Summary Information

Title: Charles Henry Pace Gospel Music Collection
Collection Number: CAM.PAC.1999.01

Collection Dates: Bulk, 1943-1947
Collection Dates: 1822-1958
Extent: 14.48 linear feet (183 Printer Plates, 6 Boxes)

Language: English

Abstract:

The records of the Charles Henry Pace Gospel Music Collection exist in various forms such as printer’s plates, negative proofs, and printed music. The collection provides a valuable research tool of not only Charles Henry Pace’s career, but also for demonstrating how the Old Ship of Zion Music Company and Charles H. Pace Music Publishers conducted business. While the date range of the collection comprises 1927-1958, the bulk of the material dates from 1943-1947.

Publisher:

ULS Center for American Music
University of Pittsburgh Library System
106A Stephen Foster Memorial
4301 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA, 15260
412-624-4100
amerimus@pitt.edu

Date Published:

April 2003

Author:

Finding aid prepared by Cassandra Pritts.

History

Charles Henry Pace was born on August 4, 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia. At age thirteen, he settled with his family in Chicago, where he continued to study piano and started to compose gospel songs and arrange black spirituals for the Beth Eden and Liberty Baptist Churches. In 1925 he formed the Pace Jubilee Singers, an early conservative gospel group which recorded songs by Pace, Charles Albert Tindley, and others for Victor and Brunswick (1926-1929). Thomas A. Dorsey, for whom Pace published several songs through his Pace Music House, established in Chicago in 1910, briefly accompanied the group.

Pace moved to Pittsburgh in 1936 and shortly thereafter organized the Pace Gospel Choral Union, a 25-member ensemble that was enlarged to as many as 300 singers for special celebrations; its repertory consisted of gospel songs and spirituals. African-American churches in Pittsburgh and its surrounding suburbs raised funds by having the Pace Gospel Choral Union perform their monthly musicals.

Charles Henry Pace also founded two extremely successful music publishing houses in Pittsburgh: Old Ship of Zion Music Company, 1936-1951, and Charles H. Pace Music Publishers, 1952-1963, from which he published most of his 104 sacred compositions and arrangements and 26 secular songs. During 1941-1945, the Old Ship of Zion Music Company had 301 agents committed to selling Pace songs, and 2,511 direct mail order customers throughout the United States, making it one of the top gospel music publishers in America.

Pace died in Pittsburgh on December 16, 1963. His gospel songs, the best known of which are "Bread of Heaven," "Hide My Soul," and "Nobody but you, Lord," are in the style of Tindley’s songs, with a verse-chorus structure, memorable melodies, and simple, effective harmonies.

Taken from, the New Grove Dictionary of American Music, London: Maximillian Press, Vol. III, 1986 and Tyler, Mary Ann, Ph. D, The Music of Charles Henry Pace and Its Relationship to the Afro-American Church Experience, 1980.

Collection Scope and Content Notes

The records of the Charles Henry Pace Gospel Music Collection exist in various forms such as printer’s plates, negative proofs, and printed music. While the date range of the collection comprises 1927-1958, the bulk of the material dates from 1943-1947.

Care was taken to retain the original order of the collection. The collection is divided into four series and is arranged by type. The series are printer’s plates, negative proofs, printed music, and miscellaneous.

A substantial portion of the collection involves printer’s plates. Consisting of 254 plates, this series provides extensive insight into the Old Ship of Zion Music Company and Charles H. Pace Music Publishers’ operations. The majority of plates consist of pages of music; however, lithographs are also included.

Another significant aspect of the collection concerns negative proofs used for publishing sheet music by the Old Ship of Zion Music Company and Charles H. Pace Music Publishers. This series includes, but is not limited to, songs, title bars, graphics, and business forms. Particular strengths of this series are the complete negative for songs such as "Hold Not Thy Peace", "I Must Tell Jesus All", and "Lead Me All The Way".

The third series consists of printed music; it is subdivided into Pace’s music and other gospel songwriter’s music. Pace’s songs are arranged alphabetically, with the other subseries also organized alphabetically but according to songwriter. Records of particular note are the 208 copies of Pace’s "Roll Memories Roll" and numerous works by Thomas A. Dorsey and Kenneth Morris such as "Wings Over Jordan" and "Till We Meet Again", respectively. The main weakness of this series is the multiple incomplete copies of "Jericho". Moreover, the copyright dates of many songs are unknown.

