Virginia Dadswell Sturm Collection on the Glass Harmonica

The glass harmonica (also referred to as armonica or harmonika) was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761. After hearing a musician playing water-filled wine glasses at a concert in England, Franklin was moved to design his own instrument comprised of musical glasses. He attached perfectly tuned glass bowls on a horizontal spindle, which turned by means of a foot pedal. The tones, which resemble those made by the violin or flute, were produced by touching the rims of the bowls with water moistened fingers. Franklin’s new instrument attracted the attention of composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Strauss, and Ludwig van Beethoven. These composers were inspired to compose works featuring the glass harmonica.

Virginia Dadswell Sturm (1893-1977) was a music editor, critic, writer, researcher, lecturer, and performer. She devoted years of research to the glass harmonica, ranging from the invention of the instrument to related musical compositions and associated musicians. She acquired an original glass harmonica from Bernhard Fritsch, an accomplished violin-maker, and frequently performed with it while on her recital and lecture circuit.

During the 1930s, Sturm was the music and art editor and critic for the Dayton Daily News, as well as the editor of materials for the Dayton-Oakwood Press. Vibrantly involved in various associations, she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Ohio Newspaper Women, and notable music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota. Sturm was a member of the National League of American Pen Women, and served as the vice president of the Dayton branch. She held office as president of Dayton Women’s Press Club, and was a field representative for the Civic Music Association.

The glass harmonica owned by Virginia Sturm was acquired by the Corning Museum of Glass in 1979.