Alfred Corning Clark (1844-1896), heir to a large part of the Singer sewing machine fortune, was an American art patron and philanthropist who traveled extensively in Europe, meeting many prominent figures in the arts of the late nineteenth century.

The collection contains many photographs of those figures, a few of which are autographed, a book of scores containing opera excerpts and art songs by European composers of the period, a song manuscript personally dedicated to Clark, and other items pertaining to Clark’s interests in music and art.

Frederick Werlé (1910-1997) was a composer, music teacher, and a former dean of the Mannes College of Music. His papers primarily consist of reel-to-reel and LP audio recordings and original music manuscripts. Also present in the collection are newspaper clippings, published music scores, concert programs, correspondence and notes.

Harvey Enders (1892-1947) was an American composer and arranger, mostly of popular and folk songs and vocal pieces in the manner of African-American spirituals. He composed a dramatic song narrative for baritone and orchestra, “Death in Harlem,” based on the poem by Langston Hughes.

The collection contains annotated manuscript and printed versions of the score of “Death in Harlem,” and an annotated, autographed typescript of the original poem, as well as several songs and arrangements composed by Enders.

Virtuoso pianist and composer Leopold Godowsky (1870-1938) was noted for piano compositions and arrangements of exceptional difficulty, especially his 53 Studies on Chopin’s Études. The collection includes manuscripts of his works, sketches, corrected print proofs, and published scores with annotations and inscriptions by Godowsky and others related to him.

Leopold Mannes (1899-1964) was an American musician, educator, inventor, and son of the founders of the Mannes School of Music, David and Clara (Damrosch) Mannes. Leopold Mannes and Leopold Godowsky, Jr. invented Kodachrome color photography. Mannes became president of the Mannes School of Music in 1948. This collection contains music manuscripts of Mannes's compositions, including arrangements of pieces by other composers.

Walter Damrosch (1862-1950) was a Prussian-born American conductor and composer associated with opera and with early radio broadcasts of classical music. This collection contains scores collected and/or used by Damrosch, including his own piano arrangement of a Franz Liszt composition.