Selected Bibliography
from The State Historical Society of Missouri

Articles in the Missouri Historical Review [REF F550 M691]

• “Historical Notes and Comments.” Scott Joplin memorial monument erected in Sedalia. v. 56, no. 2 (January 1962), p. 192. [opens in new window]
• “Missouri in 1898: Scott Joplin and the ‘Maple Leaf Rag.’” v. 92, no. 4 (July 1998), inside back cover.
• Taylor, John A. Book reviews of Dancing to A Black Man’s Tune: A Life of Scott Joplin, by Susan Curtis, and King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era, by Edward A. Berlin. v. 90, no. 3 (April 1996) pp. 384-386. [opens in new window]

Articles from the Newspaper Collection

• Brockhoff, Dorothy. “Missouri Was the Birthplace of Ragtime.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 18, 1961. p. 3F.
• Brown, Karen. “Celebrating Scott Joplin, Wrong Time Genius.” Kansas City Star. June 23, 1974.
• Cochran, Kathy. “Great Scott.” Vibrations: Sunday Magazine of the Columbia Missourian. December 14, 1980. pp. 3-5.
• “Did You Know Ragtime Music Was Born in Sedalia?” Sedalia Democrat. June 29, 1947. pp. 1, 6-7.
• Hunter, Frank. “The Great Scott Joplin.” St. Louis Globe–Democrat. July 13-14, 1974. pp. 1, 3C.
• “Most Famous Joplin Number Written Here.” Sedalia Democrat. June 28, 1990. p. 36B.
• Ralston, James L. “Respectability for ‘King of Ragtime.’” Kansas City Times. June 8, 1972.
• Rosenfeld, Monroe. “The King of Rag-Time Composers is Scott Joplin, a Colored St. Louisan,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat. June 7, 1903. p. 5.
• “St. Louis and Scott Joplin: Atlanta Revives Opera Composed Here by ‘King of Ragtime.’” An editorial reprinted from St. Louis American. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 2, 1972. p. 2E.
• “To Play Ragtime in Europe.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 28, 1901. p. 3.

Books and Articles

• Berlin, Edward A. King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. [REF F508.1 J747be]
• Blesh, Rudi, and Harriet Janis. They All Played Ragtime. rev. ed. New York: Oak Publications, 1966. [REF F565.3 B617]
• Bridges, Annette. “Scott Joplin House State Historic Site.” Missouri Resource Review. Summer 1992. pp. 28-30. [M339.49 M6912mrv]
• Christensen, Lawrence O., William E. Foley, Gary R. Kremer, and Kenneth H. Winn, eds. Dictionary of Missouri Biography. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1999. pp. 442-445. [REF F508 D561]
• Curtis, Susan. Dancing to a Black Man’s Tune: A Life of Scott Joplin. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1994. [REF F508.1 J747cu]
• _____. “Scott Joplin and Sedalia: The King of Ragtime in the Queen City of Missouri.” Gateway Heritage. Missouri Historical Society, Spring 1994. pp. 4-19. [F550 M69gh]
• Evans, Mark. Scott Joplin and the Ragtime Years. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1976. [IJ Ev16s]
• Haskins, James, with Kathleen Benson. Scott Joplin. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1978. [IJ Ev16s]
• Jennings, Ron. “Ragtime Struts Back Home.” Missouri Life. v. 2, no. 6 (Winter 1975), pp. 47-52. [F586 M6912]
• Mitchell, Barbara. Raggin’: A Story About Scott Joplin. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 1987. [IJ M692r]
• Southern, Eileen. The Music of Black Americans: A History. New York: W.W. Norton, 1971. [REF 780 So88]

Original Sheet Music by Scott Joplin [J747]

• “Cleopra.” A March and Two Step. c. 1902. [J747c]
• “The Chrysanthemum.” An Afro-American Intermezzo. St. Louis, MO: John Stark, 1904. [J747chr]
• “The Easy Winners.” A Ragtime Two Step. St. Louis, MO: Scott Joplin, 1901. [J747eas]
• “Elite Syncopations.” St. Louis, MO: John Stark, 1903. [J747e]
• “The Entertainer.” A Ragtime Two Step. St. Louis, MO: John Stark & Son, 1902. [J747en]
• “Maple Leaf Rag.” St. Louis, MO: John Stark & Son, c. 1899, 1911. [J747m]
• “Peacherine Rag.” St. Louis, MO: John Stark & Son, 1901. [J747p]
• “Something Doing.” A Ragtime Two Step. With Scott Hayden. St. Louis, MO: Val A. Reis Music Co., 1903. [J747s]
• “The Strenuous Life.” A Ragtime Two Step. St. Louis, MO: John Stark, c. 1902. [J747st]
• “Sunflower Slow Drag.” A Ragtime Two Step. With Scott Hayden. St. Louis, MO: John Stark & Son, 1901. [J747su]
• “Swipesy Cake Walk.” With Arthur Marshall. St. Louis, MO: John Stark & Son, 1900. [J747sw]
• “The Sycamore.” A Concert Rag. New York, NY: Will Rossiter, 1904. [J747sy]
• “Weeping Willow.” St. Louis, MO: Val A. Reis Music Co., 1903. [J747w]

Reprinted Sheet Music by Scott Joplin published by Shattinger International Publications, 1973. [J747]

• “A Breeze from Alabama.” A Ragtime Two Step. [J747br]
• “The Cascades.” A Rag. [J747cas]
• “Eugenia.” [J747eug]
• “The Favorite.” [J747fav]
• “Palm Leaf Rag.” [J747pa]
• “The Rag-Time Dance.” A Stop-Time Two Step. [J747rag]

Manuscript Collection

• Campbell, Sanford Brunson, Papers, 1947 (C3204)
  Letters to Floyd C. Shoemaker, Columbia, MO, from Venice, CA, about ragtime musician Scott Joplin. Includes printed brochures regarding ragtime, jazz, and Scott Joplin.
• Christeson, Robert P. (1911-1992), Collection, 1808-1995 (C3971)
  This collection includes sheet music for six Joplin compositions: “The Favorite,” “Felicity Rag,” “Leola,” “Maple Leaf Rag,” “Palm Leaf Rag,” and “Stoptime Rag.” Covers of the sheet music can be viewed here.