WAUAshfordPaul0785.xml Guide to the Paul Ashford Papers 1890-1958 Ashford (Paul) Papers Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries ©2007 (Last modified: 4/11/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 0785 Ashford, Paul Paul Ashford papers 1890-1958 4.45 cubic feet (5 boxes and 1 folder) Collection materials are in English. Music reviews, articles, poetry, radio scripts, and correspondence of Paul Ashford, a song collector and folk singer in Washington State.

Paul Ashford (1906-1952) was a Seattle composer, folk singer, and song collector, as well as a music reviewer and prolific writer, who published many articles in the "Seattle Times" and "Seattle Post-Intelligencer," among other publications. Many of Ashford's musical compositions and writings reflect life in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest throughout the Great Depression and into the 1940s. During the Depression, when paid music reviews became scarce, Ashford worked briefly as a writer through the Works Progress Administration program, producing a guide to Washington State and other tourist materials. He attended the University of Washington and graduated with a Master's degree in musical composition in 1929. In the 1940s, Ashford (who also was an avid collector of jazz recordings) developed a particular interest in baroque recorder music, and composed many pieces for the instrument. He later founded both the Seattle and San Francisco Recorder Guilds, before his death from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1952.

Arranged into 2 accessions Accession No. 0785-001, Letter from Glenn Hughes, 23 Mar 1929 Accession No. 0785-002, Paul Ashford papers, 1920s-1952

The Paul Ashford papers contain mainly notes, lyrics, musical arrangements, and scores for a variety of folk music collected and compiled by Ashford from the 1920s through 1952. In particular, there is a large set of both temperance and drinking songs from the 1920s and 1930s. The collection includes a small amount of correspondence from notable folk musicians and enthuisasts, Ivar Haglund, Earl Robinson, and Pete Seeger. There are also manuscript scores of Ashford's own compositions, as well as manuscripts of his various writings, including radio broadcast scripts, drafts of a novel, and music criticism. A scrapbook in Box 5 contains clippings of music reviews written by Ashford, mainly for "The Town Crier," a Seattle publication, as well as some original artwork, correspondence, and recordings. A separate accession includes a single letter to Ashford from University of Washington professor, Glenn Hughes, dated 1929, in which he thanks Ashford for a favorable review and encourages him to continue writing poetry, along with offers to assist in getting Ashford's writing published.

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Processing completed in 2011.

Ashford, Paul--Archives Haglund, Ivar, 1905-1985--Correspondence Hughes, Glenn, 1894-1964--Correspondence Robinson, Earl, 1910-1991--Correspondence Composers--United States--20th century Ethnomusicologists--United States--20th century Folk singers--United States--20th century Music critics--Washington (State)--Seattle--20th century Drinking songs Folk music--United States--History and criticism Folk songs, English--United States istory and criticism Sound recordings--Collectors and collecting nited States Temperance--Songs and music Correspondence Manuscripts for publication Scores Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Music Scrapbooks

 

Accession No. 0785-001: Letter from Glenn Hughes, 1929 0.03 cubic feet (1 folder)

Scope and Content: Letter from Glenn Hughes, 23 Mar 1929

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Source: Mrs. Jean Ashford, 1967 September 15

 Accession No. 0785-002: Paul Ashford papers, 1890-1958, 2010 4.42 cubic feet (5 boxes)

Arrangement: Arranged according to the type of record

Scope and Content: Contains correspondence with fellow musicians and other champions of folk music, including Ivar Haglund, Earl Robinson, and Pete Seeger, collections of music, reviews, articles, poetry, and radio scripts.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Source: John Ashford, 2010 November 22

Processing Info: Processed by Deborah Hamilton in 2011.

