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.

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.

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.