Appalachian Dulcimer

Object Details

Description

This Appalachian dulcimer was made by an unknown maker possibly in Ohio, undetermined date. It is a single-bout dulcimer made of walnut, with a dark wood nut and bridge, 12 metal frets on a wide, hollow fretboard, four round sound holes on body and two sound holes on the fretboard, a carved out pegbox with 4 modern cello pegs, carved head, and a three-tiered, rounded tail-piece. There is a typed index card taped to the back of the instrument:

C 11, single bout, Smith D36 p. 64, 4 of 4 strings, 12 frets,
made of walnut, very old and of unusually large size, and
rare construction, the scroll, neck and the fretted finger
board are of one piece of walnut, when found in Middletown,
Butler County, Ohio the original tuning pegs were of hammered
iron and frets of fence wire. Both have been replaced for
better tuning and playing. 3 major keys and 3 minor keys
are made possible by means of cross fretting. with wooden
"hoter"-or finger-fretted.

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.

Location

Currently not on view

ID Number

1996.0276.13

accession number

1996.0276

catalog number

1996.0276.13

collector/donor number

D36

Object Name

dulcimer

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 3 5/8 in x 8 1/4 in x 39 7/8 in; 9.2075 cm x 20.955 cm x 101.2825 cm

place made

United States

Related Publication

Smith, L. Allen. Catalogue of Pre-Revival Appalachian Dulcimers

See more items in

Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Dulcimers

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_608118

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-4eba-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa