Finding Aid for Elbern H."Eddie" Alkire Personal Papers and Music Instrument Collection, 1926-1997 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

[Printer Friendly] | [Contact us about this collection]

Collection Overview

Title: Elbern H."Eddie" Alkire Personal Papers and Music Instrument Collection, 1926-1997

ID: 12/9/101

Primary Creator: Alkire, Elbern H. (1907-1981)

Extent: 71.5 cubic feet

Subjects: Music - United States

Formats/Genres: Papers, Photographs, Sheet music, Sound Recordings

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of original and published music, business records, correspondence, instructional guides and music examinations, programs, sound recordings, photographs, electrical and mechanical diagrams for several prototype Hawaiian guitars, music instrument catalogs, four original prototype Hawaiian guitars including the first 15-string acoustic guitar, Cruiser, Mini Surfer, and the experimental "Superaxe" guitar with 20 strings, 3 Epiphone Eharp 10-string electric guitars, and Alkire's original acoustic Hawaiian guitar that was used for 1000 radio broadcasts as director and lead guitarist of the Oahu Serenaders during the early 1930s. In addition the collection includes an original Rickenbacher Electro "Frying Pan" guitar. The papers and instruments document Eddie Alkire's career as a musician, music teacher, businessman and inventor. The collection also documents the evolution of Hawaiian guitar performance in America during its height of popularity between 1929 and 1960.

Biographical Note

Elbern H. "Eddie" Alkire (1907-1981) was America's most recognized performer, teacher, and innovator of the twentieth-century Hawaiian guitar. Born and raised in rural West Virginia Alkire utilized his skills as a guitarist and musician to become a teacher and composer for Oahu Music Company in October 1929 after having traveled to Pittsburgh to study electrical machines as an employee for a West Virginia coal company. He became music director for the Oahu Serenaders which performed on over 1000 coast-to-coast broadcasts for NBC and CBS that aired from Cleveland, Ohio during the first years of network radio. In 1934 Alkire started his own company in Easton, Pennsylvania to publish music and teach the guitar. He utilized his knowledge of electricity to create the first 10-string electric Hawaiian guitar and his music background to create new tunings that enabled him to play four-part harmonies and rapid melodic passages that became the hallmark of his new style of performance.

Subject/Index Terms

Music - United States

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: February 25, 2006

Access Restrictions: None.

Other Note: Pages

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Instruments and inventions],
[Series 2: Publications, compositions and teaching methods],
[Series 3: Business materials],
[Series 4: Professional materials],
[Series 5: Personal materials],
[Series 6: Recordings],
[Series 7: Photographs],
[All]

Series 1: Instruments and inventions

Music instruments and materials documenting Elbern H. Alkire's efforts at designing and inventing instruments and instrument accessories. Included are two Alkire Eharps, a Rickenbacker "frying pan," and experimental guitars. Also noteworthy is the Acoustic guitar, named "Sol" on which Alkire performed numerous radio broadcasts.

Sub-Series 1: Music instruments and accessories

Box 1: Hawaiian Guitar, nicknamed "Sol"

The guitar used by Elbern H. Alkire while a member of the Oahu Serenaders. Used for more than 1000 radio broadcasts.

Accession number: 2006.1209101.05

Box 2: Oahu Jumbo 68B Hawaiian Guitar

Hawaiian guitar belonging to Mrs. Alkire

Accession number: 2006.1209101.01

Box 3: Epiphone Eharp - Lap guitar

Accession number: 2006.1209101.04

Box 4: Epiphone Eharp - Table guitar

Accession number: 2006.1209101.06

Box 5: Experimental guitar "Superaxe"

Accession number: 2006.1209101.03

Box 6: Experimental guitar "Mini-surfer"

Accession number: 2006.1209101.07

Box 7: Rickenbacker Electro A-22 "Frying Pan" steel guitar, ca. 1932

Accession number: 2006.1209101.02

Box 8

Item 1: Alkire and Oahu steels
Item 2: Alkire Eharp strings

Box 138: Alkire Guitar Pedal

Box 139: Alkire Guitar Pedal and Cord

Sub-Series 2: Instrument documentation and tuning

Box 9

Folder 1: Patent - Eharp, 1950
Folder 2: Patent - Pedal control for rheostats, 1950
Folder 3: Patent - Eharp design, 1950
Folder 4: Patent - Pedal design, 1950
Folder 5: Patent application - Electro Frying Pan
Folder 6: Trademark - Eharp (publications), 1949
Folder 7: Trademark - Eharp (instrument), 1949
Folder 8: Trademark - Technichord, 1949
Folder 9: Electrical diagrams - "Mighty Mo", ca. 1957-70
Folder 10: Electrical diagrams - "Mighty Mo", ca. 1957-70
Folder 11: Electrical diagrams - "Mighty Mo", 1957
Folder 12: Electrical diagrams - "Mighty Mo", 1957
Folder 13: Electrical diagrams - "Superaxe", ca. 1972
Folder 14: Electrical diagrams - "Superaxe", ca. 1972
Folder 15: Electrical diagrams - "Superaxe", ca. 1972
Folder 16: Electrical diagrams - "Superaxe", ca. 1972
Folder 17: Electrical diagrams - "Superaxe", ca. 1972
Folder 18: Electrical diagrams - "Superaxe", ca. 1972
Folder 19: Electrical diagrams - "Superaxe", ca. 1972
Folder 20: Electrical diagrams - "Cruiser", 1973
Folder 21: Electrical diagrams - "Cruiser", 1973
Folder 22: Electrical diagrams - "Cruiser", 1973
Folder 23: Electrical diagrams - "Cruiser", 1973
Folder 24: "Cruiser" plans and wire formulas, ca. 1973
Folder 25: "Cruiser" charts, ca. 1973
Folder 26: Electrical diagrams - "Mini-surfer", 1975
Folder 27: Electrical diagrams - "The Islander", 1975
Folder 28: Electrical diagrams - "The Islander", 1975
Folder 29: Eharp pedal (Eharpedal) design sketches, 1971
Folder 30: Epiphone Eharp Design Sketches, ca. 1948
Folder 31: "New Eharp data"

Box 10

Folder 1: New Eharp, 1954
Folder 2: Blueprints - Fauerbach
Folder 3: Wiring diagrams, 1970-72: "Wiring diagrams for pre-amp modification for use with Alkire experimental guitars, 1960-72"--Control file
Folder 4: Tuning diagrams, 1965
Folder 5: Eharp tuning instruction and sales
Folder 6: Eharp tuning and temperament
Folder 7: Notes and diagrams of guitar tuning systems, 1970-80

Box 133

Folder 1: Alkire Volume Control Pedal - pedal casting, 1949
Folder 2: Tuning schemes, sliding tuning diagrams
Folder 3: Mini-surfer tuning diagrams (13-string)

MapCabinet 3

MapDrawer 1

Folder 13: Schematic diagrams and blueprints; Tuning diagrams