Description
The Howe Collection of Musical
Instrument Literature documents the development of the music industry, mainly in the United
States. The largest known collection of its kind, it contains material about the manufacture
of pianos, organs, and mechanical musical instruments. The materials include catalogs,
books, magazines, correspondence, photographs, broadsides, advertisements, and price lists.
The collection was created, and originally donated to the University of Maryland, by Richard
J. Howe. It was transferred to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound in 2015 to support the
Player Piano Project.
Extent
440 box(es)
353 linear feet
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head Librarian, Archive of Recorded Sound, Braun Music
Center, Stanford, California 94305. Consent is given on behalf of the Archive of Recorded
Sound as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s)
or assigns.
Availability
Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of
intended use. Contact the Archive of Recorded Sound for assistance. Some of the bound
volumes are fragile and may require special care during handling.