Notable Collections

One of the most popular and actively researched sub-genres today is Afrofuturism, and our collection is strong and growing.

This collection documents the extraordinary 64-year music career of Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985), best known for his long tenure with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Materials are available to researchers through the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

The Francis Hopkinson Collection includes Hopkinson's personal collection of music, along with manuscript music and transcriptions. Complementing these are other printed and manuscript materials by or relating to Hopkinson. These materials provides important sources for the study of early American music, the early history of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, and colonial and early federal American culture.

The Keffer Collection of Sheet Music contains 2,531 scores ranging in date from ca. 1790 to 1895.

Philadelphia bandleader and composer Francis Johnson (1792-1844), a free African American, achieved extraordinary renown and respect through performances of his band. The Kurt Stein collection includes forty-two rare printed examples of Johnson's sheet music, along with research materials on Johnson.

Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) was the innovative and charismatic conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1912 to 1941 and was an influential figure in music-making through much of the twentieth century. The Leopold Stokowski Collection includes papers and correspondence; orchestral scores and transcriptions; research materials; and recordings documenting Stokowski's musical career and related activities.

The Mahler-Werfel Collection includes personal papers of Alma Mahler and Franz Werfel, memorabilia related to Gustav Mahler; research files; and a portion of the library of Alma and Franz Werfel.