Hugh Stockler of Waynesville always has a song in his heart. A Stephen Foster song, that is.

        Mr. Stockler, 44, an auctioneer with FMA and Associates, has become an authority on the American songwriter who wrote classics such as: “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Oh! Susanna,” “Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair,” “Camptown Races,” “Beautiful Dreamer” and “Old Folks at Home.”

Hugh Stockler and some of his Stephen Foster memorabilia (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        He has also amassed an impressive collection of Stephen Foster memorabilia including books, recordings, sheet music, posters, decanters, commemorative china, photographs, postcards, first day cover stamps and coins.

        Far, far away: “I became interested in Stephen Foster's music about 20 years ago,” Mr. Stockler recalls. “At the time I was working as a bus tour operator out of Dayton, Ohio, and took a senior citizens group to My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown, Ky.

        “That night, we attended an outdoor drama called The Stephen Foster Story,” he says. “Needless to say, I was just awestruck. His life, times and music struck a chord in me and I wanted to learn more.”

        Banjo on my knee: Mr. Stockler, who is not a musician, but admits to “being able to carry a tune,” returned home with an armful of brochures and souvenirs. But they didn't satisfy his curiosity.

        He set out to learn as much as he could about the prolific songsmith who died in 1864 at the age of 37.

        “After that first visit,” he says, “I made many trips back to My Old Kentucky Home State Park and the Bardstown area. I've also visited Lawrenceville, Pa., that is now part of Pittsburgh, where Foster was born and is buried.”

        Doo-dah! Doo-dah! Mr. Stockler has also spent a great deal of time at the Center for American Music, part of the University of Pittsburgh Library System, housed in the Stephen Foster Memorial building.

        The center for American Music is the principal repository for materials concerning Foster's life and music.

        Sun shines bright: Mr. Stockler recently acquired thepiece de resistance of his collection: a set of Foster Hall reproductions. This is a complete collection of Stephen Foster sheet music.

        “It's a pretty rare set,” he boasts. “There were only a thousand produced in 1933. It was financed by Josiah Kirby Lilly of Eli Lilly and Company. He was a great Foster lover.”

        Weep no more: “Foster's work is such a diverse list of songs,” Mr. Stockler says. “And it is copyright free. That means that you don't owe anybody if you record his stuff. The number of artists that have recorded his music is just awesome. There have been hundreds of artists throughout the years.

        “Just off the top of my head I can think of Emmylou Harris, Ray Charles, Kate Smith, Three Dog Night, Bob Dylan and Glenn Miller. There's also Marty Robbins, Charlie Rich and Stan Kenton.”

        Beautiful dreamer: Mr. Stockler, whose favorite song is “My Old Kentucky Home,” wants the public to realize what a strong impact Foster's music has had on the American music scene.

        “So many types of music have been influenced by Foster's writings,” he explains. “I've got recordings of his stuff in jazz, country and rock. If you watch children's cartoons, you hear his music in the background.”

        Wake unto me: “One hundred years from now,” Mr. Stockler says, “Stephen Foster's music will still be popular. It is important for people to know who he was. Hopefully, my collection will serve to educate the public about Mr. Foster and promote and preserve his memory.”

        To do so, Mr. Stockler has made his collection available to My Old Kentucky Home State Park, local schools and libraries. His ultimate goal is to put it on permanent display.

        “People need to know who Stephen Foster was,” Mr. Stockler says, “Because so much of his music is everywhere.”

        Organizations interested in contacting Mr. Stockler can e-mail him at fosterguy@earthlink.net.

        Share your prize possessions with Marsie Hall Newbold by mail: c/o The Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202: e-mail: marsolete@aol.com.

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