Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title Pittsburgh Symphony Society Records Creator
Pittsburgh Symphony Society
Collection Number AIS.1966.16 Extent
14.75 Linear Feet
(7 boxes; 21 oversized ledgers and scrapbooks)
Date 1927-1964 Abstract The Pittsburgh Symphony Society was formed in 1927 to support the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. This collection consists of organizational records, committee activities, contracts, active and inactive Society membership cards, brochures, advertisements, financial records and ledgers, scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings. Language
English
. Author Wendy Pflug Publisher ULS Archives & Special Collections Address University of Pittsburgh Library Systemhttp://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections History
The Pittsburgh Symphony Society emanated from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to support, encourage, and promote further interest in the arts. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra was originally formed in 1895 and disbanded due to financial difficulties in 1910. It was 1926 before the orchestra was reestablished with its members rehearsing for no fee and each musician contributed money to make a new season in 1927 possible. The Pittsburgh Symphony Society was formed in 1927 to administer the daily tasks associated with running a symphony. The Society raised funds in order to maintain an orchestra by actively soliciting corporate and individual members, running the box office, and careful accounting. The Society was also responsible for arranging contracts between musicians and conductors, along with program advertisers. The Pittsburgh Symphony Society sought to raise the profile of the symphony promoting performances in local publications, through advertisements and announcements. In order to instill a life-long appreciation of music, the Society organized frequent Young People's Concerts for local school children. The Pittsburgh Symphony Society's primary goal was to promote and financially support the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. It achieved world wide renown and recognition, often appearing in national and international publications to great acclaim.
Scope and Contents Note This collection contains financial records, organization records, contracts, operational material on the Pittsburgh Symphony and active and inactive Society membership cards, financial campaign material, scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, committee activities, advertisements, and memorabilia.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Previous Citation
Pittsburgh Symphony Society Records, 1927-1964, AIS.1966.16, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Preferred Citation
Pittsburgh Symphony Society Records, 1927-1964, AIS.1966.16, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was reprocessed by Wendy Pflug in September 2009. It was originally processed by Archive Service Center staff in 1966.
Copyright
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Arrangement
Series I. Administrative Files, 1927-1959
Series II. Press Files, 1928-1955
Series III. Financial Files, 1934-1964
Series IV. Membership Files, 1927-1958
Series V. Scrapbooks, 1943-1956
Acquisition Information
Gift of John Edwards on September 9, 1966.
Related Material
American Federation of Musicians, Local 60-471 Records, 1906-1996, AIS.1997.41, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society Records, 1961-2009, AIS.1998.51, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Penn Theater, Pittsburgh, Pa., Records, 1927-1964, AIS.1968.06, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Subjects Corporate Names Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Pittsburgh Opera (Pa.) American Federation of Musicians. Local 60 (Pittsburgh, Pa) Pittsburgh Symphony Society Geographic Names Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Social life and customs Other Subjects Musical groups -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Music Societies Container List Series I. Administrative Files , 1927-1959 Scope and Content Notes The Administrative Files series contains information on the daily administration of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra by the Pittsburgh Symphony Society. Included in this series are documents on organizing special concerts for local school children, contracts with various musicians, along with programs, orchestra tour schedules, and tickets. Also included in this series is correspondence and notes from the Board of Directors, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Manager of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society. This Administrative Files series is arranged alphabetically.
