Music and Performing Arts Library Special Collections

About the Collections

The Special Collections at the Music and Performing Arts Library (MPAL) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign contain rare scores, books, recordings, pedagogical materials, and other materials used for scholarly inquiry and performance by students and faculty at the School of Music, the University of Illinois, and researchers throughout the world. Highlights of the collection include first edition books and scores from the 19^th century, including a significant number of glees, songsters, and hymnals; almost 300 binder’s volumes containing early printed music from England, Europe, and the US; an historic United States piano and vocal sheet music collection with over 92,000 items; original manuscripts; and 20^th century music education kits. Notable collections are further described below.

MPAL’s Special Collections complement holdings at the Sousa Archives and the Center for American Music and the Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Materials are housed in the best location, i.e., published editions are generally held at MPAL/Special Collections, manuscripts may be held at either MPAL, RBML, or SACAM, and archival papers and materials are held at the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. This approach allows access to resources while providing appropriate stewardship of holdings, ensures preservation of valuable resources, encourages discovery of historical materials, and facilitates performance of unique musical works.

Special Collections Policies

For information about our gift, access, and reproduction request policies, please read our policies.