For more reading on women in the musical instrument industry, please peruse the resources listed below. We know the list is incomplete, so please let us know if you have any suggested sources!
Books:
Dudley, Kathryn Marie. Guitar Makers: The Endurance of Artisanal Values in North America. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2014.
Sewell, Amanda. Wendy Carlos: A Biography. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020.
Thomas, John. Kalamazoo Gals: A Story of Extraordinary Women & Gibson’s “Banner” Guitars of WWII. Franklin, TN: American History Press, 2012.
Whitney, Quincy. American Luthier: Carleen Hutchins, The Art and Science of the Violin. University Press of New England, 2016.
Journal Articles and Academic Papers:
Alcorn, Allison A. “Carleen Maley Hutchins: Reconsidering the Legacy of a Luthier and Acoustician.” Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society 46 (2020): 178–223.
Deters, Sarah. “Instruments of War: The Impact of World War II on the American Musical Instrument Industry.” Master’s Thesis. University of South Dakota, 2010.
Nex, Jenny. “Women in the Musical Instrument Trade in London, 1750-1810.” In Instrumental Music and the Industrial Revolution: International Conference Proceedings, Cremona, 1-3 July 2006, edited by Roberto Illiano and Luca Sala. Bologna: Ut Orpheus Edizioni, 2009.
Leitao Venceslau, Maria da Gloria. “The Production of Stringed Instruments and Strings in Tuscany: Insights into the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries.” Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society 45 (2019): 121–43.
Web Articles and News (newest to oldest):
Ruiz, Marisa, and Sara Guasteví. “Women Luthiers, A Brief History.” Museu de la Música (blog), March 10, 2021.
Hebbert, Benjamin. “Some British Women in the Violin-Making World, 1550-1750.” Violins and Violinists (blog), March 8, 2021.
Bradbury, Adam. “Women in Lutherie: How Female Builders Are Rewriting the Rulebook and Pioneering New Guitar Design.” Guitarist Magazine, July 27, 2020.
Long-Higgins, Hannah. “How Making a Violin Brought These Two Together.” BBC News, April 27, 2020.
Fein, Andy, Mikaela Marget, and Ivana Truong. “Women at the Workbench.” Fein Violins (blog), March 18, 2020.
Minch, Mamie. “Scene Report: 50 Women Builders and Repairers in the Guitar Industry.” She Shreds Media (blog), March 12, 2020.
Wosnitzka, Susanne. “Music HERstory: Nannette Streicher (1769-1833).” DONNE365 (blog), January 16, 2020.
Schemmer, Cynthia. “Women-Owned Businesses in the Guitar Industry to Support This Holiday Shopping Season.” She Shreds Media (blog), November 27, 2019.
“Liz Aponte: Drum-Maker, Drummer, Teacher.” Tom Tom Magazine, May 2019.
Clancy, Sean. “Making Music: Transplant from Washington State Builds Old-Time Guitars in Northwest Arkansas.” Arkansas Online, April 28, 2019.
“Is Sexism Endemic in the World of Lutherie?” The Strad, October 23, 2018.
Lily, Auburn. “Handmade Native American Elk Skin Drums by Yolanda Spirit Drums.” Earth Magick (blog), May 4, 2018.
Dimoff, Anna. “Nicole Alosinac Breathes New Life into Old String Instruments.” CBC, April 1, 2018.
Thiagarajan, Kamala. “Making this Instrument is ‘Like Giving Birth.’” A Beautiful Perspective, August 3, 2017.
Kurucz, John. “Custom Made: Vancouver Has More Female Luthiers than Anywhere Else in Canada.” Vancouver Is Awesome, May 22, 2017.
Reyna, Fabi. “‘Queen of Tone’ Abigail Ybarra Talks Fender History and 57 Years of Pickup Winding.” She Shreds Magazine, February 23, 2017.
Sullivan, Patrick. “The Luthiers Behind the Royal Academy of Music Museum.” Strings Magazine (blog), January 6, 2017.
Glasser, Amanda. “10 Women Luthiers You Should Know,” She Shreds Magazine, December 27, 2016.
Moses, Desiré. “A Father-Daughter Luthier Duo Builds Souls Into Guitars.” NPR, October 4, 2016.
Batiche, Farouk. “Home of the Imzad in Tamanrasset, Southern Algeria-In Pictures.” The Guardian, January 29, 2016.
“Women in the Musical Instruments Industry: An Interview with Ingrid Linn.” KVR Audio, November 12, 2014.
Racine, Hope. “Gourd Banjos Traced to African Slave Trade: A Conversation with Banjo Maker Dr. Dena Jennings.” The Free Lance-Star. March 30, 2014.
France, Pauline. “Front and Center: Guitar Builder & Singer-Songwriter, Meredith Coloma.”The Women’s International Music Network,” May 6, 2013.
Whitmore, Laura B. “Guitar Girl’d: Esther Marron, Fender Mexico’s Employee No. 1.” Guitar World (blog), August 7, 2012.
Hargrave, Roger Graham. “Seeking Mrs. Guarneri.” Strad Magazine. September 2000: 95-101.
Podcasts (newest to oldest):
“Women in Lutherie: The Movement.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach. September 22, 2021.
“Iris Carr: Doing More, With Less.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Jerry Lynn, May 19, 2021.
“Cajun Flavor with Anya Burgess.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Christopher Jacoby, April 14, 2021.
“Rosie Heydenrych (Turnstone Guitar Company).” Luthier on Luthier with Michael Bashkin, December 23, 2020.
“Why Aren’t More Women and BIPOC Doing This?” Get Offset Podcast with Emily Harris and Andrew Renard. December 8, 2020.
“Linda Manzer.” High Action Podcast: New West Guitar Group, November 18, 2020.
“Female Guitar Techs Who Don’t Fret The Small Stuff.” Backstage Chats, September 24, 2020.
“That Baroque Life” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach, Christopher Jacoby, and Jerry Lynn. May 6, 2020.
“Kathy Wingert.” Luthier on Luthier with Michael Bashkin, February 28, 2020.
“VSA Past and Present with Marylin Wallin.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach, Christopher Jacoby, and Jerry Lynn, September 18, 2019.
“The Next Generation with Sofia Vettori.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Jerry Lynn August 7, 2019.
“Women at the Bench.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Christopher Jacoby. May 15, 2019.
“Leila Sidi from TunaTone Instruments.” In The Making: Guitar Building and Design Podcast with Florian Schneider and Nicolai Schorr, March 28, 2018.
