The Stratton Music Collection

The Stratton Music Collection was established in the mid-1960s when the University received the personal library of Charles W. Stratton as a bequest from his estate. A distinguished pianist and musicologist, Stratton was a member of K-State's music faculty from 1927 until his retirement in 1964. He died in January 1966. The Stratton segment forms the major portion of this collection that now encompasses all rare scores and other works on music under the jurisdiction of the Rare Books Department.

Eclectic in nature, the Stratton Collection offers a diverse panorama of the history of music. It reflects the wide range of Professor Stratton's interests with primary emphasis on the piano--its composers, literature, history, and technical study. The collection provides a number of extraordinary books. Two noteworthy highlights are a splendid first edition of Rameau's monumental Traite de l'harmonie [Paris, 1722] and an unusual copy of Mendelssohn's Drei Concert-Ouverturen autographed by the composer.

Other strengths of the collection include first and early editions of Handel and his contemporaries published by Walsh during the eighteenth century; works of 18th-century English opera; and examples of American hymnody. The collection is complemented by a rich and sizable group of scores and sound recordings located in the Library's Media Collection.

This collection is used predominately by music students, faculty, and other researchers wishing to examine primary sources of paramount historical significance.

Musical Resources

• University of California at Santa Barbara
• Indiana University Music Library
• University of Washington Music Library
• Harvard University Music Library

	Last Modified: 24 Jun 2003 Maintained by Cindy Von Elling Send comments, questions and suggestions to: Rare Books, Richard L. D. & Marjorie J. Morse Dept. of Special Collections, K-State Libraries. Please do not contact Rare Books for book values or appraisals. Visit the RBMS Guide: Your Old Books
Information presented for research or promotional purposes and may be reproduced without permission provided proper credit is given. All illustrative images, unless otherwise stated, are the property of Morse Dept. of Special Collections and may not be used without written permission from the Rare Books Librarian.