Joseph Muller (April 24, 1883—May 9, 1939Levy gives his birth year as 1877.) was a musician, artist, author, researcher, collector and world traveler. Known as a specialist in American music who worked for the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress ...

, he amassed a personal collection of several thousand engravings and lithographs. Upon his death, his collection was donated to the Music Division of the New York Public Library.

Biography

Born in Germany, his desire for travel led him to become a sailor. He was a steward on private yachts (including one owned by

J. P. Morgan John Pierpont Morgan Sr. (April 17, 1837 – March 31, 1913) was an American financier and investment banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street throughout the Gilded Age. As the head of the banking firm that ultimately became known ...

) and visited many countries. Through his travels he became knowledgeable in music and a collector. In 1930 he left Morgan's employ and became a staff member of the Music Division of the New York Public Library, specializing in American music. He held that position until his death. While at the Library he formalized the Music Division's Iconography collection and became its first curator. Muller's main interest was in 19th century American music. He was known for his book ''Bibliography of Francis Scott Key's 'The Star Spangled Banner'' and for his portraits of classical musicians. He was an authority on

Stephen Foster Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826January 13, 1864), known also as "the father of American music", was an American composer known primarily for his parlour music, parlour and Minstrel show, minstrel music during the Romantic music, Romantic ...

and lent his skills to the Foster Hall archive, now known as the

Stephen Foster Collection and archive The Stephen Foster Collection and archives are the largest collection of primary source materials on the life and work of composer Stephen Foster. The collection consists of documents and other items of historical interest related to the life and ...

. An amateur artist, many of Muller's drawings of people and localities associated with Foster are now part of that collection. Muller's portrait of Stephen Foster was the basis of the U.S. postal stamp first issued in

Bardstown, Kentucky Bardstown is a home rule-class city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 11,700 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nelson County. Bardstown is named for the pioneering Bard brothers. David Bard obtained a l ...

on May 3, 1940. He sold his collection of materials related to the Star Spangled Banner (consisting of about 200 items) to the Library of Congress. At the time of his death he was living in

Closter, New Jersey Closter (Westergaard, Barbara"Closter: Bergen" ''New Jersey: A Guide to the State'', p. 78. Rutgers University Press, 2006. . Accessed July 22, 2011. "Known locally as the "hub of the Northern Valley," Closter (pronounced with a long ''o'') was ...

Publications

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References

Sources

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External links

Joseph Muller collection of music and other portraits
(fully digitized)
Joseph Muller Drawings
(collection of drawings by Joseph Muller in th
Music Division
o
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Muller, Joseph 1883 births 1939 deaths People from Closter, New Jersey American collectors New York Public Library people Immigrants to the United States