Old Town School of Folk Music Banjo Exhibition Records and Samuel Swaim Stewart Banjos, 1819-2001 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Dan Andree, Julie Calcagno, Bronwyn Schell, Liz Wittrig, Wendy Wong, Anna Yacullo, and Kezhen Zhang

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Collection Overview

Title: Old Town School of Folk Music Banjo Exhibition Records and Samuel Swaim Stewart Banjos, 1819-2001

ID: 12/9/154

Primary Creator: Old Town School of Folk Music (1957-)

Extent: 32.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized in three series: Series 1, Administrative Records, 1974-2000; Series 2, Exhibition Records, 1819-2001; and Series 3, Music Instruments, 1847-1925 and 1988-1989. Series 2 is then organized in two sub-series: Sub-series 1, Research Records, 1963-2001 and Sub-series 2, Exhibition Labels, Photographs, and Illustrations, 1819-1993. Series 3 is organized in two sub-series: Sub-series 1, Samuel Swaim Stewart Banjos, 1885-1900 and Sub-series 2, Non-Samuel Swaim Stewart Instruments, 1847-1920 and 1988-1989. Series 1 is arranged chronologically, Series 2.1 is arranged by file time and then chronologically, Series 2.2 is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically, Series 3.1 is arranged sequentially by serial number, and Series 3.2 is unarranged.

Date Acquired: 01/20/2017

Subjects: Banjo, Folk music, Musical Instrument Collections, Musical Instrument Makers - United States, Music instruments -- Africa, West, Old Town School of Folk Music, Stewart, Samuel Swaim

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of research files, correspondence, photographs, exhibition labels and illustrations, banjo magazines, newsletters, instruction books, music catalogues and 33 music instruments including the Heinja collection of 24 Samuel Swaim Stewart banjos that document the acquisition and exhibition of the Samuel Swaim Stewart banjos and the development of the Old Town School of Folk Music's exhibit "The Making of the 5-String Banjo: From Hollow Gourds to Silvered Rims" that was displayed at the Old Town School of Folk Music between 1989 and 1990, and again from 1991 to 1993.

Biographical Note

The Old Town School of Folk Music was given a collection of thirty historical banjos during the 1970s by Dr. Henja, an orthopedic surgeon at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian Hospital. According to Paul Tyler, who curated the Old Town School of Folk Music's banjo exhibit, the Henja banjo collection began as a "magnificent collection of Samuel Swain Stewart banjos that were brought together over many years by Robert Johnson of Rossville, Georgia." The banjos were later purchased by Dr. Henja in June 1969 from the Hathaway and Bowers auction house. This collection originally consisted of twenty-six Stewart banjos that were manufactured in Philadelphia during the late nineteenth century. In addition to these instruments, Dr. Henja also included four other historic banjos that were made by other American banjo makers.

The Henja banjo collection was originally displayed for nearly twenty years in the foyer of the Old Town School of Folk Music that was located on Chicago's Armitage Avenue. The instruments, according to Paul Tyler, "were afforded no particular conservation or security other than the trust and good manners" of the school's many students and teachers. In 1987 the Armitage Avenue building was renovated and the banjos were sent to Evanston, Illinois' Guitar Works to be restored by Terry Straker. When this restoration work was completed in 1988 a new exhibition space was created on the second floor of the building, and Paul Tyler was hired to be the school's Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. His primary responsibility was the creation of a special exhibit that documented the origin and development of the banjo in America using the Henja collection.

In 1989 the school's new exhibition of the Stewart banjos, modelled after Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 1984 exhibit, "Ring the Banjar," opened as "The Making of the 5-String Banjo: From Hollowed Gourds to Silvered Rims." The Old Town School's exhibit according to Tyler, "highlighted the continuities between a popular musical instrument that was mass-produced in American factories" and the banjo's early origins as "folk lutes carved and assembled by various West African peoples" who were brought to America through the Atlantic slave trade. The exhibit was revised and reinstalled in 1991 after the School's exhibition, "Weaving and Identity: Folk Are from Guatemala," was closed. The revised banjo exhibit remained open until 1993 when the Old Town School closed its exhibition gallery to make more room for their growing number of folk music classes.

Subject/Index Terms

Banjo
Folk music
Musical Instrument Collections
Musical Instrument Makers - United States
Music instruments -- Africa, West
Old Town School of Folk Music
Stewart, Samuel Swaim

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Old Town School of Folk Music

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1974-2000],
[Series 2: Exhibition Records, 1819-2001],
[Series 3: Music Instruments, 1847-1925 and 1988-1989],
[All]

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1974-2000

Consists of correspondence and notes documenting the acquisition of the Henja banjo collection and the planning and development of the exhibition "The Making of the 5-String Banjo: From Hollow Gourds to Silvered Rims."

