SIGNED AUTOGRAPH LETTER BY AMERICAN BAPTIST MINISTER AND AUTHOR SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH, INQUIRING AFTER A SOCIETY AND CONTAINING A SIGNED TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LYRICS TO HIS HYMN "AMERICA," TODAY BETTER KNOWN AS "MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE," WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT OF SMITH
SMITH, Samuel Francis. Autograph letter signed. WITH: Photograph. Englewood, Georgia, October 22, 1890. Three sheets of carte de visite paper, measuring 4 by 5-1/2 inches to 6 by 6 inches; pp. 3; silk matted and framed with a photographic print on carte de visite paper; entire piece measures 19-1/2 by 20-1/2 inches.
Signed autograph letter, dated 1890, from "My Country 'Tis of Thee" lyricist Samuel Francis Smith requesting information about a society and enclosing the autograph transcribed lyrics to his famous composition, also signed, as compensation, with a photographic print of Smith. Beautifully framed.
While the origins of the tune for "America" ("God Save the King") are somewhat cloudy, the story of Samuel Smith's famous verses is well known. At the time, Smith was in his last year of seminary at Andover and accepting literary work to make ends meet. In 1831 he was approached by organist and composer Lowell Mason, who asked him to translate some German verses for a songbook he was preparing for American school-children, patterned after those used in German public schools, examples of which had been brought back from Germany by educator William Woodbridge. "On a dismal day in February, 1831," Smith recalls, "looking over one of these books, my attention was drawn to a tune which attracted me by its simple and natural movement, and its fitness for children's choirs. Glancing at the German words, I saw that they were patriotic, and I was instantly inspired to write a patriotic hymn of my own. Seizing a scrap of waste paper, I began to write, and in half an hour, I think, the words stood upon it substantially as they are sung today" (New York Times). "Originally five stanzas, the third was eventually removed to leave the four stanzas known today… The song was premiered on 4 July 1831 at a children's celebration in the Park Street Church of Boston" (ANB). "The first printing of the words with the music was on November 5, 1832, under the title 'America,' in Lowell Mason's The Choir (Boston, 1832)" (Fuld, 251).
The letter, dated "Oct. 22 1890" reads: "Mr. J. F. La Baron, D[ea]r Sir I am interested in your Society and its work. I send you an autograph copy of the hymn "My Country,"—which you will perhaps accept in lieu of any other composition. Sincerely yours, S. F. Smith." It continues with the complete, four-stanza lyrics to "My Country 'Tis of Thee," which read: "My country, 'tis of thee, / Sweet land of liberty / Of Tee I sing; / Landwhere my fathers died, / Land of the pilgrims' pride, / From every mountain side / Let freedom ring. / My native country:—thee, / Land of the noble, free, / Thy name I love; / I love they rocks and rills, / Thy woods and templed hills, / My heart with rapture thrills / Like that above. / Let music swell the breeze, / And ring from all the trees / Sweet freedom's sound; / Let moral tongues awake, / Let all that breathe partake, / Let rocks their silence break, / The sound prolong. / Our fathers' God, to Thee, / Author of liberty, / To Thee we sing; / Long may our land be bright / With freedom's holy light, / Protect us by Thy might, / Great God, our King. S.F. Smith." This letter was written to a J.F. La Baron, most likely the naturalist and fossil hunter. The Smithsonian, which funded La Baron's explorations in Florida, houses a number of La Baron's discoveries (occasionally listed under "L.F. La Baron").
Evidence of prior framing to verso of all items, original fold lines, small closed tear and archival repair to verso of the first page of lyrics, only slightest silvering to photograph. Very nearly fine condition, beautifully presented.