"Unusual Diligence": Theodore Presser's Commitment to Musical Education, Accessibility, and Philanthropy

The Presser Foundation, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, provides philanthropic support for music and serves a broad and diverse community of musicians, educators, and music lovers. These altruistic endeavors would not have been possible without the support and generosity of Mr. Theodore Presser, who established the Foundation in 1916.

Mr. Presser was a man of great industriousness and adaptability, excelling in musical education, business administration, and music publishing. This exhibition aims to present objects in the collection of The Presser Foundation and the Temple University Libraries Special Collections Research Center to demonstrate Theodore Presser’s “unusual diligence” in his unwavering commitment to music education and music philanthropy.