Box 1

Folder 1: The Henja Banjo Collection Original Inventory, ca. 1974: Consists of detailed descriptions of the twenty-eight Stewart banjos and two non-Stewart banjos.
Folder 2: Dr. William F. Hejna Donation Correspondence and Deed of Gift, 1974-1980
Folder 3: Exhibit Script for Museum Steering Committee, 1988-1989
Folder 4: Restoration Documentation from the Guitar Works Company, 1988-1990
Folder 5: Paul Tyler Curatorship Notes and Correspondence, 1988-2000
Folder 6: Banjo Exhibit Correspondence and Marketing, 1989
Folder 7: Correspondence for Artifact Reproduction Rights, 1989-1990

Series 2: Exhibition Records, 1819-2001

Consists of research files and exhibition labels, photographs, and illustrations documenting the development of the Old Town School of Folk Music's 1989-1993 exhibition "The Making of the 5-String Banjo: From Hollow Gourds to Silvered Rims." The records are organized in two subseries: Sub-Series 1: Research Records, 1963-2001, Sub-Series 2: Exhibition Labels, Photographs, and Illustrations, 1819-1993.

Sub-Series 1: Research Records, 1963-2001

Consists of instrument catalogues, magazines, newsletters, and photocopies of journal and newspaper articles documenting Paul Tyler's research for the exhibition. The records are arranged by file type and then chronologically.

Box 1

Folder 8: Research Records: Banjo and Player History Research, 1963-2000
Folder 9: Research Records: African American Music Tradition Research, 1964-2001
Folder 10: Research Records: Instrument Construction Research, 1965-1972
Folder 11: Research Records: Abdou Mangara Research, 1989-1990
Folder 12: Research Records: Bill Morris' American Banjo Fraternity Research, 1989
Folder 13: Instruction Book: Frank Converse's Banjo Instructor, Without A Master, 1865
Folder 14: Instruction Book: George C. Dobson's Simplifed Method for Banjo, ca. 1879
Folder 15: Instruction Book: 1855 Brigg's Banjo Instructor, Reprinted 1992

Box 2

Folder 1: American Musical Digest vol. 1, no. 6, ca. 1970
Folder 2: Mugwumps vol. 2, no. 3, 1973
Folder 3: Mugwumps vol. 2, no. 4, 1973
Folder 4: Mugwumps vol. 2, no. 5, 1973
Folder 5: Mugwumps vol. 2, no. 6, 1973
Folder 6: Pickin' Magazine, 1978
Folder 7: Banjo Newsletter vol. IV, no. 6, 1977
Folder 8: Banjo Newsletter vol. XIV, no. 6, 1987
Folder 9: Banjo Newsletter vol. XV, no. 1, 1987
Folder 10: Banjo Newsletter vol. XV, no. 10, 1988
Folder 11: Washburn Guitars, Mandolins, and Zithers Catalogue, 2 Copies, 1889
Folder 12: Lyon & Healy's Catalogue of Mandolins and Guitars and Banjos, 1917
Folder 13: Epiphone Recording Banjos Catalogue, 1923
Folder 14: Hathaway and Bowers, Inc. Catalogue No. 9, 1969
Folder 15: Washbum Instrument Catalogue, Undated
Folder 16: The Bacon Professional Banjo Catalogue, Undated
Folder 17: "Banjo Dancing" Concert Program by Stephen Wade, 1981
Folder 18: Rosenbaum & Co. Advertisement, Undated
Folder 19: Banjo Comics, 1989

Box 3

Folder 1: Piano Music by Louis Moreau Gottschalk, featuring "The Banjo", 1956
Folder 2: Constructing a 5-String Banjo: A Complete Technical Guide by Roger H. Siminoff, 1985

Box 4

Folder 1: Banjo Construction Diagram by Annette Sutherland, 1975
Folder 2: "The Artistry of Fingerboards," Pickin' Magazine, 1975

Sub-Series 2: Exhibition Labels, Photographs, and Illustrations, 1819-1993

Consists of exhibition labels, photographs, slides, negatives, and illustrations that were used for the exhibition. The exhibition labels are listed first and then are followed by the photographs and illustrations which are arranged chronologically in each box.

