Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies

Established in 1983 and also known simply as the Beethoven Center, the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies is located on the campus of San Jose State University. It is the only institution in North America that is devoted entirely to the life, works, and accomplishments of German music composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770~1827).

The impetus for creating the center was the donation to the university of a massive number of Beethoven artifacts and memorabilia by Southwest Commercial Realty founder Ira F. Brilliant (1922~2006). The San Jose Symphony performed selections of the maestro's works for the official opening in 1985. Since then, the collection has continued to grow, and it is now the largest collection of Beethoven materials outside of Europe.

On the premises, visitors will find a research library and museum. The Beethoven Center is also involved in educational programs, concert sponsorships, lectures, tours, and other events. The Beethoven Journal is published here, and the American Beethoven Society has made this its national headquarters.

The Beethoven Center is located in Room 580, within the special collections area of SJSU's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library. The address is 150 East San Fernando Street, 5th Floor, San Jose, California 95112-3580. Public parking is available in the 4th Street Garage across the street. Operating hours are from 11am to 3pm on Monday through Friday and from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday; closed on Sundays and holidays.