The Morris Museum (Morristown, New Jersey ) has acquired the Mechanical
Music Library International (MMLI), containing approximately 6000 items
-- comprised of books, journals, magazines, newsletters, bulletins,
directories, trade and auction catalogs, sound media and period prints
-- all related to the field of mechanical musical instruments and
automata.

On August 20th, 2019, the library was transferred to the Morris Museum,
home to the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical
Instruments and Automata.  This library will serve as a vital resource
for the ongoing study and research of that collection.

The MMLI was created by William H. Edgerton of Darien, Connecticut,
a longtime collector and enthusiast of mechanical music and automata.
Over the years more than 60 donors have contributed to the Library, 
with major donations from Q. David Bowers, Emery Prior, Estate of
Marvin Polan, Glen Jedlika, Elise Roenigk, Art Reblitz, Beatrice
Farmer, Joseph Gilbert, Edward Schmidt, and Edgerton himself.

It is believed to be the third largest archive of such material in
North America.  With this transfer it has been newly christened the
"Edgerton Mechanical Music Library" to acknowledge the donor.

A website at http://www.mechanicalmusiclibrary.com/  is devoted to this
collection, where the catalog is searchable.  The Library and website
will continue to be updated and managed by Edgerton, as it has been
since inception, available for research with advance notice.  The
library is not, however, accessible to the general public.  Contact or
inquiries can be made through this website.

Edgerton is a past President and Trustee of the Musical Box Society
Int'l and former proprietor of the Mechanical Music Center, in Darien,
Connecticut, at one time the largest specialized dealership in the
country.  He is a builder of a limited production run of coin-operated
piano orchestrions known as the Seeburg KT Special Replica, an author,
publisher and professional wine consultant.

Jere Ryder - Morris Museum
Morristown, New Jersey

 [ Bill Edgerton unpacking & arranging library during move in.
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/19/08/22/190822_204556_8-21-2019%20arrival.b.jpg