Executive Board Remarks , 1936 Containers box 1 , folder 1 Executive Board of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society By-Laws , 1952 Containers box 1 , folder 2 Executive Board Memos , 1952 Containers box 1 , folder 3 Reports to the Board of Directors and Call for Meetings , 1952-1953 Containers box 1 , folder 4 Board of Directors Correspondence , 1954 Containers box 1 , folder 5 Board of Directors Petition to the Trustees of the Falk Foundation , undated Containers box 1 , folder 6 Contract between Pittsburgh Symphony and American Federation of Musicians, Local 60 , 1950 Containers box 1 , folder 7 Contracts Soloists and Conductors , 1951-1954 Containers box 1 , folder 8 Contract with Pittsburgh Opera Society , 1953-1954 Containers box 1 , folder 9 Contracts with American Federation of Musicians, Local 60 , 1953-1959 Containers box 1 , folder 10 Contracts with Soloists , 1954-1957 Containers box 1 , folder 11 Contracts with Program Advertisers , 1954-1956 Containers box 1 , folder 12 Contracts with Program Advertisers , 1956-1958 Containers box 1 , folder 13 Contracts with Soloists , 1957-1958 Containers box 1 , folder 14 Contracts with Program Advertisers , 1958-1959 Containers box 1 , folder 15 Conductor's Symposium, Notes and Photographs , 1958-1959 Containers box 1 , folder 16 Floor plans for Proposed Music Hall , 1939 Containers box 1 , folder 17 Manager, Edward Specter , 1936-1950 Containers box 1 , folder 18 Manager, William McKelvy Martin, Incoming Correspondence , 1954 Containers box 1 , folder 19 Manager, John S. Edward, Outgoing Correspondence , 1956 Containers box 1 , folder 20 Performance Program Notes for Joan of Arc , 1953 Containers box 1 , folder 21 Pittsburgh Symphony Society Annual Meeting , 1954 Containers box 1 , folder 22 Pittsburgh Junior Symphony Audition Cards , 1953 Containers box 1 , folder 23 Pittsburgh Junior Symphony , 1953,1956 Containers box 1 , folder 24 Pittsburgh Symphony Society Campaign Letterhead , 1934 Containers box 1 , folder 25 Pittsburgh Symphony Society Envelope Letterhead , undated Containers box 1 , folder 26 Pittsburgh Symphony Society Luncheon , 1952 Containers box 1 , folder 27 Pittsburgh Symphony Society Ticket Stubs , 1928-1931 Containers box 1 , folder 28 Pittsburgh Symphony Tour Schedule , 1951 Containers box 1 , folder 29 President, Mrs. William Maclay Hall, Correspondence , 1928-1930 Containers box 1 , folder 30 President, Charles Denby, Notes , 1952 Containers box 1 , folder 31 President, Charles Denby, Report to the Board of Directors , 1952 Containers box 1 , folder 32 President, Charles Denby, Outgoing Correspondence , 1953-1956 Containers box 1 , folder 33 Programs , 1927-1954 Containers box 1 , folder 34 Programs, Concerts for High School Students , 1950-1951 Containers box 1 , folder 35 Program, Railroad Night at the Symphony , 1956 Containers box 1 , folder 36 Programs, Pittsburgh Orchestra Association Concert , 1944-1946 Containers box 1 , folder 37 Secretary, Richard J. Rauh, Correspondence , 1927 Containers box 1 , folder 38 Secretary Richard J. Rauh, Notes and Newspaper Clippings , 1952 Containers box 1 , folder 39 Vice-President, E.T. Weir, Incoming Correspondence , 1949 Containers box 1 , folder 40 Vice-President, E.T. Weir, Outgoing Correspondence , 1954 Containers box 1 , folder 41 Young People's Concert , 1939 Containers box 1 , folder 42 Young People's Concerts , 1954-1956 Containers box 1 , folder 43 Young People's Concerts , 1956 Containers box 1 , folder 44 Young People's Concerts , 1957-1958 Containers box 1 , folder 45 Young People's Concerts Questionnaire , 1958 Containers box 1 , folder 46 Young People's Concert Seating Arrangement , 1961 Containers box 2 , folder 1 Young People's Concerts Promotional Material , undated Containers box 2 , folder 2 Young People's Concerts Photographs , undated Containers box 2 , folder 3 Series II. Press Files , 1928-1955 Scope and Content Notes The Press Files series contains material that publicized performances of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Included in this series are numerous newspaper clippings from local and national publications that show the popularity and renown of the symphony. The Press Files series also feature advertisement and announcements of symphony concerts. Of particular interest are a brief biography written by the Society on renowned conductor Fritz Reiner and press releases from Columbia Music on recording released of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performances. This series is arranged by year.
