Jenny Lind, born Johanna Maria Lind in Stockholm, Sweden, 6 October 1820, was an operatic and oratorio soprano who made her debut in Stockholm in 1838. Her final opera appearance was in 1849. In 1850 she toured the United States with P. T. Barnum and in 1852 married her accompanist, Otto Goldschmidt. Lind and her husband lived in Dresden, Germany and from 1856 on, in England. She died 2 November 1887.

The collection includes correspondence (1835-1897), financial papers, musical compositions, and other papers. Includes published and unpublished biographical material about Miss Lind, a manuscript copy of her contract with P. T. Barnum (1849), scores used by her in concerts and dedication pieces of contemporary composers, an autobiographical sketch of Otto Goldschmidt, papers pertaining to his composition "Ruth" and his work with the Bach Choir of London, manuscripts of his musical compositions, and compositions by Julius Benedict (1804-1885), Niels W. Gade (1817-1890), Adolf F. Lindblad (1801-1878), and Karl Reinecke (1824-1910).