Melodies Across Time: The Anita Mull Music Boxes Collection

12/10/24

For more than three decades, Anita Mull devoted her career to the Miami-Dade Public Library as a Librarian, fostering a deep connection to the library system and its community. Upon her retirement in 1988, Mull chose to honor her connection to the Library by donating her personal collection of 216 music boxes to the Library’s Permanent Art Collection – a heartfelt reflection of her travels and love of music.

Miami Public Library Scrapbook.  Historical Records of the Miami-Dade Public Library System Collection

Music boxes have a fascinating history that date to the late 18th century. Originating in Switzerland, they were initially crafted as luxurious items for the wealthy, using intricate mechanisms to produce enchanting melodies. These early music boxes worked through a system of pins on a revolving cylinder or disc that plucked tuned steel combs to create sound. Over time, as techniques became more refined and accessible, music boxes grew in popularity worldwide, evolving into cherished keepsakes and gifts that held sentimental value. Their ability to combine art, craftsmanship and music made them timeless treasures.

Porcelain street organ with metal base and drums

The Anita Mull Music Boxes Collection offers a charming glimpse into this legacy, featuring pieces from across the world, including Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Colombia and Australia, dating as early as the 1850s. Mull’s collection reflects a variety of artistic traditions and cultural styles that include cylinder, disc, animated and novelty music boxes. Together, these music boxes tell stories of creativity and bring the joy of music into focus, reminding us of the simple pleasures that transcend time and place.

To preserve and share this special collection, the Library’s Digital Collections unit began the exciting project to digitize these musical artifacts. First, photographs of the boxes are taken with a high-resolution camera using a 24-70 mm lens to capture broad, landscape angles. For more intricate details, the team uses a 100 mm macro lens. Videos are recorded using the same camera to capture short clips of the functional music boxes and their unique melodies. Select pieces are then scanned with a professional handheld 3D scanner, which measures the surface and its complexities to create realistic, detailed 3D models. By providing an interactive audiovisual experience, the Mull collection ensures these beautiful pieces can be enjoyed by a wider audience and appreciated for their blend of design, musicality and nostalgia.

Among the most special items of the collection is a music box that strikingly captures the spirit of the holiday season. It features a delicately painted Swiss mountain scene on its lid, evoking the tranquil beauty of the Alps. Inside, the box plays timeless melodies using six labeled discs. With its festive tunes and classic charm, it serves as a delightful reminder of the season’s joy and warmth.

From all of us at the Miami-Dade Public Library System—and with the melodies of the Anita Mull Music Boxes Collection, now partially available through our expansive digital collections—we wish you and your loved ones a cheerful and harmonious holiday season!