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I bought this book -- A Modest Collection of Traditional Songs -- on a recent visit to Saratoga National Historical Park in New York state and really like it.
http://www.ballindalloch-press.....songs.html
All the songs are easy to play, in fiddle-friendly keys, and it comes with a CD containing a sample of each song. It's nice having the CD to get familiar with the tunes that I don't know and to play along.
The book also includes narrative on the history of each song.
You'll recognize the melodies of many of the tunes, even if you don't recognize the name as they are today better known by other names. For example, Anacreon in Heaven is none other than The Star Spangled Banner, and Faith's Review and Expectation is better known as Amazing Grace.
It appears that Amazon.com does not have it but there is info on the website above on how to order and retail outlets that carry it.
Just thought I'd share this as, in my beginner's opinion, I think it seems like a helpful and fun learning tool.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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You'll have to let me know how some of those songs turn out! I've been finding most of my 1800's music online and often have to look up alternative names for them. Thankfully, many of the songs are public domain that I want to play! LOL
It's pretty neat to see different names for the same tune! Sometimes a note is changed here or there, depending on how it was passed down. I recently learned "Old Rosin The Bow" and discovered it was also known as "Lincoln and Liberty Too" and "Kelly's Irish Brigade!" .....just depends on the lyrics! 
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
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That's true in this book. For example, Anacreon in Heaven is recognizable as the Star Spangled Banner, but there are some different notes in it.
This book has a "Rosin the Beau" (note the different spelling), which I assume is the same tune.
The songs in this book are very short, but that's fine as far as I'm concerned. That makes them easier to learn, I think, and I can just repeat them if I want. And they're relatively simple so I'm thinking that this will be a good opportunity for me to learn some faster, peppier tunes than what I've been playing. They should be easy to memorize, too.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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This Labor Day weekend we visited the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. Gilbert Stuart was a portrait artist who painted quite a few portraits of George Washington, including the one on the dollar bill. He also painted portraits of several other early American presidents.
In the gift shop there I bought the CD and music book for George Washington, Music for the First President. Fiddles and violins are featured prominently in the 18 songs on the CD and the music in the book is fairly easy.
CD:
qid=1346893059&sr=8-6&keywords=george+washington+music+for+the+first+president
Music book:
qid=1346891531&sr=8-5&keywords=george+washington+music+for+the+first+president
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Regulars
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I swear, you find the most awesome stuff!!! 
I'm actually jealous! LOL Hopefully, I'll have your luck when we eventually travel east for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War! I absolutely love how one can traverse time and history with the violin!
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
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@kindascratchy I know this is an old thread. I think I am going to buy the book you mentioned in your first post in this thread, A Modest Collection of Traditional Songs. I am very interested in early American fiddle music, but it is hard to come by. I would be interested in any other sources you have found.
Jim
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I will take a look. Thanks @kindascratchy
Jim
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I think I have that book but if I can't find it I'll order it. Thanks for the link Pat.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Heinrich said
I've heard good things about this too.New England Fiddler's Repertoire
Yes this is a good one!
My favorites and the one(s) that stay off the shelf an open the most are The Portland Collection books 1 and 2. They also have play along cd's. They made a 3rd ( orange) book that I havent used much.
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Just found a great source for Early American Sheet Music!
Brown University Digital Repository
This 1,455 piece digital collection is early African-American music from 1800 to 1920.
"Includes many songs from the heyday of antebellum black face minstrelsy in the 1850s and from the abolitionist movement of the same period".
There are 500,000 pieces from 1700's up to present at the John Hay Library, Brown University.
I believe we can only view a fraction of these online, because only the cataloged African-American, World War I, and Yiddish-American music have been digitized.
- Emily
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