Appalachian Dulcimer: Museum Object and Cultural History
Appalachian Dulcimer: Object Name: dulcimer. Physical Description: wood (overall material). Measurements: overall: 3 1/2 in x 7 in x 32 7/8 in; 8.89 cm x 17.78 cm x 83.5025 cm.
The object in the museum catalogue
This Appalachian dulcimer was made by an unknown maker, possibly Virginia, undetermined date. It is a single-bout dulcimer, with a metal bridge and tail strip, carved out pegbox with three wooden friction pegs, 10 metal frets, 10 small sound holes on body and two sound holes on fretboard, and a rounded head. The instrument’s crude construction is a strong indication of relatively recent manufacture, possibly an attempt to copy another dulcimer.
Anne Grimes (1912-2004) was an American journalist, musician, and historian of American (particularly Midwestern) folklore. Grimes studied voice and piano at Ohio Wesleyan and initiated graduate studies at Ohio State University. Following her education, Grimes was a music teacher, music and dance critic, and radio host. After WWII, Grimes began collecting and documenting folk songs throughout Ohio, as well as collecting Appalachian dulcimers and zithers. She would continue this work, performing, recording, and lecturing on instruments from her collection throughout the rest of her career.
Materials, dates and provenance
- Object Name: dulcimer
- Physical Description: wood (overall material)
- Measurements: overall: 3 1/2 in x 7 in x 32 7/8 in; 8.89 cm x 17.78 cm x 83.5025 cm
- place made: United States
- ID Number: 1996.0276.09
- accession number: 1996.0276
- catalog number: 1996.0276.09
- collector/donor number: D13
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
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Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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