Box 2

Folder 20: Banjo Exhibition Labels, 1989-1993
Folder 21: Traditional African Music Instruments, 1839
Folder 22: Banjo Shell Photograph, 1880
Folder 23: Harry Kingery Slides, 1989
Folder 24: Harry Kingery Photograph, 1989
Folder 25: Harry Kingery Cutting Inlay Photograph, 1989
Folder 26: Terry Straker Photograph, 1989
Folder 27: Banjo Exhibition Transfer Negatives, 1989-1990: S. S. Stewart factory, Terry Straker doing inlay work, and paintings and drawings.
Folder 28: Banjo Pegboard Photograph, Undated
Folder 29: 5-String Banjo Neck Photograph, Undated
Folder 30: Stephen Wade Photograph, Undated

Box 3

Folder 3: African Instrument Sketches, 1819
Folder 4: Oil Painting of The Banjo Player, 1859
Folder 5: The Artistry of Pegheads Excerpted from a Poster Pickin' Magazine, 1974
Folder 6: Banjo Construction Plans, 1984
Folder 7: Photographs and Negatives of and for The Exhibit "The Making of The 5-String Banjo", 1989-1991
Folder 8: "Dancing Home" Poster, undated
Folder 9: Minstrel Show Illustration, Undated
Folder 10: Banjo Materials Illustration, Undated

Box 4

Folder 3: Union Warship Banjo Player Photographs, ca. 1864
Folder 4: Banjo Rim Photograph, ca. 1880
Folder 5: Harry Kingery and Banjo Neck Photograph, 1989
Folder 6: Banjo Finishing Department Photographs, Undated
Folder 7: Five-String Banjo and Three-String Gourd Banjo Photographs, Undated

Series 3: Music Instruments, 1847-1925 and 1988-1989

Consists of the collection of Samuel Swain Stewart banjos and non-Stewart musical instruments that were used for the Old Town School's banjo exhibition. The instruments illustrate a variety of construction and inlay techniques used by S. S. Stewart and other music instrument builders between 1847 and 1925, and 1988-1989. Of particular note is the 1847 minstrel banjo and Vaughan Webb's 1989 recreation of an West African gourd banjo. Series 3 is organized in two subseries: sub-Series 1: Samuel Swain Stewart Banjos, 1885-1900, and sub-Series 2: Non-Samuel Swain Stewart Instruments 1847-1920 and 1988-1989.

Sub-Series 1: Samuel Swaim Stewart Banjos

Consists of Samuel Swaim Stewart Banjos arranged by serial number.

Item 1: American Princess, ca. 1885-1888 [1885]

Serial #3038, 10" head, 24 1/2" scale, 20 frets, 24 brackets

S.S. Stewart and Philadelphia are stamped on the brace. Maple neck with an ebony tailpiece. Original fifth peg and ivory nut. No-knot original tailpiece with pearl position marker dots by all frets. The pearl position marker dots by all frets are on the side of the neck and the fingerboard has larger dots, half-moon stars and additional pieces. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.011

Item 2: Experimental Stewart, ca. 1885-1888 [1887]

Serial #3130, 13" head, 29 3/4" scale, 18 frets, 30 brackets

Cello-sized instrument, very large head and scale. Solid rosewood neck, fingerboard and shell. The peghead is ornamented by an ornately chasied German silver plate. Under the fingerboard are six layers of colored veneer and has pearl inlays. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.020

Item 3: Thoroughbred, ca. 1888-1889 [1886]

Serial #4186, 11 1/2" head, 27 1/4" scale, 20 frets, 28 brackets

Original metal plate on the brace with the name Thoroughbred, S.S. Stewart. Additional woodstamps, a trademark, S.S.S., and the S.S. Stewart stamp. The neck has multiple laminations with an ebony fingerboard which is inlaid with dots, stars and half-moons. The pegboard is generously inlaid with stars, diamonds, and other shapes. Rosewood shell and maple neck. The heel is delicately carved and there is an inlaid heelplate. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.024

Item 4: Universal Favorite Custom, ca. 1890-1894 [1890]

Serial #6183, 11" head, 27" scale, 20 frets, 24 brackets

Nameplate on the brace is Universal Favorite with a stamp on the inside of the shell, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The fingerboard is extensively and beautifully inlaid with pearl, silver wire, brass and copper. It has a cherry neck and simple heel of ebony plate. The ivory tailpiece is original and the remainder of the instrument is all original with the exception of the tuning pegs. This instrument has a maple shell with original seal intact. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.012

