Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Collection Maintenance & Restoration Fund

The Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research is more than a collection—it is a living archive and houses a remarkable collection of rare marimbas and percussion instruments, along with music, recordings, films, and archival materials that document the careers of influential mallet percussion artists from the early to mid-twentieth century. Together, these materials form a legacy collection designed to educate, inspire, and serve artists, scholars, students, and enthusiasts for generations to come.

At the heart of this is the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research’s rare and historically significant instrument collection. These instruments are not only artifacts of musical history; they are tools for education, interpretation, and performance. They allow visitors and researchers to engage directly with the craftsmanship, sound, and legacy of the artists and eras they represent. However, preserving instruments of this age and rarity requires ongoing care, specialized maintenance, and, in many cases, expert restoration.

To ensure the long-term stewardship of this extraordinary collection, the Kutztown University Foundation and the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research seek support for the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Collection Maintenance & Restoration fund. This will provide critical resources to preserve, stabilize, and restore rare marimbas and percussion instruments in the care of the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research so they can continue to be studied, exhibited, and, when appropriate, performed.

Gifts to this fund will help support:

• Preventive maintenance and conservation to protect instruments from deterioration and extend their lifespan
• Specialized restoration work performed by qualified technicians and craftspeople familiar with historic percussion instruments
• Replacement or fabrication of period-appropriate components and materials needed to return instruments to safe and accurate condition
• Environmental and storage improvements that help safeguard the collection for long-term preservation
• Ongoing stewardship of playable and display instruments, ensuring the collection remains accessible for research, exhibitions, and educational use

The Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research is committed not only to acquiring and cataloging rare instruments, but also to maintaining them at the highest possible standard and enabling meaningful public access. Without dedicated funding for preservation, these rare instruments face the risk of gradual deterioration, limiting their educational and historical value for future generations.

By supporting the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Collection Maintenance & Restoration fund, donors will play a direct role in preserving an important part of America’s musical and cultural heritage. This investment will help protect irreplaceable instruments, deepen public understanding of the history of mallet percussion, and strengthen the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research’s ability to serve as a comprehensive resource for performers, researchers, students, and music lovers around the world.

A gift to the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Collection Maintenance & Restoration fund is a gift to preservation, to education, and to the future of the mallet percussion art form.