In addition there is a miscellaneous series that includes a postcard addressed to Pace, dated April 28, 1957, that requests "Divine Love" to be published. There are no personal or business papers included in the collection. However, the collection is quite complete and provides a valuable research tool of not only Charles Henry Pace’s career, but also for demonstrating how the Old Ship of Zion Music Company and Charles H. Pace Music Publishers conducted business.

Subject Terms

Topics

• Choruses, Sacred -- Scores
• Gospel music -- Scores
• Sacred songs -- Scores

Corporate Names

• Charles H. Pace Music Publishers.
• Old Ship of Zion Music Company.

Personal Names

• Dorsey, Thomas Andrew
• Graham, Anne, vocalist
• Jackson, Emma L.
• Martin, Roberta, vocalist
• Morris, Kenneth, 1917-1988
• Morrow, Lillian
• Pace, Charles Henry, 1886-1963
• Pace, Charles Henry, 1886-1963 -- Songs and music
• Thames, Mary
• Windom, A. B. (Aaron Bash)

Genres/Forms

• Printing plates
• Proofs (Printed matter)
• Sheet music

Category

• Music

Access and Use

Access Restrictions:

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information:

Acquired from the American Social History and Social Movements Auction, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 1999. Accession # 1999/1

Preferred Citation:

Charles Henry Pace Gospel Music Collection, CAM.PAC.1999.01, Center for American Music, University of Pittsburgh.

Processing Information:

Processed by Cassandra Pritts, April 11, 2003.

Bibliography:

• The bibliography contains a dissertation, sheet music, sound recordings by the Pace Jubilee Singers, and dealers of records and sheet music used in developing the finding aid.

Collection Inventory

Series I. Printer's Plates Bulk, 1943-1947 1939-1958

Scope and Content Notes: This series contains 254 printer’s plates used by the Old Ship of Zion Music Company and Charles Henry Pace Music Publishers for printing sheet music. It also includes printing tools such as a hammer, a wire, and nails. The plates are arranged alphabetically beginning with songs and lithographs. The printing tools follow with the numerous unidentified plates concluding the series.

1. "A-men," Page 2

2. "As I Journey On," Page 2

3. "As The Years Roll By"

4. "Because of You" Page 6

5. "Can I Ride" Pages 2, 3, 6

6. "Can I Ride By" Page 4

7. "Can You Say, 'Thy Will Be Done?'” Title Page, Page 2, 2

8. "Climbing Up To Glory Shouting Hallelujah" Page 2

9. "Come To Return No More" Unidentified Page

10. "Deeper for Jesus" Page 2

11. "Don’t Let The Day Pass Away Before The Sun Goes Down" Title Bar

12. "Don’t You Want to Shout Hallelujah Over There" Pages 2, Unidentified

13. "The End of the Road" Unidentified Page

14. "Everybody Will Be Happy" Page 2

15. "Fling Out" Page 2

16. "Give Me My Flowers While It’s Yet Called Day" Pages 2, 4, 5

17. "Go, Go Tell It Every Where" Title Page and Unidentified Page

18. "Gone To Return No More" Page 2

19. "Great Jehovah" Page 2

20. "Greet the Morning With A Hallelujah Song" Pages 2, Unidentified

21. "Hallelujah, He’s the King" Pages 2, 4, Unidentified, Unidentified

22. "He is Real" Pages 2, 3

23. "He is Sweeter As the Years Roll By" Page 2

24. "He Keeps the Fire Burning Down in My Soul" Pages 2, 2, 3

25. "He Said If I Be Lifted Up" Page 2

26 "He Will Wipe Away All Tears" Page 2,2 Unknown

27. "Heav’n" Page 2

28. "He’ll Meet Me at the End of the Road" Page 2, 2

29. "He’ll Say “Well Done” Some Day" Pages 2, 3

30. "He’ll Say Well Done, The Last Mile of the Way," Page 2 and First Bar

31. "He’s All and All To Me," Page 2

32. "He’s Alpha and Omega To Me," Page 2

33. "He’s Everything To Me and He’s Alright," Page 2

34. "Hold Me in The Hollow of Thy Hand," Page 2

35. "Chorus Chant of 'I am Nothing'"

36. "I Am Satisfied," Page 2

37. "I Can’t Forget," Page 4

38. "I Just Go On," Page 2

39. "I Know He Will Take Care of Me," Page 2

40. "I Must Tell Jesus All," Page 2

41. "I Shouted Joy, Joy, Joy Because He Set Me Free," Title Page, Pages 2, 2, 3-5

