I am very new to the idea of a digital collection. I have known for some time that such collections exist but have not taken the time to find them. In my browsing for three such collections to discuss, I have found three that I will introduce to you today. I hope to explore them in greater depth as the semester continues.
Library of Congress American Memory
This collection is massive: it covers everything from Music to Native American History to Advertising. This site is overseen by the Library of Congress. It is dedicated to providing free and open access to its collections of photographs, sound recordings, sheet music, and other memorabilia that commemorate the history of America. The collection contains over 9 million pieces of memorabilia. The collection can be browsed by subject or topic and can be searched across multiple collections. The collection provides an Ask the Librarian online reference service that is helpful if you do not find what you are specifically looking for.
As the semester continues and I have a chance to examine the site more closely, I will attempt to focus on the Music, Performing Arts collection, which contains 33 different collections. These collections contain sheet music, sound recordings, and portraits that would be useful for any music librarian to be aware of.
Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Music Museum
This collection is part of the Mississippi State University Libraries. The collection is named after the benefactor Charles H. Templeton, Sr. The collection spans from the Civil War to the Vietnam era with sheet music of popular music of the times. The collection is catalogued by genre and given an inventory code. The music that is in the public domain can be accessed online. However, there are numerous pieces that are not in the public domain due to their copyright date and can only be accessed at the Mississippi State Library. Along with the sheet music, there is also a collection of Digital Images and Cylinder Recordings. Although the collection focuses on music, there are aspects that pertain to the social and economic aspects of the times.
The Hoagy Carmichael Collection is maintained by Indiana University. The collection is the largest grouping of information pertaining to Hoagy Carmichael. The collection contains manuscripts, correspondence, images, sound recordings, and films just to mention a few things. The collection is comprised of holdings from three different entities: Lilly Library, Indiana University Archives, and Archives of Traditional Music. As of November 1999, the Archives of Traditional Music holdings was the only group that had been completely digitized. The holdings at the Lilly Library and Indiana University Archives were in the process of being digitized. I could not find updated information, so I am not for sure if this is still the case or not. Besides the expected browse and search options, the site also includes research information on his life.
I look forward to exploring these collections as we continue through the beginning of a new school year. Hopefully, you will gain as much insight as I during this journey.
