Archival Resources

Archival Resources

  • International Harp Archives at BYU: Serves as a support center for research relating to aspects of the harp, its music and harpists, and includes the AHS Archives, AHS Audio & Video Tape Libraries and Interview Series.
    Go to International Harp Archives Website

  • AHS Lending Library
  • AHS Repository: Holdings of the American Harp Society housed in the Library of Congress.
  • Harp Dissertations: A listing of harp dissertations, scores and programs was compiled in November 2011. While every attempt has been made for a complete listing, some items have missing or incomplete information, and others may be missing entirely. Information includes Last name, First name initial. "Title." Type of diss., University, year. Download Harp Dissertations, Scores And Programs For corrections or additions, contact WebEditor@harpsociety.org

The Archives of the American Harp Society, along with the archives of the World Harp Congress and personal collections from many additional harpists, are housed in the International Harp Archives located in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University.  The archives consist of items ranging from scores, manuscripts and recordings, to photographs, correspondence, programs and other documents.  Thanks to the persistent efforts and contributions of many individuals and organizations, the International Harp Archives are now perhaps the largest collection of harp materials in the world. 

International Harp Archives Brochure (PDF)

Through the AHS Lending Library, located in the Harold B. Lee Library, AHS members may borrow archive-quality recordings (both audio and audio-visual) of workshops and recitals from past American Harp Society Conferences and Summer Institutes, as well as conversations with notables in the harp world recorded as part of the AHS Interview Series.  Visit the AHS Lending Library website for specific help about requests for borrowing or viewing the recordings on site.

For a complete listing of available recordings, you can download, view, and print the following PDF files:

Complete Audio Recording Catalog: Audio Recordings  (PDF) 
Complete Video Recording Catalog: Video Recordings  (PDF)

The IHA includes a collection of approximately 10,000 scores that feature the harp. Most of these scores can be accessed either through interlibrary loan or through the Internet Archive. Published scores that are still covered by copyright restrictions cannot be copied, but can be requested through interlibrary loan. Most academic and public libraries operate an interlibrary loan service whereby harpists can request to borrow IHA scores through their local library. Unfortunately, the IHA cannot loan scores directly to individuals. The IHA is also currently involved in a project to scan all of its pre-1923 published scores and make them accessible through the Internet Archive. To access these scans go the http://www.archive.org/ and in the search box enter the tag (byuinternationalharparchive) including the parentheses. The results of this search provide links to view or download the scores that have been scanned. These scans are available free of charge.

For further information concerning about the International Harp Archives, please contact:
David Day, Curator
International Harp Archives
Brigham Young University
Harold B. Lee Library
Provo, Utah 84602
david_day@byu.edu