Born in 1890, Joseph B. Hurl began his career in the early 1900s singing at the Pastime Theater in Olneyville. He founded the American Music Publishing Company, which was located in the Caesar Misch Building (400 Westminster St, Providence, RI), where he published several songs. Hurl left Providence in 1910 and joined the Whiteside-Strauss Dramatic Company in Plattsburgh, NY, becoming known as J. Bernard Hurl. He then joined the traveling theatrical troupe Perry’s Peerless Players before moving to Providence in 1923, where he performed at the Emery Theatre. Later, he owned and managed theaters in Milford and Brockton, Mass., and Woonsocket, RI. After World War II, until his retirement in 1960, Hurl was a salesman for the American Automobile Association (AAA). He died in 1976. He published songs and performed under various names, including J. Bernard Hurl, Joseph B. Hurl, and Joe Hurl.
The collection includes photographs and sheet music of J. Barnard Hurl (also published under the name Joe Hurl).
The photographs feature portraits of Hurl, Hurl with Burnes Jack, and images of Hurl dressed as characters he portrayed in plays, which are dedicated to his parents. These characters include Tommy Ryan in “Only Georgia Rose” and Sol Lee in “The Price of Silence.”
The sheet music in the collection includes “When you are mine” with words and music by Lawrence Leon Willey, “I’ll teach you how to love” (male quartette) by W.C. Lindemann, “Good night kid” with lyrics by Joe Hurl and music by W.C. Lindemann, “When you were a sweetheart of mine” with lyrics by Joe Hurl and music by W.C. Lindemann (copyright held by Roger A. Graham in Providence, RI), “I’ll teach you how to love” (a novelty song) with lyrics by Joe Hurl and music by W.C. Lindemann, “Hello dear old summer time” words and music by J. Bernard Hurl, and “Just give a thought to a pal of mine” (dedicated to the memory of the fallen heroes of the AEF) with words and music by J. Bernard Hurl. Sadie Belgarde is on the cover of the sheet music for “Just give a thought.” The sheet music was published by Hurl-Senna Publishing Co., Strand Theatre, New Bedford, MA, and by American Music Publishing Company, Providence, RI.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is the researcher's responsibility to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research.
J. Bernard Hurl photographs and music, MSS-0172, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection is arranged by format.
Joe Graham, a Rhode Island College professor, gave the collection to Rhode Island College Special Collections likely in the 1980s.
The collection was arranged and described by Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica L. Denison, in 2026.
The items in the collection were given to Rhode Island College professor Joe Graham by J. Bernard Hurl’s daughter.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
Providence Journal (Providence, Rhode Island), May 25, 1952: 29. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
Providence Journal (Providence, Rhode Island), January 9, 1976: 51. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
The collection has not been digitized and is not available online.