Edgar Rotschy papers, 1892-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Rotschy, Edgar
Title
Edgar Rotschy papers
Dates
1892-1983 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.72 cubic feet (6 boxes)
Collection Number
3298 (Accession No. 3298-005)
Summary
Papers of a Swiss-American amateur composer who homesteaded near Yacolt, Washington
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

James Edgar Rotschy, known as Edgar, was a Swiss-American self-taught amateur composer who resided near Yacolt, Washington.

Rotschy was born August 29, 1868 in Geneva, Switzerland, where his father owned a music school. Having been told that he had no musical talent and discouraged from a career in music, Rotschy trained as a photographer, specializing in retouching and printing.

Rotschy arrived in the United States in September 1889 and, after working as a photo finisher in New York, worked his way west with friends from Switzerland. In July 6, 1891 he filed for a homestead overlooking the Chelatchie Prairie near the town of Yacolt in Clark County. In 1894 he married the sister of a fellow homesteader, Madeleine de Niederhausern, with whom he had nine children between 1895 and 1909. Rotschy worked at various jobs including laborer at the Long Bell Paper Mill, cook at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and fire watch at the Greenleaf logging camp.

In1898 Rotschy began to compose music. His compositions are conservative in style, emphasizing melody and simple harmonic accompaniments. Several fugues display a didactic style imitative of the Baroque. His music is characterized by the lack of dynamic and articulation markings. He felt that the meaning of his music should be clear to any "good" musician and that each musician was free to supply his own expression markings.

Edgar Rotschy donated music manuscripts to the University of Washington Libraries on several occasions between 1938 and 1953. He also presented Hazel Kinsella music for the American Music Center in the Music Library. On his trips to Seattle, Rotschy discussed his music with George McKay, professor of theory and composition in the School of Music, who arranged for a reading of his string quartets. According to his journal this was the most satisfying time in his musical life.

In 1920 Rotschy moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he died in 1960.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Rotschy papers contain original musical compositions, musical writings, journals and correspondence. The journals, which include drawings, serve as a first hand account of the historic Yacolt Burn of 1902 and that of a working man's life in logging camps and saw and paper mills in the 1920s and 1930s. The correspondence with the Libraries details the nature of his gifts to the Libraries.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transfered to the University of Washington Libraries.

Preferred Citation

Edgar Rotschy papers, Special Collection Division, University of Washington Libraries

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

Most of the Edgar Rotschy papers were transferred from the University of Washington Music Library.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Edgar Rotschy to the Libraries between 1938 and 1953. Some music was given to Hazel Kinsella of the School of Music and transferred to Manuscripts Division in 1983 from the Music Library. Correspondence with Samuel Rotschy given to Libraries by John Gibbs in 2006.

