"The glorious voice"
By 1939, African-American singer Marian Anderson had toured Europe impressing crowds and composers alike. But in this country, she was banned from many concert halls...
Harp guitar
In 1831, E.N. Sheer submitted his patent application for an improvement on the guitar, which he called the harp guitar. In his application, he states, “the shape of...
Illustrated family record of Abijah Stow
This family register was filed with Fife Maj. Abijah Stow's pension application. He enlisted as a musician in Col. Moses Hazen's regiment in Albany in 1777 and...
Let's take it from the top, Mr. President
This 1959 photograph pictures President Harry Truman playing the piano, accompanied by comedian Jack Benny on his trademark violin.
Louis Armstrong registers for the draft
Future jazz great Louis Armstrong of New Orleans was among nearly 24 million men aged 18–45 who registered for the draft during 1917–18, a requirement of the new...
Mandy by Irving Berlin
New York songwriter and composer Irving Berlin first wrote Mandy, cover for sheet music pictured here, in 1918. It appeared in both Yip-Yip-Yaphank and 1919’s...
Marching to a different drummer
Taylor, a drummer boy for the 78th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops, was photographed near the end of the Civil War. The 78th was organized in April 1864 and...