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Research Center Performing Arts Reading Room

Finding Aids

The Music Division holds over 600 named special collections in music, theater, and dance, varying in size from fewer than a dozen items to more than half a million. Many of these collections are processed and have finding aids online. Others are in varying stages of processing and may have guides, inventories, or print finding aids available on-site. Collections with no finding aids or other guides are described by catalog records in the online catalog. Links are provided in this list of special collections to both finding aids and catalog records.

Most Library of Congress online finding aids utilize Encoded Archival Description (EAD), enabling one to search multiple finding aids across divisions in a single search. Finding aid PDFs are also provided to facilitate printing.

Researchers who wish to consult any special collection material are advised to contact the Reader Services Section two weeks in advance for assistance in planning their visit and to ensure that collection material will be available.

Please pay special attention to collections below that are stored offsite and include the specific boxes you will need during your visit on the reference form.

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  • United States Information Agency Artistic Ambassador Program Musical Commissions (commissioning organization) [Finding aid] [PDF] Stored offsite
  • William Treat Upton Collection (eighteenth and nineteenth century secular music expert) [Catalog Record]
  • Vladimir Ussachevsky Collection (electronic music composer) [Catalog Record]

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  • Boots Family Materials of Vincent Youmans (Producer, publisher, and composer) [Finding aid] [PDF]
  • Vincent Youmans Music Manuscripts (Producer, publisher, and composer) [Finding aid] [PDF]

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