Musical Instruments at the Library of Congress
Instrument collecting at the Library began in 1935 with the donation of five Stradivarius stringed instruments by Mrs. Gertrude Clarke Whittall. Since then other instruments have been acquired, including strings, flutes and winds, and Siamese folk instruments. This site offers descriptive information about the instrument collections, as well as photos and an audio comparison of five violins by violinist Nicholas Kitchen performing Bach’s Chaconne.
Instrument Collections
Please Note: Appointments are needed to view the instrument collections. Please contact the curator of the musical instrument collections by telephone at 202-707-9083 or by email at mdiv@loc.gov.