F&M Sheet Music Exhibition

Currently on exhibit in the lobby of Shadek-Fackenthal Library is a selection of late 19th - early 20th century sheet music from the holdings of the Archives and Special Collections. Before the advent of recorded music, printed sheet music was mass-marketed to the middle class for home entertainment (largely utilizing the piano). As new printing technologies developed, colorful cover art emerged to further market the songs contained inside.

Various musical genres and cultural themes are represented in the sheet music on display. The decline of sheet music is also addressed, as recorded music and radio-broadcasts quickly replaced home performance in the early 20th century.

The exhibit will run through December 31, 2007. Enjoy, and please post your comments!

F&M Fraktur Collection Being Digitized!

The F&M College Library is in the process of digitizing its Unger-Bassler Frakturschriften Collection. As a member of the NITLE DSpace Pilot Service, F&M has been using a shared instance of DSpace software to describe and present its 513 piece collection of hand-drawn and printed geburts und taufschein (birth and baptismal certificates), haus segen (house blessings), vorschrift (writing specimens), bucherzeichen (book plates), family registers, confirmation certificates, and drawings/sketches.

Please view the collection Finding Aid or visit the digital colllection directly at F&M Scholars Square