Song", etc. I'm looking into them because I suspect they acted as folksong vectors. I'm putting something together about modern non-pop songbooks, such as stuff printed for Scouts and Guides, etc.
If anyone knows anything more (specifically: how big were the print runs, how well-known were they in their day, has anyone published anything about the sisters (last name Rohrbough)) and could let me know, I'd be really grateful (and you'll get a footnote!). I'd like to get a full press list and to acquire other titles in the series. Maybe someone out there has got some?