Symphony Concert Flyers , 1928-1945 Containers box 2 , folder 4 Newspaper Clippings , 1928 Containers box 2 , folder 5 Newspaper Clippings , 1929 Containers box 2 , folder 6 Newspaper Clippings , 1929 Containers box 2 , folder 7 Newspaper Clippings , 1929 Containers box 2 , folder 8 Newspaper Clippings , 1929 Containers box 2 , folder 9 Newspaper Clippings , 1929 Containers box 2 , folder 10 Concert Flyer , 1929 Containers box 2 , folder 11 Newspaper Clippings , 1930-1931 Containers box 2 , folder 12 Newspaper Clippings , 1930-1931 Containers box 2 , folder 13 Newspaper Clippings , 1931-1932 Containers box 2 , folder 14 Newspaper Clippings , 1931-1932 Containers box 2 , folder 15 Newspaper Clippings , 1932-1933 Containers box 2 , folder 16 Newspaper Clippings , 1932-1933 Containers box 2 , folder 17 Newspaper Clippings , 1933-1934 Containers box 2 , folder 18 Newspaper Clippings , 1933-1934 Containers box 2 , folder 19 Newspaper Clippings , 1934-1935 Containers box 2 , folder 20 Newspaper Clippings , 1934-1935 Containers box 2 , folder 21 Newspaper Clippings , 1934-1935 Containers box 3 , folder 1 Newspaper Clippings , 1934-1935 Containers box 3 , folder 2 Newspaper Clippings , 1935-1936 Containers box 3 , folder 3 Newspaper Clippings , 1935-1936 Containers box 3 , folder 4 Newspaper Clippings , 1936-1937 Containers box 3 , folder 5 Newspaper Clippings , 1936-1937 Containers box 3 , folder 6 Newspaper Clippings , 1937-1938 Containers box 3 , folder 7 Newspaper Clippings on Symphony Guest Artists , 1938 Containers box 3 , folder 8 Symphony Concert Flyers , 1938-1939 Containers box 3 , folder 9 Newspaper Clippings , 1938-1939 Containers box 3 , folder 10 Newspaper Clippings , 1939-1940 Containers box 3 , folder 11 Newspaper Clippings , 1940-1941 Containers box 4 , folder 1 Newspaper Clippings , 1940-1941 Containers box 4 , folder 2 Symphony Advertisements , 1940-1950 Containers box 4 , folder 3 Symphony Newspaper Clippings and Advertisements , 1941-1943 Containers box 4 , folder 4 Newspaper Clippings , 1941-1942 Containers box 4 , folder 5 Fritz Reiner Biography and Newspaper Clippings , 1944-1945 Containers box 4 , folder 6 Newspaper Clippings , 1950-1952 Containers box 4 , folder 7 Symphony Press Releases , 1953-1954 Containers box 4 , folder 8 Symphony Concert Announcements , 1953-1954 Containers box 4 , folder 8 Press Releases for the Performance of Handel's Messiah , 1955 Containers box 4 , folder 10 High School Concerts Newspaper Clippings , undated Containers box 4 , folder 11 Press Releases , undated Containers box 4 , folder 12 Series III. Financial Files , 1934-1964 Scope and Content Notes This series chronicles the financial accounting of maintaining the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The Financial Files series includes information on various fundraising campaigns, contributions pledged, box office statements, and expenditure reports. This series also includes twelve oversized financial ledgers detailing cash receipts, disbursements, accounts, and payroll. The Financial Files series is arranged by year.
