Drexel Collection

[4] Albrecht emigrated to the United States in 1848 where he was one of the organizers of the Germania Musical Society, a touring orchestra in which he was the second clarinetist.

[4] That year, Albrecht decided to join the Icarians in Nauvoo, Illinois, which required that members donate all their belongings.

Quoting from an unidentified article in the Newport Daily News, he added: "It is a well known fact that libraries of this kind are very rare" and that Albrecht's was "one of the most complete in America.

On November 17, 1876, the New York Herald Tribune announced that Drexel had purchased a manuscript missal of the fifteenth century written on vellum for $177.50.

[9] Rimbault's valuable collection was well-known, and it was with dismay that The Musical Times reported: "all [the English unica] should have been purchased for the British Museum: now unfortunately it is too late, as a large proportion are on their way to New York.

[2] Though Drexel was an active concert and opera attendee in the years of his retirement, very few contemporary musical works are present in his collection.

"[12]"The collection of musical works in his library is considered one of the finest in the United States..." reported the New York Herald in its obituary of Drexel.

[2] Although it has moved several times since its inception, the Music Division continues to house the Drexel Collection under special conditions for reasons of preservation.