green bound album with gold writing on front cover and spine that reads "Family Album 1910-1948"; black paper pages; photograph album containing photos of kids, kids with toys, kids on bicycles, families on vacation, kids in a classroom, automobiles; Belonged to Patricia Anne Cohen, formerly actor Patricia English
This flute case was made by an unknown maker in France, around 1895-1898. It is made of wood, stained medium brown, with metal fittings and handle. Accessioned with Florentin Barbier flute (1985.0016.07).
This flute was made by Joseph L. Marcil in Detroit, Michigan around 1909 to 1911. It is Boehm System flute, serial #678, made of rosewood with silver ferrules and keys. It is stamped:
Army Song Book, published by the U. S. War Office in Washington, DC, in 1941. This song book was compiled by the Adjutant General's Office in collaboration with the Library of Congress and published by order of the Secretary of War. It contains lyrics for 67 songs including, "The Army Air Corps," "Song of the Signal Corps," "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." The title pages reads: "This book is the property of the United States government and its contents may be used only within the military services." The cover features stylized historical images of U. S. Army soldiers.
This harmonica was made by Magnus Hamonica Corporation in Newark, New Jersey, around 1949. It is an Indian Chief model, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. The harmonica has a red and black plastic comb with metal cover plates attached to the top and bottom with open rivets. Accessioned with original cardboard box. The harmonica is engraved:
TRADE MARK MAGNUS U.S.PAT.OFF. HARMONICA CORPORATION NEWARK 4, NEW JERSEY US. PATENT NOS. 2,373,129 2,407,312 – 2,416,451 MADE IN U.S.A. OTHER U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS PENDING
This harmonica features the following patents:
U. S. Patent #2373129, dated April 10, 1945, for the construction of the reed plate and reeds for instruments of the harmonica type by Finn H. Magnus.
U. S. Patent #2407312, dated September 10, 1946, for harmonicas in which the reeds or reed plate, or both the reeds and reed plate are formed of a plastic composition by Finn H. Magnus assignor to International Plastic Harmonica Corporation.
U. S. Patent #2416451, date February 25, 1947, for a method of and making integral reed plates and reeds by Finn H. Magnus assignor to International Plastic Harmonica Corporation.
This banjo was made by an unknown maker in the United States around 1930-1940. It is a Five-String Banjo, with 5 brackets. It was sold through Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalogs, and is typical of the inexpensive instruments which became easily available at that time to musical enthusiasts through mass-marketing and mail order convenience.
This sheet music is for the song, “Dear Old Stars and Stripes Good-Bye,” with words by Harvey Briggs and music by Harley Wilson. It was published by Leo Feist, Inc. in New York, New York in 1902. There is an inset image of the Cox Family Quartette on the cover.
This roller organ was most likely made by the Autophone Company in Ithaca, New York, around 1885-1899. It is a Concert 20-note model, with 20 reeds and a hinged glass front cover. This roller organ plays a metal-pin-studded wooden cylinder also called a “cob.” A hand crank activates the vacuum bellows and turns the cylinder. When a pin in the roller comes in contact with the hinged end of one of the organ valves it causes the valve to lift, allowing air into the reed chamber and sounding the desired note. Printed paper directions are attached to the inside of the rear cover. Accessioned with 34 wooden rolls (1984.0843.01-.34). Stenciled on top of the roller organ:
This snare drum was made by John Webster, near Spencertown, New York, around 1790-1820. It has a painted shell with a painted eagle with its characteristic “frog-legged” design that appears during the period of the 1790s to about 1820 on U.S. militia canteens, belt plates, cap insignia and knapsacks. Also this basic design, with a shield on the eagle‘s breast, was used on the U.S. Peace medals of 1792 and 1793. There are 13 stars painted on the drum shell in a circular pattern around the eagle motif. Also, there are 4 additional stars painted vertically to the right side of the eagle motif.
The drum has two wood hoops drilled with 9 holes each for rope, which at one time, was laced through leather ears, used to tighten the hoops. There are 2 skin heads in poor condition and remnants of a gut snare. The drum is disassembled and would require conservation to bring it back to its original condition. It is accessioned with a pair of hardwood drum sticks. There is a label inside the shell that is inscribed:
“I was made by John Webster 3 miles north of Spencertown Meeting House Sept 1779”
As indicated in correspondence with the previous owner, this drum was brought back from the War of 1812 by Captain John George Snyder. Further research is needed to determine details of Snyder’s military career.
This soundpost setter is made of metal. It is an S-style setter with a 4-prong star on one end and a sharp point tip on the other.
This object was used by Albert Moglie (b. December 16, 1890, Rome; d. June 9, 1988, Washington DC), instrument maker and restorer, and proprietor of a violin shop in Washington DC for 65 years from 1922 until 1987. At the age of twelve he was apprenticed to Antonio Sgarbi and subsequently worked under Luigi Enbergher, Giuseppe Rossi and Rodolfo Fredi, all of Rome. Following these apprenticeships, Moglie was a student of Hippolyte Sylvestre in Paris and Leandro Bisiach in Milan.
Albert Moglie came to America at the age of 24 to work for the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, first in Cincinnati and then New York City in 1916. By 1917 he had established his own shop in New York at 1431 Broadway. He moved to Washington DC in 1922.
Moglie enjoyed a fine reputation in Washington as a violin restorer and is especially remembered as the caretaker of the Gertrude Clark Whittall Stradivari quartet of instruments at the Library of Congress, an association that began in the 1930s and lasted more than 50 years.
The Smithsonian, National Museum of American History, Archives Center houses additional materials on the life and career of Albert F. Moglie:
