Singleton Appalachian Dulcimer: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This Appalachian dulcimer was made by William C. Singleton in Viper, Kentucky, 1939. It is a single-bout dulcimer, with a wood nut and bridge, 4 strings (1 melody and 3 done), 16 metal frets, 2 heart-shaped sound holes and 4 small round sound holes on body, 2 round sound holes on fretboard, carved out pegbox with 4 wooden friction pages, and rounded head. There is an index card taped to the back of the dulcimer with typed text:

C 7 single bout Smith D 60 p. 75 1 of 4 strings fretted on 16 frets, hearts turned up to xx possibly played held up with pegs down

”Viper, KY, W. C. Singleton No. of dulcimer 83/August 2, 1939, my age 79 years" Contributed to the Anne Grimes collection by the New York Public Library 1952 Singleton was a friend and neighbor of the famous Ritchie family, traditional dulcimer players and singers who also told Mrs. Grimes that "Will Singleton sometimes made large box type dulcimers known in Ohio as "scantlin's" (also included in Grimes collection)."

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

• date made: 1939
• maker: Singleton, W. C.
• Object Name: dulcimer
• Physical Description: wood (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 2 7/8 in x 6 1/4 in x 34 3/4 in; 7.3025 cm x 15.875 cm x 88.265 cm
• place made: United States: Kentucky, Viper
• ID Number: 1996.0276.16
• accession number: 1996.0276
• catalog number: 1996.0276.16
• collector/donor number: D60
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

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.