Symphony Fundraising Campaign Dinner Program , 1934 Containers box 4 , folder 13 Bank Deposit Books , 1934-1939 Containers box 4 , folder 14 Symphony Budget , 1937-1938 Containers box 4 , folder 15 Symphony Fundraising Campaign Material , 1939, 1951 Containers box 4 , folder 16 Orchestra Tours Expenses , 1948-1950 Containers box 4 , folder 17 Symphony Fundraising Campaign Worker's Kit , 1950 Containers box 4 , folder 18 Orchestra Tours Expenses , 1950-1955 Containers box 4 , folder 19 Orchestra Fundraising Campaign , 1950-1951, 1954 Containers box 4 , folder 20 Box Office Statements , 1951-1952 Containers box 4 , folder 21 Symphony Fundraising Campaign Information , 1951-1952 Containers box 4 , folder 22 Comparative Operating Results , 1952-1957 Containers box 4 , folder 23 Box Office Statements , 1952-1953 Containers box 4 , folder 24 Corporate Sponsors Gifts , 1952-1957 Containers box 5 , folder 1 Box Office Statements , 1953-1954 Containers box 5 , folder 2 Weekly Summary Expenditure Reports , 1953-1954 Containers box 5 , folder 3 Disbursement Statements , May to December, 1953 Containers box 5 , folder 4 Disbursement Statements , January to June, 1954 Containers box 5 , folder 5 Disbursement Statements , July to December, 1954 Containers box 5 , folder 6 Weekly Summary Expenditure Reports , 1954-1955 Containers box 5 , folder 7 Disbursement Statements , January to June, 1955 Containers box 5 , folder 8 Disbursement Statements , July to December, 1955 Containers box 5 , folder 9 Deficit , 1955-1956 Containers box 5 , folder 10 Contributions Pledged , 1955-1956 Containers box 5 , folder 11 Budget , 1955-1956 Containers box 5 , folder 12 Weekly Summary Expenditure Reports , 1955-1956 Containers box 5 , folder 13 Disbursement Statements , January to June, 1956 Containers box 5 , folder 14 Disbursement Statements , July to December, 1956 Containers box 5 , folder 15 Weekly Summary Expenditure Reports , 1956-1957 Containers box 5 , folder 16 Disbursement Statements , January to June, 1957 Containers box 5 , folder 17 Disbursement Statements , July to December, 1957 Containers box 5 , folder 18 Weekly Summary Expenditure Reports , 1957-1958 Containers box 6 , folder 1 Disbursement Statements , January to June, 1958 Containers box 6 , folder 2 Disbursement Statements , July to December, 1958 Containers box 6 , folder 3 Cash Disbursements , June 1927- February, 1934 Containers oversize Ledger 1 Cash Receipts , June 1927- February 1944 Containers oversize Ledger 2 Account Book , March 1926- October 1926 Containers oversize Ledger 3 Account Book , June 1927- May 1934 Containers oversize Ledger 4 Account Book , June 1927- May 1939 Containers oversize Ledger 5 Account Book , May 1939- December 1946 Containers oversize Ledger 6 Cash Receipts , February 1944- June 1956 Containers oversize Ledger 7 Cash Disbursements , March 1944- June 1956 Containers oversize Ledger 8 Account Book , December 1946- April 1952 Containers oversize Ledger 9 Account Book , April 1952- January 1957 Containers oversize Ledger 10 Payroll Book , 1962-1963 Containers oversize Ledger 11 Check Register , 1962-1964 Containers oversize Ledger 12 Series IV. Membership Files , 1927-1958 Scope and Content Notes The Membership Files series details the various membership campaigns and drives lead by the Pittsburgh Symphony Society. Included in this series are index cards of season subscribers and correspondence with corporate sponsors, events planned and coordinated by the Pittsburgh Symphony Society Womem's Association. This series is arranged by year.
