Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Max Rabinoff papers
Rabinoff, Max
4079244
MS#1039
English
.
2.25 linear feet
4 boxes
1908-1961
Arrangement
Cataloged and arranged.
Restrictions on Access
This collection is located on-site.
Restrictions on Access
This collection has no restrictions.
Summary
Papers and correspondence of Rabinoff. Part of the collection relates to Rabinoff's endeavors in opera in Chicago, New York, and Boston and to his founding the American Institute of Operatic Art. The second part of the collection concerns his career as an economic advisor to the republics of Estonia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, his work on the development of the Export Import Bank, and his interest in trade with Russia. Included in the collection are many photographs, clippings, and programs. Many of these pertain to the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova who was introduced to American audiences by Rabinoff.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Max Rabinoff papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--Vera (Mrs. Michael) Kraus. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1967. Accession number--M-67.
Biographical / Historical
Musical impresario, international economist.
Max Rabinoff was born in Moghilev, Russia on March 9 1877. He immigrated to the United States in 1892 and was naturalized in 1898. He began his career as an employee of the Kimball Piano Store eventually becoming the owner of three piano stores of his own. In 1908 he left the musical instrument business to organize musical events for the general public. He initiated Sunday Concerts in Chicago and helped organize the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chicago Opera Company. In 1910 Rabinoff presented an opera season for the Mexican Republic's centennial celebration at the invitation of the Mexican Government. Rabinoff was instrumental in introducing Russian artists to the American public including Anna Pavlova the Russian Imperial Court Balalaika Orchestra and the Ukrainian National Chorus. From 1914 to 1917 he was the managing director of the Boston Opera Company featuring Anna Pavlova and her Russian Ballet Company. In 1922 Rabinoff founded the American Institute for Operatic and Allied Arts at Stony Brook on the Hudson to encourage the development of American talent.
Rabinoff at the age of 21 organized the American-Russian Importing and Exporting Company. In 1917 he attended the Paris Peace Conference where he was made economic advisor to the Republics of Estonia Georgia and Azerbaijan. He was a continuous advocate of economic trade with the Soviet Union and established a business to advise the American Government and American companies on trade with Russia and its satellites. He continued his interest in music encouraging young talent and establishing the Cosmopolitan Opera Company in New York in 1942-1943 to bring opera to the public at affordable prices. and
Rabinoff married his discovery, the singer Marie La Salle on March 22 1910. Following her death in 1912 he married Helene Gaubert on May 16 1913. Max Rabinoff died in 1966.
Processing Information
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/89.
MTM - 3/2000.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Related Materials
See also the Joseph Urban Collection for Boston Opera Company set designs
Ballerinas -- Soviet Union
Opera -- Illinois -- Chicago
Opera -- New York (State) -- New York
Opera -- Massachusetts -- Boston
International economic relations
International trade
Estonia -- Economic conditions
Georgia (Republic) -- Economic conditions
Azerbaijan -- Economic conditions
Soviet Union -- Economic conditions
Soviet Union -- Commerce
Photographic prints
Impresarios
Economists
Pavlova, Anna, 1881-1931
American Institute of Operatic Art
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Series I: Cataloged CorrespondenceScope and ContentsThe series contains the cataloged correspondence of Max Rabinoff, and is organized by last name of correspondent. Contracts, news articles, calling cards, and photographs of or about the correspondent are included . Correspondents include Lee de Forest, Otto Kahn, Leopold Stokowsky, and Vera Tchaikovsky.
