The Gottfried Fraenkel Collection at Illinois

Abstract

Gottfried Samuel Fraenkel (1901–1984) was a famous entomologist, not a music scholar, nor a professional musician. Nevertheless, he was a knowledgeable collector and sometimes a shrewd dealer. The University of Illinois Library acquired Gottfried S. Fraenkel’s collection thirty years ago. In 2014, the collection was finally fully cataloged and made available for scholars. It comprises over 1,300 works of first and early editions by standard Western European composers from baroque, classical, and romantic eras. His collection is a result of someone who genuinely loved collecting, delighted in finding musical treasure, and appreciated music. This article is a tribute to Fraenkel, the music collector, and his story is one worth telling.