Membership Campaign Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 4 Membership Cards , 1927-1929 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 5 Correspondence to Members (Form Letter) , 1927-1928, 1930 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 6 Women's Association Meeting Minutes , 1937 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 7 Membership Campaign Drive , 1937 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 8 Women's Association Correspondence , 1938-1939 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 9 Women's Association Form Letters , 1938-1939, 1954-1955 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 10 Women's Association Reply Cards , 1939, 1954-1955 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 12 Membership Campaign , 1943-1944 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 12 Corporate Sponsorship Committee List of Organizations , 1950 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 13 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Prospective Donors , 1950-1951 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 14 Women's Association, Board of Directors Nominations , 1951 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 15 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Draft of Proposed Letters , 1951-1952, 1955 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 16 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Memos and Charts , 1952 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 17 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence , 1952 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 18 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Luncheon , 1952 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 19 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Lists of Amount Donated by Companies "A-D" , 1952-1953 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 20 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Reports , 1952-1954 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 21 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation , 1952-1953 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 22 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "A-C" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 23 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "D-E" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 24 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "F-G" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 25 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "H-J" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 26 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "K-Mel" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 27 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "Mi-N" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 28 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "P" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 29 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "P" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 30 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "P-R" , 1952-1956 Containers oversize Ledger 12 , folder 31 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "S-U" , 1952-1956 Containers box 7 , folder 1 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence with Companies "W" , 1952-1956 Containers box 7 , folder 2 Women's Association Correspondence , 1952, 1954-1955 Containers box 7 , folder 3 Women's Association Membership List , 1952-1953 Containers box 7 , folder 4 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence , 1953 Containers box 7 , folder 5 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence , 1953 Containers box 7 , folder 6 Women's Association Membership List , 1954-1955 Containers box 7 , folder 7 Men's Committee Files , 1954 Containers box 7 , folder 8 Women's Association Symphony Ball Committee Notes , 1954 Containers box 7 , folder 9 Women's Association Symphony Ball Committee Notes , 1954 Containers box 7 , folder 10 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence , 1954 Containers box 7 , folder 11 Women's Association Membership List by School Zones , 1954-1955 Containers box 7 , folder 12 Membership Campaign Drive , 1954-1955 Containers box 7 , folder 13 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Notes , 1955-1956 Containers box 7 , folder 14 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence , 1955-1956 Containers box 7 , folder 15 Corporate Sponsorship Committee Correspondence , 1955-1956 Containers box 7 , folder 16 Women's Committee Membership List , undated Containers box 7 , folder 17 Former Season Subscribers Cards, A-P , 1953-1958 Former Season Subscribers Cards, R-Z , 1953-1958 Corporate and Individual Contributors Cards , 1957 Individual Contributors Cards , 1957 Individual Contributors Cards , 1957 Individual Contributors Cards , 1958 Individual Contributors Cards , 1958 Series V. Scrapbooks , 1943-1956 Scope and Content Notes This series features nine oversized scrapbooks of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performances and Pittsburgh Symphony Society activities. The scrapbooks are largely comprised of newspaper clippings and are arranged by date. The scrapbooks chronicling the activities of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society consist of form letter sent to member and memorabilia such as ticket stubs and pledge forms. The Scrapbook series is arranged by year.
Newspaper Clippings , 1943-1944 Containers oversize Scrapbook 1 Newspaper Clippings , 1944-1945 Containers oversize Scrapbook 2 Newspaper Clippings , 1945-1946 Containers oversize Scrapbook 3 Fundraising Campaign , 1947-1948 Containers oversize Scrapbook 4 Form Letters to Members , 1948-1949 Containers oversize Scrapbook 5 Fundraising Campaign Forms , 1947-1948 Containers oversize Scrapbook 6 Form Letters to Members , 1948-1949 Containers oversize Scrapbook 7 Fundraising Campaign Forms , 1950-1952 Containers oversize Scrapbook 8 Newspaper Advertisements , 1953 Containers oversize Scrapbook 9 
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