The acquisition of the Victor Herbert Collection marked the Music Division's first efforts to collect archival collections related to Musical Theater. While Herbert himself gifted some music manuscripts to the Library of Congress, most of the collection came as a series of gifts from Herbert's daughter, Ella Herbert Bartlett, beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the late 1950s. A significant collection of holograph scores, correspondence, and other materials was given to the Library in 1948 by the widow of Gustav Klemm (1897-1947), a composer and conductor, as well as an ardent admirer of Herbert. This gift included a set of 42 scores representing 37 of Herbert’s operettas and operas, all of which are housed with the collection. Additional materials were received as gifts from William Randolph Hearst, G. Schirmer, Inc., the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the Tams-Witmark Music Library. A significant amount of autograph manuscripts were purchased from the Patelson Music House in 1948. A number of smaller purchases from the Patelson Music House and from other antiquarian music dealers have been made since that time. The Library of Congress also received two sets of bound piano-vocal scores for most of the Herbert operettas and operas.

The Victor Herbert Collection's music materials include mostly manuscript scores, parts and sketches for Herbert's stage, screen and orchestral works, and arrangements. The collection also contains Victor Herbert Orchestra encore part books and music by other composers. Additional materials include correspondence, programs, clippings, photographs, scrapbooks, promotional materials, iconography and legal papers.

While the Victor Herbert Collection is a major archival resource for Herbert researchers, it should be noted that Herbert music manuscripts and related archival material is found in several other areas of the Music Division's collections. See the Additional Archival Materials sub-pages for more information on these related sources.