Bernstein, Leonard To: Max Rabinoff, [n.p.]2 October 1947t.l.s., 1p.11Coolidge, Calvin To: Mary Belle King Sherman (Mrs. John D. Sherman); Alice Ames Winter (Mrs. Thomas G. Winter), [n.p.]7 Jan. 1924; 26 Dec. 1923; 18 Feb. 1925t.l.s.11Scope and Contents[A series of letters reprinted as a presidential endorsment of
The American Institute of Operatic Art]de Forest, Lee To: Max Rabinoff, Los Angeles28 October 19362p. t.l.s.11de Forest, Lee To: Max Rabinoff, [n.p.]15 February 19381p. t.l.s.11Scope and Contents[clipping is missing]
de Forest, Lee To: Max Rabinoff, [n.p.]20 February 19391p. t.l.s.11Diaghilev, Sergei Pavlovich & M.V. Gulok Drafts of contracts in Russian, St. Petersburg, Russia10 February 1911a.d. and t.d11Dreiser, Theodore To: Max Rabinoff, New York11 April 19291p. a.l.s. photostat11Eastman, George To: Max Rabinoff, Rochester, NY.18 June 19231p. t.l.s.11Ezekiel, Mordecai To: Max Rabinoff, [n.p.]14 September 19331p. t.l.s. photostat11Farley, James A. To: John J. Hearne, New York10 September 19511p. t.l.s. photostat11Fisher, Irving To: C.P. Franchot, New Haven, Connecticut5 September 19331p. t.l.s.11Mary Steele (secretary to Oscar Hammerstein 2nd.) To: Max Rabinoff, New York27 July 19511p. t.l.s.11Scope and Contents[Included is a carbon of agreement for sale of the Philidelphia Opera House dated 26 April 1910]
Jones, Jesse Holman To: Max Rabinoff, Washington, D.C.14 September 19331p. t.l.s with photostat of original11Jones, Jesse Holman To Max Rabinoff, Washington, D.C.3 September 19351p. t.l.s11Scope and Contents[Says photostat on the folio, but appears to be original]
Kahn, Otto Hermann To: Max Rabinoff, New York, Bar Harbor, Chicago, Waterford, London, Biarritz and others9 August 1910 - 4 January 193430 t.l.s. or cables12Scope and Contents[On various subjects ranging from the opera to U.S. Soviet trade]
Melba, Nellie To: Max Max Rabinoff, Burlingame, Ca.2 April 19171p. telegram13Scope and Contents[Max Rabinoff telegram to Nellie Melba is missing]
Morris, Newbold To: V. Clement Jenkins, New York24 March 19431p. t.l. (typescript copy of a signed note13Morros, Boris Mihailovitch To: Max Rabinoff, Hollywood, Ca.28 October 19361p. t.l.s.13Scope and Contents[ With
NYTclipping on Morros]Rabinoff, Max To: Herman Bernstein, New York27 May 19261p. t.l.s.13Rabinoff, Max Memorandum on the late president Wilson, New York[n.d.]1p. m.s.13Rabinoff, Max contract with government of Mexico, Mexico City19 July 19103p. t.d. carbon copy13Stokowski, Leopold To: Max Rabinoff, New York; Connecticut; Beverley Hills1941-195010 t.l.s.13Strauss, Lewis L. To: Max Rabinoff, Washington29 March 19551p. t.l.s.13Tchaikovsky, Vera To: [Max Rabinoff]; Max Rabinoff, [n.p.] [Paris] Londonn.d.3 a.l.s.13Tchaikovsky, Vera To: Max Rabinoff, ParisNovember 19192 calling cards; inscribed photo, 1p. a.n.s.13Tchaikovsky, Vera To: Max Rabinoff, Paris26 March 19211p. marconigram13Tree, Sir Herbert Bearbohm Incomplete draft of contract with Max Rabinoff for an American tour, [n.p.]191213Tynan, Brandon Contract to appear in the play The Mandarin signed by Herman Bernstein and Brandon Tynan with related letter and photograph, New York21 September 19201p. t.l.s., 1p. contract13Series II: Arranged CorrespondenceScope and ContentsThe series contains correspondence arranged in alphabetical order by last name of correspondent. The series includes letters to Rabinoff from Lyn Stiebel-Hunt (professionally known as "Saharah") and New York Times music critic Howard Taubman.
A-Z, [v.p.]1916-19604Series III: Artifacts/EphemeraScope and ContentsThe series contains material related to Rabinoff's activities as a music impresario. It is arranged chronologically and consists of correspondence, musical programs, photographs, and clippings.
Contains information on Rabinoff's struggle to institute Sunday concerts in Chicago, on the Chicago auditorium, on performances for the Mexican government (1910), and on Rabinoff's wife, the soprano Marie La Salle, [n.p.]1908-191614Contains information on Rabinoff's opera companies and protégés, [n.p.]1917-196015Contains material from Rabinoff's scrapbook, some of which repeats the previous two files. Information is present on the performances for the Mexican government (1910), the production of The Miracle (1914), Marie La Salle, the US appearances of the Ukrainian National Chorus, the Imperial Balalaika Orchestra, and the American Institute of Operatic Arts at Stony Brook (1920s), [n.p.]1910-196016Includes information on the Cosmopolitan Opera Company and Rabinoff's protégés, [n.p.]1931-196117Chicago Grand Opera Company, [n.p.]1908-191018Mexican National Opera, [n.p.]1910-194421Boston Opera Company, [n.p.]1910-193422 & 3Anna Pavlova24American Institute of Operatic Art25 & 6Cosmopolitan Opera Association, [n.p.]1932-194327Photographs and biographical material28Series IV: BusinessScope and ContentsThe series contains clippings, correspondence, speeches, and photostats relating to Rabinoff's work as economic adviser to Estonia and Georgia, and as a promoter of trade with Russia.
Documents and letters on Rabinoff's role as economic adviser to Estonia and Georgia, [n.p.]1901-1950s31Material relating to Rabinoff's efforts to promote trade with Russia1920-195032-4