Archives West Finding Aid
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Henry R. Stern papers , circa 1874-1966
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Henry, S. R., 1874-1966
- Title
- Henry R. Stern papers
- Dates
- circa 1874-1966 (inclusive)18741966
- Quantity
- 5 linear feet, (5 containers) : 3 record storage boxes, 1 manuscript box, 1 oversize flat box
- Collection Number
- Ax 637
- Summary
- Henry R. Stern (1874-1966) was a music composer and music publishing executive. The collection contains correspondence, music manuscripts, phonograph recordings, composition and copyright lists, biographical material, and scrapbooks.
- Repository
-
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time. Collection includes sound recordings, moving images, and digital files to which access is restricted. Access to these materials is governed by repository policy and may require the production of listening or viewing copies. Researchers requiring access must notify Special Collections and University Archives in advance and pay fees for reproduction services as necessary.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.
See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Henry R. Stern (1874-1966) was a music composer and music publishing executive. Stern wrote ballads, novelty and comic tunes under the pseudonym of S. R. Henry. Many of his compositions were published in the "Tin Pan Alley" era when the home piano and sheet music were at their height.
In his thirty-five year career Stern produced several Broadway plays and vaudeville sketches. Stern retired in 1920 and joined the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in 1921.
He moved to Dallas, Texas in 1941, where he remained for the rest of his life. While in Dallas, Stern continued song writing and devoted considerable time to charitable work with the Boys Ranch at Bedfort, Texas. He wrote the official Boys Ranch Song and was a member of the Variety Club of Dallas, the sponsor of the ranch.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains correspondence, music manuscripts, phonograph recordings, composition and copyright lists, biographical material, and scrapbooks.
Series I: Correspondence contains outgoing letters from 1930-1967. Includes letters from his son, Henry R. Stearns.
Series II: Professional Papers includes correspondence, royalty records, and contracts with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) (1925-1967), and also correspondence, applications, and certificates with the U.S. Copyright office (1931-1953). Also in this series are Stern's composition and copyright lists. This series also contains correspondence, royalty records, contracts and other documents with music publishers, organized by the name of the publisher.
Series III: Miscellaneous contains press clippings, ASCAP publications, historical newspapers, autographed letters, and unidentified phonograph records.
Series IV: Biographical material includes personal mementos, photographs, and scrapbooks containing sketches, memoirs of a European trip, autograph album and indexes to the record collection.
Series V: Manuscript Music contains bound and unbound music manuscripts organized by title of work.
Series VI: Recordings contain private recordings of Stern's compositions on phonograph records, alphabetically organized by title of song.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Description |
|---|
| Guide to the Henry R. Stern Papers |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Composers--United States
- Composers--United States--Correspondence
- Music publishers--Correspondence
- Music--Manuscripts--United States
Personal Names
- Henry, S. R., 1874-1966
- Henry, S. R., 1874-1966
Corporate Names
- American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings
- Copyright certificates
- Correspondence
- Phonograph records
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
- Sketches
Finding aid prepared by University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team and Tanya Parlet.
2012
