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Arthur L. Williams papers

 Collection 0066-SCPA
Arthur L. Williams was an active researcher and musician. He was appointed to the faculty of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in 1928 and founded the Ohio Intercollegiate Band Festival and the Ohio School Orchestra Contests in 1929. In 1950, Williams was elected to the American Bandmaster's Association (ABA) and served as chairman of ABA Research Sub-Committee on Band Research Study Topics. The collection contains Williams' correspondence with ABA members regarding band research. Included are also programs from ABA conventions, music pamphlets, and his personal research on Percy Grainger.

Dates

  • 1914-1972
  • Majority of material found within 1935-1970

Use and Access to Collection

The collection is open for research use.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact

Extent

2.75 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Scope and Content of Collection

The Arthur L. Williams papers cover the period from 1914-1972; the bulk dates of the materials date from 1935-1970. The papers consist of both personal and professional papers including correspondence, programs, pamphlets, ABA Convention materials, and articles relating to Williams' personal interest in Ohio band history, Percy Grainger, and the ABA Research Sub-Committee on Band Research Study Topics.

Biography

Arthur Lyman Williams was born on April 21, 1902 in Oberlin, Ohio. As a young man, Williams was a charter member of Jack Wainwright's Oberlin Boys Band. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of School Music from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in 1925. From 1932 until 1933, he was a student of Gordon Jacob at the Royal College of Music in London. In 1943, Williams also earned a Master of Arts from the Western Reserve University Graduate School (now Case Western Reserve University).

Williams was highly active in music education, especially in Ohio. After teaching high school in Michigan, Williams was appointed to the faculty of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in 1928. He founded the Ohio Intercollegiate Band Festival and the Ohio School Orchestra Contests in 1929. He served as President of the Ohio Music Education Association (1931-1932) and founded the state music education publication Triad. On June 23, 1932, Williams married Mary Eleanor Maltbie.

In 1950, Williams was elected to the American Bandmaster's Association (ABA) and served as chairman of ABA Research Sub-Committee on Band Research Study Topics. Williams worked closely with Paul Yoder, chairman of the ABA Research committee. In addition to his duties with ABA, Williams served as the official representative for History and Tradition of the band in Ohio. Williams died on February 19, 1973.

Arrangement

This collection has been divided into seven series.
  1. Series 1: Correspondence
  2. Series 2: ABA Convention Materials
  3. Series 3: School Curriculum
  4. Series 4: Research Materials
  5. Series 5: Percy Grainger Files
  6. Series 6: Clippings, Brochures, and Newsletters
  7. Series 7: Oberlin College Band

Related Material

The Arthur Williams Collection is part of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA) Research Center.

For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.

Administrative Information

Title
Arthur L. Williams papers
Status
edited-full-draft
Author
Processed by Caitlyn Callahan, March 2008.
Date
2008-03-01
Language of description
Finding aid written in English

Revision Statements

  • 2012-11-26: EAD checked and validated using Oxygen software by Amanda May, November 2012.
  • 2015-05-05: EAD checked and validated using Oxygen software by John Davis, May 2015.
  • 2016-01-11: EAD checked and validated using Oxygen software by John Davis, January 2016.

Library Details

Library Details

Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library Library

http://www.lib.umd.edu/mspal
Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
8270 Alumni Drive
College Park MD 20742 United States

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