Item 5: Orchestra, ca. 1890-1894 [1890]

Serial #7388, 11 1/2" head, 27 1/2" scale, 19 frets, 30 brackets

S.S. Stewart nameplate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wood imprint trademark, S.S.S. Second imprint S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The head is leather and there is a rosewood neck with ebony fingerboard inlaid with dots, half-moons and stars and additional pieces. This banjo has a rosewood shell with a "no-knot" tailpiece plus an original ivory tailpiece which is attached. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.008

Item 6: Piccolo Banjeaurine, ca. 1890-1894? [1899]

Serial #8992, 12 1/2" head, 19" scale, 20 frets, 32 brackets

Nameplate, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with trademark woodstamp S.S.S. and additional woodstamp on the brace, S.S. Stewart. Metallic bracket brace is stamped, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, patented 1887. The fingerboard and pegboard are attractively inlaid. The tailpiece is original and the shell is rosewood. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.022

Item 7: American Princess, ca. 1890-1894 [1890]

Serial #9531, 10" head, 24 3/4" scale, 24 brackets

Original nameplate with wood-stamped trademark, S.S.S., and S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia. The neckpiece is of maple with an ebony fingerboard. There is a red wood marquetry on the fingerboard close to the head. Shell is a rosewood with an "elite" tailpiece. The banjo is all original except the fifth string peg. The original leather head has a split. The four large tuning pegs are of an unusual square style. Condition: Poor. Accession no: 2017.1209154.006

Item 8: Universal Favorite Presentation Model, ca. 1890-1894 [1892]

Serial #10336, 11" head, 27" scale, no frets, 24 brackets

Original nameplate, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with woodstamps with the trademark, S.S.S. and additional side stamp on the head bracket, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The original nameplate is on the inside of the shell with the name Universal Favorite imprinted. Customized initials LG on the peghead. Entirely oriignal except for four tuning keys of the old S.S.S. type, but not originally with this banjo. Birds-eye maple shell with cherry neck and carved heel and solild ebony heel plate. Elaborately inlaid on both neck and tail-piece. On the players side of the neck are pearl position maker dots at normal fret locations. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.009

Item 9: Special Thoroughbred, ca. 1890-1894 [1892]

Serial #10622, 11" head, 27" scale, 20 brackets

Original nameplate S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Trademark woodstamp, S.S.S. and lateral woodmark S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia on the side of the shell brace. This banjo is maple-necked with an ornately carved heel, multiple laminations on the fingerboard with inlays on the fingerboard with include squares, stars, Maltese Cross, multiple diamond shapes. The shell is of rosewood. There are ball lugs with a neck adjuster. The brackets and the stretcher band are all re-nickeled. There is a pressure tailpiece with a bone nut, and fifth string screw and cardboard shims have been installed. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.003

Item 10: Universal Favorite, ca. 1890-1894 [1893]

Serial #12496, 11" head, 27" scale, 20 frets, 30 brackets

Original nameplate, S.S. Stewart, Philadelhpia, Pennsylvania with trademark woodstamp and an additional woodstamp, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the head bracket. Neck is cherry and has woodcarving on the heel with a pearl inlaid heel plate. Ornate fingerboard, bearing numerous pearl inlays.There is a rosewood shell with wood inlay design on the interior of the shell. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.010

Item 11: Orchestra, ca. 1890-1894 [1890]

Serial #12546, 13" head, 24 1/4" scale, 18 frets, 30 brackets

Nameplate, Orchestra S.S. Stewart, additional woodstamps trademark, S.S.S. and S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia on the shell brace. Multiple veneers on the fingerboard, pearl inlays extending out to the pegboard. There are position dots of pearl at each fret. The tailpiece is of the "elite" type, with wedge-type pressure bracket on the head brace. There is a bird's eye maple shell with an ornately carved heel, the neck being of maple. Instrument is original with the exception of the fifth string peg. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.021

Item 12: Special Thoroughbred, ca. 1890-1894 [1890]

Serial #13014, 11 1/2" head, 27" scale, 19 frets, 28 brackets

Nameplate on the head bracket, Thoroughbred, S.S. Stewart, with woodtamp S.S.S., Philadelphia. Fingerboard has multiple laminations and the surface is rosewood. Heel plate has pearl inlay of star and half-moons. There is an "elite" tailpiece, and an ornate pearl inlay on the pegboard. Snakewood shell with a neck of maple and a carving on the heel. The pegs have been replaced and the neckpost wedge bracket has been re-nickeled. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.014