42. "I Tarried All Night Long, Until the Holy Ghost Fell On Me," Page 2

43. "I’ll Anchor By and By," Page 2

44. "I’ll Give Up My Cross For My Crown," Page 2

45. "I’ll Make It In," Page 2

46. "I’m Born Again," Page 2

47. "I’m Depending On You, Lord," Title Bar, Page 2,2

48. "I’m Going To Cling To The Cross Till I Die," Page 2

49. "I’m Going To Hold To The Cross Till I Die," Page 2,2

50. "I’m Going To Walk and Talk With My Jesus Some Day," Pages 2,2,3

51. "I’m Going Up the Rough Side of the Mountain," Page 2

52. "I’m Going With Him All The Way," Page 2

53. "I’m Gonna Feast and Never Get Hungry," Pages 2, Unidentified

54. "I’m Not Ashamed To Say I Love Him," Pages 2-5

55. "I’m On My Journey," Pages 2, Unidentified, Unidentified

56. "I’m Saved," Page 2

57. "I’m Walking With Jesus By My Side," Pages 2,2,3

58. "In That Morning," Page 2

59. "In That New Jerusalem," Page 2,2

60. "It’s All Over Me," Page 2

61. "I’ve Started and I’m Going All The Way," Page 2

62. "Jericho," Pages 2-4, 7

63. "Keep Me Humble Lord," Title Bar

64. "Lead Me Jesus, All The Way," Page 2

65. "Let Me Feel The Same Kind of Power Over Here," Title Bar, Page 2,2

66. "Look For Me For I’ll Be There," Page 2

67. "Love, Love Divine," Page 2

68. "Meet Me Where There’ll Be No More Good-By," Pages 2, Unidentified

69. "The Morning," Page 5

70. "My Road is Rough and Rocky All The Way," Page 2

71. "My Son," Pages 2,4

72. "Nobody But You Lord, Nobody But You," Page 2

73. "Not A Word," Pages 2-4,6,7

74. "No. 34," Unidentified Page

75. "O Lord, Have Mercy," Page 2

76. "Oh What A Night," Page 2

77. "Oh, Yes, He’s Mine," Page 2,2

78. "Oh Yes He Will," Pages 2-4

79. "Opening Service"

80. "Out of the Depth of My Soul," Unidentified Page

81. "Pace’s Gospel Choral Union, 'Ten Long Years Ago'"

82. "Pace’s Spiritual Medley No. 101"

83. "Pace’s Spiritual Medley No. 102"

84. "Ride on, Jesus," Page 2

85. "Rise, Shine, Give God the Glory," Page 2 .

86. "Rocking In My Jesus Arms," Title Bar and Page 2

87. "Roll Memories Roll," Title Page, Pages 2,4

88. "Sacred Blood," Pages 2 and Unidentified

89. "Sing, Sing, Ethiopia, Sing," Page 2

90. "Smile When Things Go Wrong," Page 2

91. "Some Thing That’s New," Pages 2, Unidentified, Unidentified

92. "The Star," Page 2

93. "Sweeping Through the Pearly Gates," Title Bar

94. " The Table is Set So Come and Dine," Page 2

95. "There’ll Be Joy Up There," Page 2

96. "There’s A Bright Light Shining In My Soul," Title Bar and Page 2

97. "There’s A Change In Me," First Bar and Page 2

98. "Time is Winding Up," Page 2

99. "Trump of God Will Sound," Page 4

100. "Trying To Make Heaven My Home," Pages 2-5

101. "Walk With Me Lord. Walk With Me," Page 2

102. "Was That You?" Pages 2,2,3,4

103. "We Will Shout Hallelujah After While," Page 2

104. "When Every Thing Goes Wrong, Steal Away and Pray," Page 2

105. "When I Behold My Savior’s Face," Page 2

106. "When I Get Home," Page 2

107. "Who So Ever Will," Page 2

108. "You Gonna Reap Just What You Sow," Pages 2-5

109. "You’ll Find Him There," Unidentified Page

110. Invoice

111. Invoice

112. Old Ship of Zion Logo

113. Image of African-American Woman with Accordian

114. Image of Bride and Groom

115. Image of a Family

116. Jesus image

117. Pace Image

118. Rose Graphic

119. Rose Graphic

120. Image of Two Women and Man, Possibly Pace

121. Hammer

122. Nail

123. Fastened group of nails

124. Wire

125. Wood block

126. Wood Block

127. Unidentified Title Bar

128. Unidentified Page 4

129. Unidentified Page 4

130. Unidentified Page 4

131. Unidentified Page 5

132. Unidentified Page 5

133. Unidentified Page 6

134. Unidentified

135. Unidentified

136. Unidentified

137. Unidentified

138. Unidentified

139. Unidentified

140. Unidentified

141. Unidentified

142. Unidentified

143. Unidentified

144. Unidentified

145. Unidentified

146. Unidentified

147. Unidentified

148. Unidentified

149. Unidentified

150. Unidentified

151. Unidentified

152. Unidentified

153. Unidentified

154. Unidentified

155. Unidentified

156. Unidentified

157. Unidentified

158. Unidentified

159. Unidentified

160. Unidentified

161. Unidentified

162. Unidentified

163. Unidentified

164. Unidentified

165. Unidentified

166. Unidentified

167. Unidentified

168. Unidentified

169. Unidentified

170. Unidentified

171. Unidentified

172. Unidentified

173. Unidentified

174. Unidentified

175. Unidentified

176. Unidentified

177. Unidentified

178. Unidentified

179. Unidentified

180. Unidentified

181. Unidentified

182. Unidentified

183. Unidentified

Series II. Negative Proofs 1927-1958

Scope and Content Notes: The folders are arranged by topic, beginning with songs, continuing with graphics and business forms, and ending with page-proofs.

1. "Can I Ride," Title Bar ()

2. "Don’t Let the Day Pass Away Before the Sun Goes Down," Title Bar

3. "Dreaming of You," Unidentified Page

4. "Go, Go Tell It Ev’ry Where," Title Page and Last Page

5. "Gone To Return No More," with First Page of I Tried the Lord, 1948

6. "Hallelujah Hallelu," Page 2, 1950

7. "Hallelujah He’s The King," Title Page and Last Page

8. "He is Real," Title Page and Page 4

9. "He Said If I Be Lifted Up," Page 2, 1935

10. "He’ll Say “Well Done” Some Day," Title Bars and Page 2, 1947

11. "Hold Not Thy Peace", 1958

12. "I Must Tell Jesus All", 1947

13. "I’m Walking With Jesus By My Side", 1940

14. "In That New Jerusalem," Title Bar

15. "I’se Just A Wond’rin," Last Page

16. "I’ve Started and I’m Going All the Way", 1927

17. "Jericho," Unidentified Page, 1945

18. "Keep Me Humble Lord," Title Bar

19. "Lead Me All The Way", 1958

20. "Let Me Feel The Same King of Power Over Here," Incomplete Page 2

21. "Merry Christmas, Happy New Year," Title Page, 1940

22. "Nobody But You Lord, Nobody But You"

23. "Chorus of Some Day I’ll Understand"

24. "Waking of Spring," Title Page and Page 2

25. "When You’ve Done Your Best," Title Page and Last Page

26. "Who So Ever Will"

