The American Guitar

About this collection

The Center for Popular Music’s American Guitar project documents American vernacular guitars and guitar playing through a wide range of photographs, sheet music, and instructional books from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawn from the Center’s enormous collection of research materials, the items included here are fully catalogued and scanned in high resolution. They reveal a rich history of diverse players, instruments, and repertory for this central instrument in American musical history. We will continually add to the collection, so check back often for new items.

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This project is made possible by the generous support of the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. 

Project Staff:

Authorization to download, reproduce, or publish must be obtained from the Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.