LAHM Awarded GRAMMY Museum Grant to Preserve the Lil Hardin Armstrong Collection

The Louis Armstrong House Museum has been awarded a Preservation Implementation Grant from the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program to preserve and digitize the newly acquired Lil Hardin Armstrong Collection, ensuring that the remarkable legacy of one of jazz’s pioneering women is safeguarded for future generations.

Funded by the Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program supports organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving America’s recorded sound heritage and advancing music research. This year’s program awarded $200,000 to just 14 recipients across the United States, recognizing projects that protect and expand access to significant musical collections.

The grant will enable the Museum to preserve and digitize materials from the Lil Hardin Armstrong Collection, making this invaluable archive more accessible for researchers, educators, musicians, and the public.

A celebrated composer, arranger, pianist, bandleader, and business manager, Lil Hardin Armstrong played a defining role in the development of early jazz. Married to Louis Armstrong from 1924 to 1938, she was instrumental in shaping the legendary Hot Fives and Hot Sevens recordings that transformed American music. Her influence extended far beyond her relationship with Louis Armstrong, establishing her as one of the most important creative forces in jazz history.

The project reflects the Louis Armstrong House Museum’s ongoing commitment to preserving, interpreting, and expanding access to the rich history of jazz through its world-renowned archives and collections. By digitizing these materials, the Museum will help ensure that Lil Hardin Armstrong’s voice, artistry, and lasting impact on American music remain accessible for generations to come.

The Louis Armstrong House Museum was among a distinguished group of preservation grant recipients that includes leading cultural organizations such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Fisk University, The Paley Center for Media, WXPN, and The Great American Songbook Foundation.

We are grateful to the GRAMMY Museum and the Recording Academy for their support of this important work and for recognizing the value of preserving America’s musical heritage.