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- Handwritten letter, consisting of two half-folded sheets, written by songwriter Samuel Francis Smith to B.J. Hathaway, telling the story of his inspiration to write "America." The second sheet includes the lyrics to the song, handwritten by Hathaway. The letter reads: Newton Centre, Mass. Nov. 3, '87 Mr. B.T. Hathaway D Sir The circumstances which led to the writing of the hymn "America" are briefly told. In 1832, a pile of German music books and books on music were put into my hands by Mr. Lowell Mason, he having rec. these from a friend who had lately brought them from Germany. Mr. Mason requested me, at my leisure to turn over the leaves, & if any pieces of music struck me favorably to furnish him either translations into English poetry or songs of my own adapted to the music. Falling in with the patriotic "God save the king," I liked the music and, without any reference to the German books, made on the impulse of the moment my own hymn which has since gained so wide currency. I had not thought of writing a national hymn, and was impressed at the way in which the people at once took it up. It was first sung at a children's celebration of July 4 in Boston, the same year in which it was written. My birthday as many sources of information reported was Oct. 21, 1808, in Boston, Mass.,--graduated at Harvard College, 1829. Sincerely yours, S.F. Smith America. My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where 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 thy 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 song; Let mortal tongues awake, Let all that breathe partake, Let rocks their silence break, The sounds 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. Written in 1832. Newton Centre, Mass., Sept. 17, 1887. S.F. Smith
- Date Issued:
- 1887-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society