Item 13: Universal Favorite, ca. 1890-1894 [1890]

Serial #13047, 11" head, 27" scale, 30 brackets

Stewart mark is stamped. There is a simple star inlay in the pegboard. Dots and diamond-shaped inlays are used as markers for the fingerboard. The shell and neck are of maple, with a wedge-type support fo the brace. The fingerboard and fifth peg have been replaced. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.019

Item 14: Champion, ca. 1890-1894 [1893]

Serial #13051, 11 1/2" head, 27 1/4" scale, 20 frets, 24 brackets

Namplate Champion, S.S. Stewart, woodstamp trademark, S.S.S. with a second woodstamp, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, both on the brace. Fingerboard inlays are diamond and star type with half-moon and stars on the pegboard. The neck is maple with a simple ebony heel plate. The original ivory tailpiece is attached. There is a wedge-type pressure bracket. There is a rosewood shell which has light heel carving of a delicate type. The fifth string peg has been replaced. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.013

Item 15: Presentation Banjeurine, ca. 1894

Serial #14789, 10" head, 21" scale, 26 brackets, 22 frets with the fingerboard which overlays the head 1 1/2"

Plate on the brace reads Banjeaurine, S.S. Stewart with additional woodstamps S.S.S. trademark and S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the side of the brace. There is engraved pearl inlay in the plate of the heel and carving, and an inlaid fingerboard and pegboard. Carvings on the underside of the peghead. The shell is engraved with the inside of the shell ornamented with elaborate marquetry. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.023

Item 16: Orchestra, ca. 1895-1898 [1895]

Serial #15206, 12" head, 27 3/4" scale, 19 frets, 30 brackets

There is a metal brace adjuster and a maple neckpost with multiple laminations on the fingerboard, exquisitely carved heel with a snakewood shell and an "elite" tailpiece. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.005

Item 17: Special Thoroughbred, ca. 1895-1898 [1896]

Serial #17600, 11" head, 27" scale, 22 frets, 28 brackets

Nameplate, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with wood stamp trademark, S.S.S. and additional stamp, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania both on the brace. There are laminations on the neck. There is an "elite" tailpiece. It has a beautifully carved heel, a bird's eye maple shell with standard light finish. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.001

Item 18: American Princess, ca. 1895-1898 [1898]

Serial #19081, 10" head, 24 1/4" scale, 20 frets, 20 brackets

Nameplate S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wood trademark stamp, S.S.S. Original nameplate "American Princess" is attached to the inside of the shell. There is a five-piece star in the pegboard. Shell is rosewood with a metal neck adjuster and crown-type tailpiece. All original with the exception of the fifth string peg. One small piece of ebony measuring one centimeter by 0.5 centimeters is missing at the bottom of the fingerboard. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.015

Item 19: Banjeaurine, ca. 1899

Serial #50061, 11" head, 20" scale, 24 brackets

Nameplate, Banjeaurine, S.S. Stewart with wood imprint, S.S.S. circa 1897. The neck and pegboard are maple with ebony fingerboard and diamond-shaped inlays for fingerboard markings. It has a metal brace neck adjuster. This banjo has a maple shell anda light heel carving which is delicate in type. This instrument is all original including the metal tailpiece. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.007

Item 20: Acme Professional, ca. 1899

Serial #50327, 11" head, 27" scale, 21 frets, 30 brackets.

There is a woodstamp, Acme Professional, Sears Roebuck and Co., Chicago, IL stamp on the brace. In 1893 S.S. Stewart contracted with Sears to produce Acme banjos. (http://www.mugwumps.com/sss_date.html, June 29, 2017). In the peghead, copper and silver wire have been used to enhance the floral design. The neck is maple with an ebony fingerboard and rosewood shell. There is a Grover-type tailpiece. The instrument has a maple shell, a metal neck adjuster, and a carved heel. Pegs are original, with the exception of the fifth peg. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.017

Item 21: Special Thoroughbred, ca. 1899

Serial #50645 11" head, 27" scale, 22 frets, 28 brackets

Nameplate on the head brace, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Special Thoroughbred nameplate on the inside of the shell. Additional identification, S.S.S. trademark stamped in the wood of the brace. The peghead has inlays of delicate silver and copper wire worked into the pearly inlay. It has a carved heel. The shell is of bird's eye maple with the original paper seal. There is an "elite" tailpiece and a maple neck which has multiple laminations. There is a metallic headbrace and a laminated heel as well as a pressure brace on the bracket of the wedge type. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.002

