Bruce Williams Papers and Hammer Dulcimer, 1981-1996

Collection Overview

Title: Bruce Williams Papers and Hammer Dulcimer, 1981-1996

ID: 26/20/252

Creator: Bruce Williams (1943-2021)

Extent: 1.25 cubic feet

Arrangement: Arranged by material, instrument (with accessories) and papers, and then in chronological order.

Date Acquired: 09/15/2023

Languages: English [eng]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of hammer dulcimer in cloth bag, wooden dulcimer stand, two tuning hammers, and four wooden hammers, including paper and wooden rosette pattern templates; photographs; correspondence, including orders for custom built dulcimers; two CDs amd one 45rpm audio disc; photographs; newsclippings; sheet music; and set lists, documenting Bruce Williams founding and performances of the Peppermill String Band.

Biographical Note

Bruce John Williams was born July 8, 1943 in Kansas City, MO and died October 25, 2021 in Urbana, IL. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1971, recieved his master's in electrical engineering in 1973, and worked at the U of I until 2003. In the 1970s and 1980s, Williams built custom hammer dulcimers. In the 1980s, he was a founding members of the Peppermill String Band, in which he played the hammer dulcimer alongside George Lowrey on guitar, Kathleen Everingham on the fiddle, David Nelson on bass, and Roger Diggle on guitar.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Source: Linda Williams

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Hammer Dulcimer and Peppermill String Band Papers

Item 1: Hammer Dulcimer, 1996

Handmade hammer dulcimer. Sapele top, walnut and maple sides, maple bridges (with plastic tops), and steel tuning and hitch pins. The dulcimer has two rosettes made of ebony with mother of pearl inlay. Accession number 2023.2620252.006a

Item 2: Dulcimer Case, 1996

Fabric case. Accession number 2023.2620252.006b

Item 3: Dulcimer Stand, 1996

Handmade folding stand for the hammer dulcimer. Cherry legs with spruce dowels, twine connections, and felt pads at top to support the instrument. Accession number 2023.2620252.006c

Item 4: Tuning Hammer, undated

Unidentified tuning hammer with a maple handle, in leather case. Located in hammer dulcimer case. Accession number 2023.2620252.004

Item 5: Tuning Hammer, undated

Apsco tuning hammer with a maple handle, in leather case. Located in hammer dulcimer case. Accession number 2023.2620252.005

Box 1

Item 1: Wooden Hammer, undated: Walnut and Cherry. Accession number: 2023.2620252.001a
Item 2: Wooden Hammer, undated: Walnut and Cherry. Accession number: 2023.2620252.001b
Item 3: Wooden Hammer Pattern, undated: Spruce. Accession number: 2023.2620252.002
Item 4: Wooden Hammer, undated: Walnut and Maple. Accession number: 2023.2620252.003a
Item 5: Wooden Hammer, undated: Walnut and Maple. Accession number: 2023.2620252.003b
Folder 1: Hammer Dulcimer Orders and Correspondence, 1978-1985
Folder 2: Pamela Sutherland Sheet Music, 1981
Folder 3: Peppermill String Band Photographs, 1981-1983
Folder 4: Peppermill String Band News Clippings, 1982-1985
Folder 5: Peppermill String Band CDs, 1990
Folder 6: Hammer Dulcimer Photographs, undated
Folder 7: Hammer Dulcimer Rosette Pattern, undated
Folder 8: Peppermill String Band Disc, undated
Folder 9: Peppermill String Band Performances and Songs, 1989-1995