International Harp Archives at UNT

The Archives of the American Harp Society, along with the archives of the World Harp Congress and personal collections from many additional harpists, were housed for decades in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University.  In 2025 the International Harp Archives were transferred to the University of North Texas at Denton, Texas.  This significant transfer was initiated by BYU and was completed in coordination with the American Harp Society and World Harp Congress to allow adequate storage space for continued growth and to ensure the archives’ preservation and continued access for harpists, scholars, and music enthusiasts worldwide.  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. 

Learn more about the Archives contents and how to access its resources by downloading this brochure.  Many images, documents, recordings and finding aids will be available online but will take some time to populate as the transition continues through 2025.

Harp Music of the 18th and 19th Centuries Wiki and Database Public Domain Harp Music

In an effort to make early harp music available to the community, the International Harp Archives  digitized much of its pre-1923 harp music while the collection was still located at Brigham Young University. These materials can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet Archive.

History

The International Harp Archives (IHA) began in 1985 with a major donation of scores (including many rare editions), research papers, and photographs from Samuel and Rosalie Pratt. Not long after, additional donations of personal archival materials, scores, and recordings were received from numerous harpists. From 2001 to 2005 the archives received generous funding for scores from the Victor Salvi Foundation. Thereafter the IHA became the official host of the Archives of the American Harp Society and World Harp Congress. The Archives collects, preserves, and provides access to materials documenting the harp’s rich history and artistry, including scores, manuscripts, recordings, photographs, correspondence, programs, and interviews. Now finding a new home at UNT, this archive expands the university’s already substantial music resources, including a collection of 18th-19th century historical harps donated by alum David Williams (MM, 1976).

Accessing the Archives

Researchers and harp enthusiasts are welcome to visit the library in Denton, Texas, and to work with materials from the International Harp Archive.  Access to the collection is provided in the Music Library on the 4th floor of Willis Library at the University of North Texas. All of the materials are stored off site, so prior arrangement and an appointment are required to access them.

Hours of operation:
Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 5PM
Saturday-Sunday: CLOSED
(Please check calendar.library.unt.edu/hours for holidays and exceptions to regular operating hours.)

Contact Information