Description
Roslyn Rensch Erbes, professional harpist, art historian, and former harp instructor in the School of Music, received a master’s degree in art history from the University of Illinois in 1959. Her donations to the University of Illinois in 1989-1990 consisted of 350-400 items of harp music (solo and ensemble) including manuscript materials, items autographed by composer or arranger, and some late 19th-century editions (e.g., nine bound volumes originally owned ca. 1900 by Emma Weast Bichl, Chicago-area harpist); approximately 200 recordings (about 100 78rpm records as well as LP, 45-rpm, and cassette recordings); books on the harp, on harp music, and music history; miscellaneous books in other subject areas (including 34 titles on numismatics); 38 scrapbooks compiled by Rensch, with materials largely from the period 1917-1968; extensive files of research notes, journals, programs, photographs, correspondence, and other personal papers; a scrapbook (with additional loose clippings) compiled by Margaret Sweeney, professional harpist in Chicago from the 1930s through the 1960s; harps and other musical instruments; art works and artifacts related to the harp.
Location / Access
Music and Performing Arts Library
- The Music Library retained the published and manuscript music, recordings, books on music. Most individually cataloged music editions are in the Music and Performing Arts Library’s Special Collections.
- A portion of the Rensch Collection of scores, manuscripts, and books held in Special Collections can be found through the online catalog with a subject search of “Rensch Collection.”
Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
- Scrapbooks, personal papers, research notes, and some pictorial materials have been deposited in University Archives (10.7 cubic feet of holdings). See the Roslyn Rensch Papers, 1900, 1917-1993 Finding Aid at the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music.
- Non-music books and pamphlets were forwarded to other Library units to be considered for acquisition. Musical instruments were donated to the School of Music, as was also a small marble statue of a harp player, currently on display in the School of Music harp instructor’s studio.
Index terms
- Bichl, Emma Weast
- Harp music
- Manuscripts
- Recordings: 78 rpm
- Rensch, Roslyn
- Sweeney, Margaret
See also
Rensch, Roslyn. Harps and harpists. (London: 1989) [ML1005A36 H27]
Rensch, Roslyn; Harp, Lecturer. Who’s who in American music: classical, 2d ed. p.484 (New York: 1985) [Q. 780.922 W62]
A brief description of the Rensch donation was published in Notes, the Music Library Association journal (“Notes for Notes,” December 19 vol.46 no.2, pp.377-378).