Society of Oregon Composers records

Society of Oregon Composers records, 1902-1941

Overview of the Collection

Compiler: Society of Oregon Composers
Title: Society of Oregon Composers records
Dates: 1902-1941 (inclusive)
19021941

1922-1938 (bulk)
19221938
Quantity: 1 cubic feet, (1 slim legal document case and 2 flat boxes)
Collection Number: Mss 1476
Summary: This collection reflects efforts by the Society of Oregon Composers to gather a library of Oregon musical compositions, and to promote and support musical composition in the state. The collection consists primarily of musical scores for voice, piano and strings (1902-1941), with other materials relating to the music library, membership in the society, and competitions.
Repository: Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Society of Oregon Composers was established in June 1919 to promote, support, and collect the work of musical composers in Oregon. The society regularly offered concerts featuring its members' works, often in conjunction with other musicians' groups. It held many competitions and is perhaps best known for sponsoring the 1920 contest for state song.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of primarily of musical scores for voice, piano, and strings, with an accompanying index. Composers represented include Lauren B. Sykes, Dent Mowrey, Emil Enna, and Blythe Owen. Other materials in the collection consist of a small quantity of correspondence; membership lists; miscellaneous music programs; and ephemera.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Society of Oregon Composers records, Mss 1476, Oregon Historical Society Research Library, Portland.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: Series 1. General materials (1925-1938); Series 2. Scores (1902-1941).

Acquisition Information

Gift of Elmer Schuff, October 1974 (Lib. Acc. 13084).

Processing Note

Collection was reboxed and refoldered for preservation.

Separated Materials

Contest submissions for the Oregon state song were separated to Coll 137, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: General materials, 1925-1938Return to Top

0.23 cubic feet, (1 slim legal document case)

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Correspondence	1932-1933
1	2	Index to sheet music	1932-1938
1	3	Membership lists	1935; undated
1	4	Programs Includes program from the Sellwood Bridge (Portland, Or.) dedication, December 15, 1925.	1925; 1928
1	5	Sponsorship program	1932; undated

Series 2: Scores, 1902-1941, (bulk 1922-1937) Return to Top

0.77 cubic feet, (2 flat boxes)

Original musical scores for voice, piano and strings submitted by members of the Society of Oregon Composers for inclusion in a library of Oregon compositions.

Arranged by composer's name and following the numbering system devised by the Society of Oregon Composers, as outlined in the accompanying index (Box 1, Folder 2) and marked on the sheet music. According to the index, folders F9, F12, F14, and F17 were vacant and are therefore skipped in the numbering sequence.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	F1	Lauren B. Sykes	1935
2	F2	Dent Mowrey	1922
2	F3	F. Arthur Johnson	1928; undated
2	F4	Lucie Landen	undated
2	F5	Helen Van Zile	1929; undated
2	F6	Daisy Beatrice Berans	undated
2	F7	Albert M. Schuff	1928-1941; undated
2	F8	Jean McKercher	1934
2	F10	Blythe Owen	undated
2	F11	Marguerite Bozarth Nelson	1928; 1931
2	F13	Laura MacKenzie	undated
2	F15	Bertram Shield	undated
2	F16	Theresa Tuch Hoppe	1929; 1931
2	F18	Myrtle W. Campbell	1929
2	F19	Lena Wheeler Chambers	1925-1928; undated
2	F20	Laura Coutts Averill	1923
3	F21	Joyce L. Woodfin	undated
3	F22	Adel Anderson Woods	1920-1927
3	F23	Edith Lewis Birkell	1931
3	F24	Theo. G. Beach	1925
3	F25	Gerard Gerritsen	1934
3	F26	Charlotte Nash	1931; undated
3	F27	Emil Enna	1902; 1923; 1924
3	F28	Helen G. Miles	1925
3	F29	Daniel H. Wilson	1914-1931
3	F30	Harry Van Dyke	1927; 1931
3	F31	Gertrude Estelle Morley	1930; 1933
3	F32	E. O. Spitzner	1912-1913; undated
3	F33	Mary Evelene Calbreath	1927-1928
3	F34	Belle Owen Moody	1923
3	F35	Edward Herman	1913
3	F36	Jean Williams	undated
3	F37	Elizabeth Ogalvie Reid	1934; 1937
3	F38	Malcolm Medler 1937 prize-winning composition.	1937

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Composers--Oregon--Societies, etc.
Music--Oregon--20th century

Corporate Names

Society of Oregon Composers--Records and correspondence

Form or Genre Terms

correspondence
membership lists
scores (documents for music)

Archives West Finding Aid

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