Processing Note

Processed by John R. Gibbs; processing completed in 2007.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Musical compositionsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Symphonic works
Box/Folder
1/1
Symphony 13, for strings
undated
Box/Folder
1/2
Wind band
National Suite for Harmony Band
undated
Easter Prelude and March
1922
Chamber music for strings
Box/Folder
1/3
String trios
String trio number 3
1945 February 19
String trio number 5
undated
String trio V
1952 December 27
String trio VI
1953 January 13
String quartets
Box/Folder
1/4
String quartet number 15
1944 January
1/4
String quartet number 16
1944 December 4
1/4
String quartet number 18
1947 May 12
1/5
String quartet number 20
1947 November 12
1/5
String quartet number 21
1949 May 11
1/5
String quartet number 25
1953 June 15
1/6
String quartet number 26
1953 July 31
1/6
String quartet number 28
1955 September 20
1/6
String quartet number 29
1955 December 29
1/6
Recreation number 2 (for string quartet)
1949 November 2
Box/Folder
1/7
String Quintets (with double bass)
String quintet, G major
1946 September 28
String quintet, g minor
1946 December 24
Chamber music for winds alone and with strings
Box/Folder
1/8
Woodwinds and strings
Old days at Fort Vancouver: Centennial Suite
1926
1/9
Woodwind quintets
Aubade
undated
Musical Evening at Monticello
19?? July 3
Concert for Mr. Thomas Jefferson
1941 May 21
1/9
Flute trios
Flute trio, C major
1944 October 31
Suite, G major
1945 January 1
1/10
Saxophone quartets
Saxophone quartet number 3
1952 February 21
Saxophone quartet number 4 "Popular"
1952
Saxophone quartet number 6
1952 May 2
4 pieces for Saxophone quartet
undated
1/10
Clarinet sonata
1948 April 13
Box/Folder
1/11
Chamber music with piano
Viola and piano
Sonata IV
1945 May 25
Sonata V
1954 May 7
Sonata VI
1954 May 7
Violin and piano
Sonata 12
1944 May 26
Sonata 13
1945 January 31
Sonata 14
1947 September 13
Sonata 15
1948 January 17
Sonata 16
1951 June 2
Violoncello and piano
Sonata, D major
1947 February 19
Box/Folder
1/12
Piano trios
Recreation IV "France"
1930 August 15
Recreation V "18e siecle"
1930 October 31
Trio, G major
1931
Trio number 10 "Anecortes"
1949 July 5
Trio number 10, g minor
1948 February 8
Trio number 14
1955 June 17
1/13
Piano sonatas
Sonata number 16
1945 July 7
Sonata number 17
1946 August 19
Sonata number 18
1947 January 8
Sonata number 19
1949 July 20
Sonata number 20
1951 March 9
Sonata number 21
1951 November 29
Sonata number 22
1951 December 21
1/14
Piano four hands
Sonata
undated
Organ sonatas
Box/Folder
2/1
Sonata II
1927 October 12
2/1
Sonata III
1928 May 1
2/1
Sonata IV
1928 August 15
2/1
Sonata V
1928 October 3
2/1
Sonata VI
1929 May 16
2/1
Sonata VII
undated
2/2
Sonata number 8
1932 June 8
2/2
Sonata II (second series)
1935 March 11
2/2
Sonata IV (second series)
1936 March 17
2/2
Sonata VI (second series)
1936 October 27
2/2
Sonata number 7 (second series)
1937 February 17
2/2
Sonata 8 (second series)
1937 August 24
2/3
Sonata, E major (second series)
1942 July 31
2/3
Sonata, Bb major (second series)
1943 July 7
2/3
Sonata, a minor(second series)
1945 October 1
2/3
Sonata number 12
1939 January 11
2/3
Sonata number 13
1939 May 33
2/3
Sonata number 14
1939 October 9
2/3
Sonata, F major(second series)
1950 October 21
Organ sonatas transcribed for strings
Box/Folder
2/4
Sonata, F major, transcribed for strings
1945 August 29
2/5
Sonata number 1
1953 February 3
2/5
Sonata number 2
undated
2/5
Sonata number 3
1953 April 22
2/5
Sonata number 4
1953 May 22
2/5
Sonata number 5
1953 July 9
2/5
Sonata number 6
1953 September 8
2/5
Sonata, D major
1955 November 24
2/5
Sonata, Ab major
1956 February 3
Organ toccatas
Box/Folder
2/5
Toccata, D major
undated
Organ preludes
Box/Folder
2/6
Prelude and Fugue, g minor
1951 September 12
2/6
Prelude and Fugue, c minor
1951 October 30
2/6
Prelude and Valse
1921
2/7
16 Preludes and 16 Postludes
1913-1924
Organ hymns
Box/Folder
2/8
Hymns, Book VIII
1926-1927
2/8
Hymns, Book IX
1927
2/8
Hymns, Book X
1928
2/8
Hymns, Book XI
1930-1931
2/8
Hymns, Book XII
1932
2/9
Hymns, Thankgiving
1933 December 8
2/9
Hymns 1934
1935 January 12
2/9
Easter Hymns (I)
1935
2/9
Easter Hymns (II)
1935
2/9
Hymns 1935
1935 August
2/9
Hymns 1935 (II)
1935 December 6
2/9
Hymn
1935 December 6
2/9
Hymns 1936
1936
2/9
Hymns, Sept. 1936
1936 October 9
2/9
Hymns 1936
1936 March
2/9
Christmas 1936
1936
2/9
3 Hymns
1936 December 20
2/10
Hymns for Passion Friday
1937 April 6
2/10
Easter Hymns 1937
1937 April 6
2/10
3 Hymns in minor 1937
1937 July 9
2/10
6 Hymns in major 1937
1939 July 9
2/10
4 Hymns in major Dec. 1937
1937 December 6
2/10
Christmas 1937
1937
2/10
4 Hymns in minor
1937 December 23
2/10
Hymns for Easter 1938
undated
2/10
3 Hymns in minor Passion 1938
1938 April 2
2/10
Christmas music
1938
2/10
Hymn
1938 December 23
2/10
Hymns Dec. 1938
1939 January 2
2/10
Hymns in minor
1939
2/10
Passion music 1939
1939 April 10
2/11
Easter music 1939
1939 April 22
2/11
Hymns for Easter
1939
2/11
6 Hymns in major
1939 October
2/11
Xmas music 1939
1939 December 13
2/11
Easter music 1940
1940 April 19
2/11
6 Hymns in minor and major, August 1940
1940 September 26
2/11
5 Hymns Christmas 1940
1940 December 30
2/11
Christmas music 1940
1940 December 21
2/11
Easter music 1941 Passion
1941 March 22
2/11
Easter music 1941
1941 April 3
2/11
3 Hymns in minor
1941 September 5
2/11
Hymns Oct. Nov. 1941
1941 November 16 and 25
2/11
Christmas music 1941
1941 December 16
2/11
A Hymn (with Psalm 143)
1942?
2/11
Easter music 1942
1942 April 17
2/11
Passion music 1942
1942 April 29
2/11
Easter music 1943 Passion
1942 March 16
2/11
Easter music 1943 Easter day
1943 May 5
2/12
Xmas music
1949
2/12
Hymns
1950 April 10
2/12
5 Hymns 1952
1952 May 7
2/12
Easter music, Passion 1953
1953 March 15
2/12
Easter music II
1953 April 4
Organ hymns, transcribed
Box/Folder
2/12
Hymns in minor (numbers 15 and 16 from Book XII)
1932 January
2/12
Prelude and 4 Hymns
1951 September 28
2/12
Three[sic] Hymns and Choral Fugue
1956 February 20
Miscellaneous keyboard works
Box/Folder
2/13
Chansons 1936
1936 November
2/13
Chansons
undated
Box/Folder
2/14
Choral works
The 18th Choral in major
1942 December 25
May Comes Laughing
undated
Reveille (male quartet)
undated
Ruth and Naomi
undated
Xmas music 1955 Nativity according to Luke
Choral works, psalms
Box/Folder
2/15
Psalms 23 and 24
1934 March 12
2/15
Psalms 28, 29, 32 and Festival Hymn
1936 January 7
2/15
Psalm 39
1936 December 29
2/15
Psalm 61
1937 December 26
2/15
Psalm 65 Thanksgiving
1937 December
2/15
Psalm 65 Thanksgiving 1951
1951 November 6
2/15
Psalm 67
1938 January 6
2/15
Psalm 70
1938 January 21
2/16
Psalm 77
1938 January 28
2/16
Psalm 81
1938 February 2
2/16
Psalm 84
1939 February 28
2/16
Psalms 87 and 93
1939 March 6
2/16
Psalm 90
1932 January 9
2/16
Psalm 96
1939 March 10
2/16
Psalm 98
1939 March 20
2/16
Psalm 100
1939 March 23
2/16
Psalm 101
1939 November 14
2/16
Psalm 103 Thanksgiving 1939
1939 December 3
2/16
Psalm 108
1939 November 17
2/16
Psalm 120
undated
2/16
Psalms 124 and 125
undated
2/16
Psalm 124
1941 January 20
2/16
Psalm 126
1941 January 14
2/16
Psalm 135
1941 January 31
2/16
Psalm 137
1941 January 232
2/16
Psalm 138
1942 January 13
2/16
Psalm 143
1942 January 19
2/16
Psalms 145 and 147
1943 January
Songs
Box/Folder
2/17
The Brook. Tennyson
undated
2/17
Home is best
undated
2/17
Blow, blow through winter's wind
undated
2/17
The Kitten and the prince
undated
2/17
A Song of little Japanese girls
undated
2/17
Lullaby, heard by Mr. L Hearm from an Oki mother, Japan
undated
2/17
Bantu cradle song
undated
2/17
St. Kevin's lied. Lake Glendalaugh
undated
2/17
The Old black bull
undated
2/17
Old Scotch ballad. From Bracebridge Hall
1941 March 24
2/17
Tircis. Souvenier de J.J.Rousseau
1941 June 18
2/17
Two songs of early settlers
undated
2/17
Civil War song
undated
2/17
A Little song from Will. Blake
undated
2/17
For a' that and a' that
undated
2/17
The Spring of love
undated
2/17
The Babie
undated
2/17
Constancy
undated
2/17
The Splendor falls
undated

