Ballad of Caty Sage Sheet Music 1964

Access and use

Location of collection:
Wytheville Community College
F.B. Kegley Library
Wytheville Community College
Smyth Hall, Room 103
1000 East Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Contact for questions and access:
POC: William A. “Bill” Veselik
Phone: (276) 223-4876
POC: George Mattis
Phone: (276) 223-4744
Fax: (276) 223-4745

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The sheet music, "Ballad of Caty Sage: as Sung by J. C. Pierce of Galax, Virginia on MKB Reocrds," was printed by Gazette Press, Galax, Virginia. Eva Boyer wrote the lyrics and Mary Ruth Pierce, Wqanda Pierce, and J. C. Pierce wrote the music. Copyright is held by J. C. Pierce, 1964.

A four page sheet, "The Story of Caty Sage, " is also included in this collection.

Biographical / historical:

"The Ballad of Caty Sage" was originally a poem written by Eva Boyer in the 1930s in Carroll County. J. C. Pierce of Galax set the lyrics to music and performed it at the 1940 Galax Old Fiddlers Convention. The Grayson Gazette published the poem. Pierce later recorded the song on several small commercial labels. He created a sheet music version in 1964 with the assistance of Wanda Pierce and Mary Ruth Pierce and printed by Gazette Press of Galax, Virginia.

Sage was a young girl who was kidnapped by Indians on 11 April 1792 from her farm in Elk Creek Valley in present day Grayson County, Virginia. The daughter of James Sage and Lovis Sage, Caty was later found by her brother when he was in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She was living with her adopted Wyandotte Indian tribe where she remained until her death in 1853.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Jack Neighbors in 2009.
Physical description:
2 items.