 Correspondence 1/1 0785-002 Haglund, Ivar 1941 undated 1/2 0785-002 Robinson, Earl circa 1930s 1946 1958 1/3 0785-002 Seeger, Pete circa 1940s 1/4 0785-002 Miscellaneous 1928-1952 Drinking and Temperance Songs 1/5 0785-002 Lyrics- "One Stringed Lute" undated 1/6 0785-002 Musical Scores- Arrangements and Originals circa 1926 1/7 0785-002 Musical Score- "Gone, Gone, Gone" undated 4/1-4/2 0785-002 Musical Scores- "High and Dry" songbook undated 1/8 0785-002 Musical Scores- "High and Dry" songbook, miscellaneous pages undated 1/9 0785-002 Musical Scores- "In the East and in the West" undated 1/10 0785-002 Musical Score- "Jimmie Jinkins" undated 1/11 0785-002 Musical Scores- " Liza Jane" and "Old Joe Clark" undated 1/12 0785-002 Musical Score- "The Rubaiyat" undated 1/13 0785-002 Publication- Choice Gospel Songs and Hymns 1951 1/14 0785-002 Publication- Evangel Songs 1931 1/15 0785-002 Publication- Filmore's Prohibition Songs 1903 1/16 0785-002 Publication- Hymns of Praise 1890 1/17 0785-002 Publication- Kingdom Songs 1914 1/18 0785-002 Publication- The One Hundred and One Best Songs 1919 1/19 0785-002 Publication- The School Song Book 1910 1/20 0785-002 Publication- Songs for School, Home, and Nation 1897 1/21 0785-002 Publication- Songs of Praise: Number Two 1905 1/22 0785-002 Publication- Songs of the Comforter: Number 2 1905 1/23 0785-002 Publication- The Temperance Songster 1904 1/24 0785-002 Publication- Waves of Glory 1905 1/25 0785-002 Publication- World Wide Revival Songs: Number Two 1921 Folk Music Collection 1/26 0785-002 List of billings undated 1/27 0785-002 Lyrics- Miscellaneous undated 1/28-1/31 0785-002 Musical Scores- Ballads undated 1/32 0785-002 Musical Scores- Ballads, Early Songs, English, American, etc. undated 1/33 0785-002 Musical Scores- Ballads, Scotch and Irish songs undated 4/3 0785-002 Musical Scores- "Bloody Ballad" and others undated 2/1 0785-002 Musical Scores- "Cost of Living" undated 2/2 0785-002 Musical Scores- Dance Songs undated 2/3 0785-002 Musical Score- "Dirge" undated 2/4 0785-002 Musical Score- "Fare Thee Well- Babe, with Love" undated 2/5 0785-002 Musical Scores- Folk Music/Songs, British Isles undated 2/6 0785-002 Musical Scores- Folk Music/Songs, Chinese undated 2/7 0785-002 Musical Scores- Folk Music/Songs, French, Spanish undated 2/8 0785-002 Musical Scores- Folk Music/Songs, Jamaica undated 2/9 0785-002 Musical Scores- Folk Music/Songs, Labor Protest (Labeled: "Cost of Living") circa 1948 2/10 0785-002 Musical Scores- Folk Music/Songs, Scandinavian undated 2/11 0785-002 Musical Scores- Jamaica undated 4/4 0785-002 Musical Scores- Jamaica undated 2/12 0785-002 Musical Scores- Lumberman Songs undated 2/13 0785-002 Musical Scores- Negro undated 2/14-2/17 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook undated 2/18 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook labeled "Alto" undated 2/19 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook labeled "Dick's Own" undated 2/20 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook labeled "Fiddler's Best, Collected by Paul Ashford" undated 2/21 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook labeled "Fiddler's Best" undated 2/22 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook labeled "Harmonium" undated 2/23 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook labeled "Rhythm Tunes" undated 2/24 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook labeled "Songs and Dances" undated 2/25 0785-002 Musical Scores- Spirituals and Carols undated 2/26 0785-002 Musical Scores- Tunes without words undated 2/27 0785-002 Musical Scores- untitled, "Moanin' Low," and "How Could Red Riding Hood" circa 1929 2/28 0785-002 Musical Scores- Work Songs and Poetry undated 2/29 0785-002 Musical Scores- Work Songs, etc. (Chanteys, Cowboy Songs) undated 2/30-2/33 0785-002 Musical Scores- Miscellaneous undated 2/34 0785-002 Publication- Deutlches Liederbuchby: Erlte Folge 1948 2/35 0785-002 Publication- Klavier Quintet in F minorby: Cesar Franck undated 2/36 0785-002 Publication- JazzmenArmed Services Edition edited by: Frederic Ramsey, Jr. and Charles Edward Smith 1939 2/37 0785-002 Publication- The Happy Soldiercompiled, edited, and arranged by: Irmgard Lehrer 1942 4/5 0785-002 Publication- Sonata in B Flatby: George McKay 1931 2/38 0785-002 Publication- Treasure Chest of More Songs and Games for Children 1940 Original Compositions 4/6 0785-002 Composition Book undated 3/1 0785-002 Musical Scores- "17th - 18th Century Music undated 3/2 0785-002 Musical Scores- Ballads from the Big Timber (photocopies) undated 3/3 0785-002 Musical Score- Book III undated 3/4 0785-002 Musical Score- "Broken Doll"

General Notes: Words by Joe McCloskey

 undated 3/5 0785-002 Musical Score- "Broken Doll" undated 3/6 0785-002 Musical Score- "Dust in my Shoes: A Pedestrian Wail" undated

