Those who attended the 1999 ITG Conference were in for a rare treat.  For the first time, attendees were able to view a few of the many instruments in the collection of Dr. Henry Meredith.  

Richard Waller and Henry Meredith

Designed and installed by Henry Meredith, working together with Marsh Art Gallery Director Richard Waller and Exhibitions Coordinator Douglas Satteson, the exhibit comprised some of the best and most interesting examples from Meredith's extensive (over 2,500 items) collection.  Ranging from primitive trumpets made from human femurs to a gold-plated Conn "Victor" cornet once owned by Allessandro Liberati and a matching gold-plated Martin "Committee" cornet and trumpet once owned by Leonard B. Smith, the exhibit included natural trumpets, keyed bugles (tastefully displayed next to one of the three known portraits of keyed bugle virtuoso Ned Kendall), saxhorns, soprano trombones, and, of course, valve cornets and trumpets.  Because of a lack of gallery display space, nearly as many instruments had to remain in the back rooms as were on display.  Art students from the University of Richmond were brought into the gallery after hours in order to make sketches from the collection (for gallery tour, see thumbnails).