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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site has a large museum collection consisting of thousands of objects, many of which are not regularly displayed in the house's furnished exhibit rooms. Every month, an object will be featured on this page, providing a look at an unusual piece from the collection.
One manifestation of that impact is this piece of sheet music, the Paul Revere March-Twostep, published by composer Edward Taylor Paull in 1905. Paull, operating as E.T. Paull, achieved success selling his compositions, including many marches, due to his marketing savvy as much as his musical ability, which some critics have called repetitive or predictable. Part of his business formula was to make his offerings visually compelling by using colorful lithographs for the covers, many of which were done by the A. Hoen Company of Richmond, Virginia. He also chose exciting events and patriotic themes, like Paul Revere’s 1775 ride, for his compositions. With this piece, Paull upped the patriotic value by declaring on the cover that the piece was “Respectfully Inscribed to the Daughters of the American Revolution.” The “Explanatory” on the inside of the front cover provides some background and context, and the bold claim that “Undoubtedly the greatest ride ever made in the history of the world, on the success of which so much depended, was the midnight ride of Paul Revere . . . “. Paull’s Explanatory also states, without much regard for historical accuracy perhaps, “The best possible description of this ride, obtainable anywhere, is given in Longfellow’s complete Poem, entitled ‘Paul Revere’s Ride.’” Paull’s business started in Richmond, but by 1896 his operation had expanded and moved to New York City. Paull worked and lived there until his death in 1924. His pieces, especially those with the colorful lithograph covers by the A. Hoen Company, are still collected. This example was perhaps acquired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana, the poet’s grandson and last member of the extended Longfellow family to reside in the house. Dana collected a vast amount of material connected to his grandfather’s work, including items like this one that demonstrate the cultural impact of Longfellow’s poetry. |
Last updated: April 1, 2025