General Notes: Words by Joe McCloskey

 3/7 0785-002 Musical Score- "Fiddle (D-D)" undated 3/8 0785-002 Musical Score- "Forsaken" undated 3/9 0785-002 Musical Score- "Gee! But I'm Blue"

General Notes: Words by Joe McCloskey

 undated 4/7 0785-002 Musical Score- "Ghost Walk: Panoramamerican" undated 3/10 0785-002 Musical Score- "Harbor Fog" Undated 3/11 0785-002 Musical Score- "Harmonium" Undated 3/12 0785-002 Musical Score- "I'll Follow the Sunset to You" Undated 3/13 0785-002 Musical Scores- "Mountain Melody" and "Wind and Waves" Undated 3/14 0785-002 Musical Score- "Nocturne: Poor one Pavan Defunct" Undated 3/15 0785-002 Musical Scores- Notebook Undated 3/16 0785-002 Musical Score- "Rondo Walzer" Undated 3/17 0785-002 Musical Score- "Rubanik- Method for Recorder" Undated

General Notes: With loose untitled compositions inside.

 3/18 0785-002 Musical Score- "Scenario for an Imaginary Melodrama: Radio-Movie Style" Undated 3/19 0785-002 Musical Score- "Since You Said We're Through" Undated 3/20 0785-002 Musical Score- "Sitting in the Sunshine" Undated 3/21 0785-002 Musical Score- "Situation Normal- (Snafu)" Undated 3/22 0785-002 Musical Score- "South Tacoma Jump" Undated 3/23 0785-002 Musical Score- "Sue" Undated 3/24 0785-002 Musical Score- "That's All There Is- There Ain't No More" Undated 3/25 0785-002 Musical Score- "Waves and Winds Westerly" Undated 3/26 0785-002 Musical Score- "You and Me Both, Baby" Undated 3/27-3/32 0785-002 Musical Scores- Untitled Undated Writings 3/33 0785-002 Article- "Big Bottom Country (WA)" (transcription) circa 1930s 3/34 0785-002 Manuscript- "Ballads from the Big Timber" (Program #1) undated 3/35 0785-002 Manuscript- "A Brief History of the Seattle Symphony" 1932 3/36 0785-002 Manuscript- "A Brief Interpretation of the History of Music in Washington State" 1937 3/37 0785-002 Manuscript- "Clambake" undated 3/38 0785-002 Manuscript- "Clambake- Radio Script" undated 3/39 0785-002 Manuscript- "Dr. Exner: Jazz Collector, Producer, Connoisseur" circa 1945-1946

General Notes: Article written for Jazzfinder

3/40 0785-002 Manuscript- "Doctor Jazz- Radio Script" undated 3/41 0785-002 Manuscript- "Lumber" circa 1930s 3/42 0785-002 Manuscript- "Naked as Truth" undated 3/43 0785-002 Manuscript- "Ninety Days" undated 3/44 0785-002 Manuscript- "Old Settler's Song" undated 3/45 0785-002 Manuscript- "The Pacific Traveler- Radio Script" undated 3/46 0785-002 Manuscript- "A Pageant of Worms" undated 3/47 0785-002 Manuscript- "Pen in Hand" 3/48 0785-002 Manuscript- "The Seattle Gazette- Radio Programs" undated 3/49 0785-002 Manuscript- "The Washington Press: Past and Present" circa 1937 3/50 0785-002 Manuscript- Untitled undated 3/51 0785-002 Notes- re: the Depression circa 1930s 3/52 0785-002 Notes- re: Labor undated 3/53 0785-002 Notes- re: "Pioneer Literary Backgrounds, Seattle" 1938 3/54 0785-002 Notes- re: Radio Script for Big Timber undated 3/55 0785-002 Notes- re: "Seattle Music I" 1938 3/56 0785-002 Notes- re: "The Seattle Theater 1" 1938 3/57-3/59 0785-002 Notes- re: "Storm Warning" (unfinished novel) undated 3/60-3/61 0785-002 Notes- Miscellaneous circa 1930s circa 1938 5 0785-002 Scrapbook 1927-1951

General Notes: Includes: clippings of articles, reviews, poetry, and correspondence.

 Miscellaneous 3/62 0785-002 Biographical Essay and Description of Materials 2010

General Notes: Compiled by John Ashford.

 3/63 0785-002 Clippings and Miscellany 1937-1952 3/64 0785-002 Diploma 1920 3/65 0785-002 Ephemera- Seattle circa 1930s 4/8 0785-002 Poster- advertising "Acres of Clams" undated 4/9 0785-002 Sign- Seattle Concert Band undated