Davis, Gussie, L., "When Nelly Was Raking the Hay." Cincinnati: J.C. Groene & Co., 1884

This is a small but notable collection that sheds light on the interests and achievements of an African American woman of rare musical and literary talent, Maud Cuney Hare. Her collection of songs include melodies and creole music originating from such places as Mexico, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The music manuscripts, with beautiful lithographic drawings, date back as far as 1843. Also of interest are the programs to Cuney Hare's music and costume recitals and music talks. In these, Cuney Hare, a pianist, often was the accompanist to baritone William Richardson, a man she would later dedicate her book to, entitled Negro Musicians and Their Music.

Detailed study of Maud Cuney Hare and some of the strivings of African American musicians of the early twentieth-century America might begin with research in the collection. The Maud Cuney Hare Collection consists of printed and handwritten music manuscripts, photographs, and newspaper clippings, the highlights of which include original compositions that Cuney Hare herself arranged. Also filed in the collection are compositions by Eubie Blake, H.T. Burleigh, W.C. Handy, S. Cooleridge-Taylor, and a significant amount of Negro Spirituals and minstrel songs.

(Harold Pinkett, Appraisal Report of Some Major Groups of Archival, Manuscript, and Printed Materials at the Atlanta University Center, [1993], p.14).