Autobiography: "Edgar Rotschy My Life"Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/1

JournalsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/2
"Journal from June 24, 1925 to October. Working for the Long Bell Company. Working at the Paper mill, Camas April 5 to July 10, 1926. Working with the C.C.C.Camp in the Columbia Nat'l Forest May 23 to Nov. 2, 1933"
1925-1933
3/2
"Working with the C.C.Corps. Aug. 22 to Nov. 3, 1933 Journal II"
1933
3/2
"Three months with the Timber buffaloes[sic]. Notes and reflexions[sic] from a Loging camp in 1929"
1929

NotebooksReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/3
"Music; Recollections and apologies"
undated
3/3
"The Philosophy in Music"
undated
3/4
"Extracts and Notes from the New Jerusalm and its Heavenly Doctrines by Swedenborg"
undated
3/4
"Extracts and remarks from Divine Providence by Emanuel Swedenborg"
1917

Work listsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/5
"List of Works sent to the Library of the University of Washing, [sic]with some remarks"
1938 October
3/5
"List of manuscripts remitted to the Library of the University of Washington, August 19th 1939"
1939
3/5
"List of musical compositions sent to the Library of the University of Washington. Nov. 30 1942"
1942
3/5
"Music manuscripts, June 25 ,1943"
1943

Photographs, 1892, 1894, 1911, 1913, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/6

Eleven black and white photographs of Edgar Rotschy, his family and his homestead.

Newpaper clippingReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/7

Container(s) Description Dates
Anacortes American
1951 June 21

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/8
Edgar Rotschy with University of Washingon Libraries, and Hazel Kinsella
1938-1953
3/9
Samuel Rotschy to John Gibbs
1983

Music manuscripts, circa 1898-1953Return to Top

Container(s): Box:oversize 4-6

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Composers--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Clark County
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Kinscella, Hazel Gertrude--Correspondence
  • Rotschy, Edgar--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Yacolt (Wash.)--Description and travel

Occupations

  • Composers