Keffer Collection of Sheet Music, ca. 1790-1895 Content and design by John Bewley

Philadelphia Lithographers: Albert Newsam (1809-1864)

Albert Newsam was born deaf and mute May 20, 1809 in Steubenville, Ohio. At the age of eleven years Newsam was taken to Philadelphia by William P. Davis, who posed as a deaf-mute brother. Davis intended to exploit the boy's artistic skills for his own gai n but Newsam was rescued by the president of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Bishop White. This enabled Newsam to secure a safe haven at the institute where he received an education.

In 1827 Cephas G. Childs took on Newsam as an apprentice at his engraving, and later, lithography firm. Newsam's teachers at the firm included artists Hugh Bridport, George Catlin, and R. G. Lambdin. By 1829 Newsam was supplying Childs with many of the prints he offered to the public. When Childs left the business in 1834 Newsam continued to work for the new owners, George Lehman and Peter S. Duval.

Albert Newsam was most noted for his portraits. In the early part of his career he often drew them from life; in later years he worked from photographs and daguerrotypes. Eventually Newsam became the principal artist at Peter S. Duval's firm. In 1838 Duval issued ten numbers in a series called the Parlour Review. This weekly magazine was issued in French and English and included four pages of music per issue. It also featured portraits drawn by Albert Newsam of famous composers and performers, including Beethoven, Bellini, Cherubini, Rossini, Paganini, Talma, and Catalani.

Newsam's eyesight began to fail in 1857 and in 1858 or 1859 he suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed. He died November 20, 1864, near Wilmington, Delaware.

Illustrations by Albert Newsam in the Collection
Item No.	Title	Imprint	Plate No.	Illustration	Image
Box 27 no. 34	Blue Eyes = Les Yeux Bleus / translated from the French of E. De Lonlay by B. S. Barclay ; the music by Etienne Arnaud	Philadelphia : A. Fiot, 1846	None	Portrait of a woman / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lith.
Box 27 no. 25	Le Bon Ton : quadrille de contredanses Series: Parlour Review, no. 5	Philadelphia : s.n., 1838	None	Portrait of Giuditta Maria Pasta / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lith.
Box 25 no. 6	The Child of the Regiment / English words by C. Gefferys [i.e. Jefferys] ; music by Donizetti ; arranged by G. W. Glover	Philadelphia : Lee & Walker, between 1849 and 1851	914 3	Portrait of Jenny Lind / on stone by A. Newsam from a dag. ; P. S. Duval's Steam Lith. Press	not available
Box 27 no. 4	The Chimes : Jullien's Chimes Quadrilles	Philadelphia : E. Ferrett & Co., 1845	None	Color: scene of a dance / A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval's Lithy.	not available
Box 27 no. 27	Funeral March : composed on the death of a hero / by L. van Beethoven. Valse de Milan / composée par Celli Series: Parlour Review, no. 1	Philadelphia : s.n., 1838	None	Portrait of Beethoven / on stone by A. Newsam ; Lehman & Duval, Lithrs.
Box 27 no. 35	Henry's Polka : as played by Henry's United Silver Band / composed by John A. Janke	Philadelphia : Wm. F. Duffy & Co., 1854	4.3	Portrait of a horn player in the Henry Band / on stone by A. Newsam from a dag. ; P. S. Duval & Co. Steam Lith. Press
Box 27 no. 28	Mazurka. Le Sourire : romance / paroles de Mr. Flori ; musique de Mr. Victor. Gallop / by G. Kunze. Vienna Waltz / by I. Strauss. Il Silfo : an Italian canzonetta / composed & dedicated in token of tender regard to Mrs. Sidney Brooks by M adme. Caradori Allan. Quick Step / by A. Schlossbauer Series: Parlour Review, no. 9	Philadelphia : s.n., 1838	None	Portrait of Francois Joseph Talma / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lithr.
Box 27 no. 36	Monterey : a military rondino / L. Mey	Philadelphia : A. Fiot, 1846	None	Boy and girl playing the piano in a parlor before family members / A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lith.
Box 27 no. 29	Oh! I Cannot Give Expression : the second portion of the celebrated duett as sung by Mr. & Mrs. Wood in Bellini's celebrated opera of the Sonnambulist / transposed & arranged by Mr. Wm. Penson	New York : Jas. L. Hewitt, 1835	None	Portrait of Bellini / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lithr.
Box 27 no. 30	On the broad waves of ocean : a boat song : for two voices. Rail Road Waltz / by Strauss Series: Parlour Review, no. 7	Philadelphia : s.n., 1838	None	Portrait of Luigi Cherubini / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, lithr.
Box 27 no. 31	Queen Victoria's Waltz / by Strauss. Les Enfans des Brouillards : romance / musique de Mme. Cinti Damoreau. Queen Maria da Gloria's Waltz / by Strauss Series: Parlour Review, no. 6	Philadelphia : s.n., 1838	None	Portrait of Rossini / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lith.
Box 27 no. 38	Rose Atherton / written by Charles Jefferys	Philadelphia : E. Ferrett & Co., 1845	None	Portrait of a young woman / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lith.
Box 27 no. 39	Souvenir de Henry Herz : grande valse brillante / composée par H. Thorbecke	Philadelphia : A. Fiot, 1847	None	Portrait of Henri Herz / A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval's Lith.	not available
Box 27 no. 40	Spread Thy Light Wings / [song composed & arranged for the piano forte by the late Madame Malibran de Beriot]	Philadelphia : s.n., 184-?	645	Portrait of Maria Malibran in costume / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval, Lith.
Box 27 no. 32	Steiermark Waltz. Choeur des Huguenots / musique de M. Meyerbeer. The Bell Gallop Series: Parlour Review, no. 3	Philadelphia : s.n., 1838	None	Portrait of Paganini / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval's Lith.
Box 27 no. 33	Thou Art not Here. Le Serment du Grütli. Rien n'est si Beau Que Mon Village / paroles et musique de Frédéric Bérat Series: Parlour Review, no. 4	Philadelphia : s.n., 1838	None	Portrait of Angelica Catalani / on stone by A. Newsam ; P. S. Duval's Lith.