Item 22: Banjeaurine, ca. 1899 [1900]

Serial #57049, 10" head, 21" scale, 22 frets, 24 brackets

Nameplate, Banjeaurine, S.S. Stewart; woodstamps, S.S.S. trademark and a second woodmark, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia. There is a rosewood shell with a metal neck adjuster and an "elite" tailpiece. The banjo is all original with the exception of the fifth string peg and evidence of early repair for a split in the heel. The heel is maple, and lightly carved. There is copper and silver wire inlay in addition to the pearl design on the peghead. Accession no: 2017.1209154.016

Item 23: Universal Favorite, ca. 1899 [1900]

Serial #70610, 11" head, 27" scale, 22 frets, 22 brackets.

Nameplate S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The pegboard inlay is very ornate. The fingerboard is plain and rosewood, the rest of the neck is maple. All parts are original with the exception of the fifth string peg. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.018

Item 24: Universal Favorite, ca. 1899 [1900]

Serial #71402, 11 1/2" head, 27" scale, 22 frets, 20 brackets.

Two nameplates, one on the brace, S.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and one on the shell, with the name Universal Favorite. It has simple design with pegboard inlay and fingerboard inlays which are a combination of stars and diamonds. It has a maple shell and a neck adjuster. There is a "crown" type tailpiece with a rosewood fingerboard and a maple neck. The fifth string peg is a replacement. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.004

Sub-Series 2: Non-Samuel Swaim Stewart Instruments

Item 25: Joseph Bowman, Undated

No serial, 11" head, 17 1/4" scale, 18 frets, 26 brackets

Cherry body and neck. Flame finished resonator. Nickel plated steel brackets and rim. Walnut fretboard with pearl dot inlays. Ivory keys. Condition: Poor. Accession no: 2017.1209154.025

Item 26: Minstel Banjo, 1847

No serial, 11 1/2" head, 19 1/2" scale, no frets, 7 brackets

Oak shell with a lap joint, neck and peghead, painted steel brackets, skin head. Original key positions have been changed and reset. Condition: Poor. Accession no: 2017.1209154.026

Item 27: UAC Tenor Banjo, Undated

No serial, 11" head, 13 1/2" scale, 17 frets, 24 brackets

Cherry body and neck, ivory keys, nickel plated steel brackets and rim. Walnut fretboard with pearl dot inlays, flame finished resonator. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.027

Item 28: Majestic 6-String Banjo, ca. 1920

No serial, 14" head, 16 3/4" scale, 18 frets, 22 brackets

Maple and ebony neck, synthetic mahogany head, maple and mahogany body. Mahogany pegboard with ornate and named pearl inlay. Steel tuning keys and ivory pegs. Maple bridge, ebony fingerboard with pearl inlay. Nickel plated steel brackets. Chrome-plated resonator, plastic shims between neck and shell. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.028

Item 29: Vaughan Webb African Gourd Banjo (historic recreation), ca. 1989

No serial, 5" head, 20" scale

Gourd body, skin head with nickel plated steel tacks. Neck is mostly likely Afrormosia. Pegs of Honduran mahogany and maple. Condition: Good. Accession no: 2017.1209154.029

Box 5

Item 30: Three-stringed Sanxian, Undated

3 3/4" head, 16 1/2" scale

Iroko neck and pegs, boar skin head. Satinwood body, steel strings. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017.1209154.030

Item 31: Four-string Nagoni, Undated

15" x 4" head, 13 1/2" scale

Cylindrical neck, no frets or pegs. Leather tuning strips. Avodireu neck and body. Condition: Poor. Accession no: 2017.1209154.031

Item 32: Tortoise Shell Gunibri, ca. 1988

8" x 5 1/2" head, 12" scale

Whole tortoise shell body, skin head, and painted Antilaris neck and pegs. US postal stamp on the end of the neck dated 1988. Condition: Poor. Accession no: 2017.1209154.032

Item 33: Slingerland Maybell Banjo Ukulele, ca. 1925

8 1/2" head,14 1/8" scale, 15 frets, 16 brackets

Body back and neck are cherry with walnut strip inlay at back of the neck. Ebony fingerboard with pearl inlay, cherry and ebony pegboard. Nickel plated steel rim, steel keys, ivory pegs. Hide head, maple bridge. Condition: Fair. Accession no: 2017. 1209154.033

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1974-2000],
[Series 2: Exhibition Records, 1819-2001],
[Series 3: Music Instruments, 1847-1925 and 1988-1989],
[All]