John Davis Batchelder Collection Span: 1676-1940 Bulk: 19th Century Various collection 3 ft. 6 boxes During years of foreign study and travel, John Davis Batchelder (1872-1958) collected books, manuscripts, prints and other documents and ephemera that he felt illustrated the history of Western culture. His collection was given to the Library in 1936, and is housed for the most part in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division. Three other divisions have custody of significant portions of the Batchelder gift: the Manuscript Division, the Music Division, and the Prints and Photographs Division. The Music Division Batchelder collection consists primarily of autograph letters and musical manuscripts of 19th-century composers and performers. Of special interest are two caricatures of himself by Caruso, from 1906 and 1913; a lock of Beethoven's hair with authenticating documents; a sketch of "Al desio, di chi t'adora," K. 577 by Mozart; the manuscript of "Gesang des Friedensboten," from Rienzi, signed by Wagner; and a leaf containing corrections by Beethoven to the Piano Sonata no. 32, op. 111. Autograph letters and musical manuscripts of 19th-century composers and opera singers. Some photos and opera programs. No. John Davis Batchelder Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress Batchelder Collection Autographs, letters, photographs, and ephemera chiefly relating to opera singers and nineteenth-century composers. Researchers wishing to work with special collections are advised to inquire in advance about availability of material since many special collections are stored off-site. Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply. Opera Composers--Autographs Beethoven, Ludwig van Bellini, Vincenzo Bizet, Georges Caruso, Enrico Donizetti, Gaetano Chopin, Frédéric Debussy, Claude Delibes, Leo Franck, Cesar Flotow, Friedrich von Gounod, Charles Schumann, Robert Tchaikovsky, Peter Liszt, Franz Malibran, Maria Paganini, Nicolo Lind, Jenny Hauk, Minnie Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Wagner, Richard Batchelder, John Davis Performing Arts Encyclopedia liszt_coll scdb Music Division, Library of Congress IHAS 120827 loc.natlib.scdb.200033831