WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Sept. 25, 2016 — At one time sheet music was a commonplace item in the family parlor. Stored in the piano bench, these paper booklets contained the music and words to popular songs at a time when radios and phonographs were not common. Many featured attractive art, much like record albums do.
Today, sheet music is mostly relegated to the world of antiques and collectibles. Of course, musicians and music students still purchase sheet music but often do so online via download, paying for the rights, then viewing on their computer or mobile device or printing out a copy.
But collectible sheet music is an enjoyable hobby for music lovers and antique enthusiasts. The vintage artwork offers an attractive treasure for framing and display too.
The Paul N. Elbin Library at West Liberty University recently received a gift of antique sheet music from Wheeling resident Bonnie Bowman Thurston that dates to the 1880 – 1930s and includes sacred, parlor and popular music. Many offer a cover illustration that is a lesson in social history too.
“We are so grateful to Bonnie for sharing this meaningful collection of piano music. It belonged to Bonnie’s grandmother, Lila May Lewis King, a native of Brooke County, and we are pleased to add it to our Henry Lash Sheet Music Collection,” said Library Director Cheryl Harshman.
The Henry Lash Collection is part of the library archives, located on the lower floor of the three-story building. Lash attended West Liberty.
“The Elbin Library is committed to building the university archives for the collection and preservation of historic and local artifacts such as these. It aids future researchers,” she said.
Lila May was born in 1882 and grew up on the family farm, located on Bethany Pike between Wellsburg and Bethany. She is a direct descendent of pioneer founder of Wellsburg, Absalom Wells.
A member of a musical family, Lila May’s father was an accomplished violinist and everyone in the family sang. She studied music at Bethany College in the late 1890s and graduated, quite a feat for a woman of that era.
It was at Bethany that she met her husband, Virginius Limon King of Virginia. He was studying to become a Christian minister. They were married on July 26, 1906 and served Christian churches in the tri-state region for the next 50 plus years, according to Thurston.
Lila May was the pianist for all of her husband’s congregations and and was active in the ministry. Rev. Mr. King passed away in 1971. When she died in the late 1970s, her collection of sheet music and hymn books were found in the bench and near the vintage upright piano she kept in her home.
“Lila May and her husband were important members of the West Liberty community and beyond. This gift is a wonderful tribute to the importance of music in our community and especially here on the hilltop and at West Liberty University,” Harshman added.
Thurston is a Bethany College graduate and studied voice with West Liberty State College’s former first lady, Mrs. Paul Elbin (Helen) in the early 1970s. President Paul Elbin too was an accomplished musician. He served the school as president from 1935 – 1970.
To view the Elbin Library Archives, please contact the Elbin Library information desk at 304-336-8261 or you may email Harshman at cheryl.harshman@westliberty.edu.