Collection: Donald Pond papers | Archival Collections

Donald Pond (1906-1983) was a music educator, composer, and performer. Born in England, Pond immigrated to New York City at the age of twenty-seven and began working at the Dalton School, the Children's Theatre Arts Workshop, and as a guest lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University. In 1937, Pond became the Music Director of the Pillsbury Foundation School, which was established with assistance from Leopold Stokowski for the study of young children's spontaneous music-making. After leaving the school in 1945, Pond stayed in the Santa Barbara, CA area and worked as a pianist, a teacher for the Music Academy of the West, and was the host of "Pleasure in Pictures," a music themed radio program. The collection consists of letters, writings, scores, books, articles, photographs, clippings, publications, radio scripts, observation notes, and sound recordings related to Pond's life and work.

Dates

circa 1910-1987
Majority of material found within 1937-1983

Use and Access to Collection

The collection is open for research use. Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room during SCPA’s operating hours. Please contact the curator for an appointment or if you have questions related to digital access of the materials.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Copyright was not transferred to the University of Maryland with the gift of any copyrighted materials. All rights remain with the creators and rights holders. The University of Maryland Libraries is granted permission for the use in scholarly research by the Libraries’ patrons under fair use in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.

To inquire about duplication of materials for research or for publication, please contact SCPA’s curator.

Extent

16.50 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Scope and Content of Collection

The Donald Pond papers covers the period from ca.1910 to 1987; the bulk dates of the materials date from 1937 to 1983. The collection consists of letters, writings, scores, books, articles, photographs, clippings, publications, radio scripts, observation notes, and sound recordings related to Pond's life and work as a performer, composer, and music educator, including his tenure as Music Director of the Pillsbury Foundation School, his experience as a teacher and lecturer in England, Santa Barbara, California and New York City, and his work on the radio program, "Pleasure in Pictures."

Biography

In his native England, Donald Pond was a cathedral choirboy who studied composition with Gustav Holst and become Director of Music at the School of Dance-Mime at Dartington Hall in Devonshire. After immigrating to New York City at the age of twenty-seven, Pond continued to compose regularly for dance while pursuing at the same time his new interest in the musical creativity of young children at the Dalton Schools and the Children's Theatre Arts Workshop. He became a regular guest lecturer on music in education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

In 1937, he left New York for Santa Barbara, California, to become Music Director of the Pillsbury Foundation School, established with assistance from Leopold Stokowski for the study of young children's spontaneous music-making. Pond remained with the Pillsbury School through 1945, and his writings on the work there are of seminal importance. In the Santa Barbara area, where he spent the rest of his life, Pond performed often as pianist in chamber concerts and recitals, taught music theory and composition at the Music Academy of the West, aired regular radio programs on musical subjects, and taught piano privately.

Except for his early works for full orchestra, Donald Pond typically wrote music for performances by his friends and students, including compositions for various chamber ensembles, solo piano, solo voice, and chorus. Publication was not an object with him, but sharing his art and craft was; frequently his compositions were gifts. Seventy compositions are extant, but many have been lost. Pond's last works were eight choral suites written not as gifts for specific performance but as an apparent summing up, expressing clearly his roots in the British choral tradition, and intended as his musical legacy.

Arrangement

This collection has been divided into nine series:

Correspondence
Writings
Articles by other authors
Pillsbury Foundation School
Pond scores
Performances
Recordings
Photographs
Series 9: Donald Pond Library of Books and Scores

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Gift of papers and music donated by Lois Pond, wife of Donald Pond, was received on December 15, 1983.

Related Material

- National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) Historical Center (finding aid) (LibGuide)

- More information about Donald Pond can be found in the Pillsbury Foundation School Archives also available in the NAfME Historical Center, and in a master's thesis by Judith Kiersead titled The Pillsbury Foundation School and Beyond, located in the University of Maryland Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library. [Call Number: LD3231.M70m Kierstead, J.K.]

Processing Information

Processing supported by the Rose Marie Grentzer Fund.

Administrative Information

Title: Donald Pond papers
Status: Completed
Author: Justin Indovina (2003); revised by Lori Fowser (2004) and Mary Crauderueff (2007).
Date: October 2003; revised October 2004 and October 2007
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: Finding aid written in English
Sponsor: Processing supported by the Rose Marie Grentzer Fund.

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Donald Pond papers

Dates

Use and Access to Collection

Duplication and Copyright Information

Extent

Additional Description

Scope and Content of Collection

Biography

Arrangement

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Related Material

Processing Information

Administrative Information

Library Details

Library Details

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