Discovering the Music Library Special Collections

By: Cheyenne King

Buchkiste. Pile of Music Sheets. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-music-sheets-4861058/ 

UNT has a very well-known music library which “holds more than 350,000 Items of music books, periodicals, and scores, parts and microforms,” (UNT College of Music, n.d.). It also has audio recordings, vinyl records, and CDs which are all available for check out to current UNT students, faculty, and staff. What is less well known is that the Music Library also has its own Special Collections department! They house all archival collections, scores, and rare books (UNT College of Music, n.d.).   

Where to Find It 

Most items in the Music Library Special Collections can be found through the UNT Music Library Finding Aid or the Music Library Special Collections LibGuide. Both resources contain extensive lists of collections maintained by the Music Library Special Collections as well as information about the collections including their size and material type. The Finding Aid contains more information about the collections including a collection inventory, accession dates, and other important information.  

It is indicated in the Music Library Special Collections LibGuide that access to the Music Library Special Collections Finding Aid may not always be possible off-campus. The alternative way to of view the collection the finding aids is through the web archiving website; the Wayback Machine. This option provides the same access to collection lists as the LibGuide or Finding Aid but increases accessibility to anyone having trouble connecting to the resources. 

Collection Highlights 

• Arnold Schoenberg- Hans Nachod Collection- The Austrian composer, Arnold Schoenberg, is well known for his music which had a strong impact in “the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century,” (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, n.d.). This UNT Music Library Special Collection contains some of this composer’s music manuscripts as well as correspondence between Arnold Schoenberg, and his cousin, Hans Nachod, (UNT, 1966).  

• Whit Ozier Test Record Pressings- This collection contains “one million recordings in various historical formats,” (UNT College of Music, n.d.) including opera, orchestra, and popular music, (Ozier, 1940-1950).  

• Duke Ellington Collection- The jazz composer Duke Ellington “was a musical pioneer who generated an extensive body of work over his 50-year career, composing over one thousand arrangements,” (NMAAHC, n.d.). UNT has “more than 1,000 Duke Ellington discs, tapes and transcriptions,” available through this collection (UNT College of Music, n.d.). 

How to View Materials  

Music Library Special Collections items can be requested to be viewed in-person through Aeon. Users will be prompted to make an account if you do not already have one and from there materials can be selected. 

If you have any questions about Music Library Special Collections resources or access, please contact the Music Library Special Collections Librarian, Maristella Feustle, for more information.

Johnson, S. (n.d.) Music sheet on black piano. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/music-sheet-on-black-piano-860662/ 

References: 

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. (n.d.). Arnold Schoenberg: Biography. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. https://www.aso.org/composer/detail/arnold-schoenberg 

UNT College of Music. (n.d.). Music library. University of North Texas. https://music.unt.edu/facilities/music-library 

UNT. (1966). Arnold Schoenberg – Hans Nachod Collection. Music Library. https://archives.library.unt.edu/repositories/3/resources/1132 Accessed April 01, 2025. 

Ozier, W. (1940-1950). Whit Ozier Test Record Pressings. Music Library. https://archives.library.unt.edu/repositories/3/resources/58 Accessed April 01, 2025.