27. "Without A Song In Your Soul," Unidentified Page

28. "You Can Tell Him All Your Troubles", 1936

29. You’ll Find Him There, Last Page

30. Various Pages and Bars of Unidentified Songs

31. Images for “Artist Copy”

32. “Charles H. Pace, Music Publisher,” Title Bars

33. Picture of Choir and Picture of Ladies with Phones

34. Images of Columns with Angels Blowing Trumpets

35. Sections Involving “A Distinguished Collection of Songs” for Senior Choir, Gospel Chorus, and Soloist

36. Illustrations

37. Jesus Image

38. Images of Letters and Numbers

39. Sections for “Music For The Home and The Church”

40. "Pace’s Praises, No. 1,” Title Bar

41. "Pace’s Praises,” title bars

42. Promotional Jingle

43. Rose Image (1.0 )

44. Tempo Markings

45. Images for “WORDS & MUSIC by CHAS. H. PACE”

46. Front Page of “Catalog of Pace Songs”

47. Invoices

49. Membership Roster

50. Price Lists for Various Pace Songs

51. Two Sections of “Send for our Catalog of Songs”

52. Shipping Order Form

53. Blank Negatives

54. Page-Proofs of Advertisements of Various Music Publications

55. Printed Image of Angel Blowing Trumpet on Column

56. Printed Image of Cross (1.0 )

57. Page proofs for numbers

58. Page-Proofs for “Pace’s Senior Choir and Advanced Gospel Chorus Edition”

59. Various Page-Proofs for “Published By Chas. H. Pace”

60. Page-Proofs of “Send for our Catalog of Songs by Chas. H. Pace”

61. Page-Proofs Designating Solo or Chorus Songs

62. Page-Proofs of Song and Price Lists

63. Tempo Page-Proofs

64. Page-Proofs of The Old Ship of Zion’s Address

65. Various Page-Proofs of Title Bars

66. Miscellaneous Page-Proofs

Series III. Printed Music 1933-1951

1. "Hide My Soul," 25 Copies, 1943

2. "Hide My Soul," 25 Copies, 1943

3. "Hide My Soul," 25 Copies, 1943

4. "Hide My Soul," 25 Copies, 1943

5. "Hide My Soul," 25 Copies, 1943

6. "Hide My Soul," 25 Copies, 1943

7. "I’m Not Ashamed To Say I Love Him", 28 Copies

8. "I’m Not Ashamed To Say I Love Him," 25 Copies

9. "I’m Not Ashamed To Say I Love Him," 1 Copy of Page 3

10. "I’m Not Ashamed To Say I Love Him," 1 Copy of Page 4

11. "I’m Not Ashamed To Say I Love Him," 98 Copies of Pages 3-4

12. "I’m Not Ashamed To Say I Love Him," 98 Copies of Pages 3-4

13. "I Shouted Joy," 1 Copy of Pages 3-4

14. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

15. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

16. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

17. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

18. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

19. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

20. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

21. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

22. "Jericho," 50 Copies of Pages 3-6

23. "Jericho," 59 Copies of Pages 3-6

24. "Meet Me Where There’ll Be No More Good-By," 19 Copies, 1945

25. "Meet Me Where There’ll Be No More Good-By," 1 Heavily Soiled Copy, 1945

26-39. "Roll Memories Roll," 208 Copies, 1947

40-43. "Roll Memories Roll," 86 Copies of Page 3-4, 1947

44. "Something That’s New"

Section: Other Gospel Songwriter's Printed Music 1933-1951

Scope and Content Notes: This section contains music from ten different songwriters. Most likely this collection also includes published works by other gospel songwriters because the Old Ship of Zion Music Company served as a distributing house for such works and/or bought out other publishing companies.

45. Professor E.C. Davis, Let Your Hearts Catch on Fire, 36 Copies of Page 2, 1934

46. Thomas A. Dorsey, I Got Heaven in My View, 1 Copy of Page 2, 1933

47. Thomas A. Dorsey, Lead Me to the Rock That’s Higher than I, 1951, 1 Copy of Page 2, 1951

48. Thomas A. Dorsey, When I Can Read My Title Clear, 3 Copies

49. Thomas A. Dorsey, Wings Over Jordan!, 1 Copy, 1939

50. Thomas A. and Thomas M. Dorsey, I Got Jesus in My Soul, 1 Copy, 1945

51. Anne C. Graham, Don’t Wonder About Him, 2 Copies, 1944

52. Chas. H. Hansen Music Company, Standin’ In the Need of Prayer; Heav’n, Heav’n, 1 Copy, 1946

53. Emma L. Jackson, Have You Decided Which Way Your Soul Will Go? 1 Copy, 1943

54. Roberta Martin, The Angles Are Hovering ‘Round, 1 Copy, 1944

55. Roberta Martin, It is Well, It is Well with My Soul, 1 Copy, 1944

56. Roberta Martin, My Lord is Writing all the Time, 1 Copy, 1942

57. Kenneth Morris, I am Walking With My Jesus, 6 Copies, 1943

58. Kenneth Morris, I’m Trying to Make Heaven My Home, 1 Copy of Page 2, 1943

59. Kenneth Morris, Till We Meet Again, 1944, 3 Copies, 1944

60. Lillian Morrow, I’ve had a Hard Time Seeking for My Lord, 3 Copies of Page 2, 1944

61. Mary Thames, You Just Keep in Touch with the Lord, 9 Copies, 1944

62. A. B. Windom, There’s Rest for the Weary, 14 Copies, 1945

Series IV. Miscellaneous 1822-1958

Scope and Content Notes: The contents in the miscellaneous collection are items that are not a significant part of the collection. The files are arranged alphabetically.

1. Excerpt from Dictionary of Afro-American Performers Concerning Pace Jubilee Singers

2. Handwritten Note with Lyrics

3. Note Paper with Names and Addresses

4. Pages 2 and 3 of The Music of Charles Henry Pace

5. Photocopy (half) of Facts About the Negro Maudelle

6. Photocopy of the cover of Negro Plot and Account of the Late Intended Insurrection Among A Portion of the Blacks of the City of Charleston, South Carolina, 1822

7. Postcard Requesting Divine Love, 1957

8. Twenty Envelopes with Return Address of “Old Ship of Zion”, 1943, 1945-1947

9. Sherman’s Store Postcard Addressed to Mrs. Charles Pace, 1957

10. Various Photocopied Ads for Columbia, Okeh, and Paramount Records

11. Miscellaneous - General, 1958, Other Dates Unknown