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Letters to music lyricist and publisher Dallas "Dal" Gray, C0344, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries
Purchased from Ian Brabner Rare Americana by Music Librarian Steve Gerber in August 2018.
Processing completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in September 2023. Finding aid completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in September 2023.
Dallas Gray, known as "Dal" to both friends and professional contacts, was a newspaper editor, songwriter, and owner of the Gloucester City, New Jersey based Monmouth Music Publishing Company, with Western offices in Portland, Oregon and Hollywood, California. Jack Kjellin was a composer and lyricist, based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and a long-time collaborator of Gray. While neither man achieved widespread fame, both appear to have had some success in publishing or selling songs, such as Gray's "Annie" (possibly in collaboration with Kjellin, circa 1930) and Kjellin's "Just another night" in collaboration with Nick Kenny (1939) and "There's a story going 'round" (1940). Composer Claude Lapham, who communicated with both Kjellin and Gray, saw notable success in providing uncredited compositions for early silent films, including Feet First (1930) starring Harold Lloyd and Charley's Aunt (1930) starring Charles Ruggles. Lapham passed away in 1957.
Personal and professional letters received by music lyricist and publisher Dallas "Dal" Gray. The majority of the letters are from Gray's long-time collaborator Jack Kjellin who addresses them to "Old Pal Dal". These letters, of which there are approximately 53, conclude with the breakup of their collaborative relationship, but the final letter appears to end on a friendly note from Jack. The remaining letters are from mixed senders, such as composer Claude Lapham, and concern personal or financial matters, with several addressed to Gray's Monmouth Music Publishing Company business. Contents also include a single photograph of Jack Kjellin and his wife, a page of handwritten lyrics, and a flyer advertisement.
The Special Collections Research Center also holds
This collection was arranged into 6 folders based on subject or medium of materials.
"Claude Lapham - Biography." n.d. IMDb. Accessed September 13, 2023. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1109834/bio/.
Library of Congress. Copyright Office. 1940.