Eda Rothstein Rapoport Papers, circa 1915-1968, 1915-1968

Summary Information

Abstract

Eda Rapoport was a Jewish American composer and pianist. Her papers are comprised primarily of manuscripts of musical scores arranged by Rapoport, as well as commercially-printed music. The collection also features recordings of performances of Rapoport's works dating from 1939 to 1966.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series.

• Series I: Original Accession
• Series II: Later Accession-Scores
• Subseries II.1. Manuscript music
• Subseries II.2. Printed music
• Series III: Sound recordings

Description

Scope and Content

The Eda Rapoport Papers are comprised primarily of music manuscripts authored by Rapoport, many of which are autographs. While most of the manuscripts are undated, they are accompanied by lacquer and aluminum disc recordings of concerts of Rapoport's works given throughout her career. Most of the records are labeled according to the date and piece performed, and span between 1939 and 1966. The collection also features a small selection of printed music, originally intended for commercial distribution. Finally, there are diaries of Rapoport's musical life, 1932-1948, kept by her husband, Boris Rapoport.

The container list for Series I was compiled from the labels on the individual boxes; there is a full list of items available in this series in the Manuscript Card Catalog located in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

• Series I: Original Accession

• Series II: Later Accession-Scores

  This series is comprised of musical scores authored by Rapoport, and includes both manuscript and printed material.

• Series III: Sound recordings

  This series contains 81 lacquer or aluminum phonograph disc recordings, one recording on open reel audio tape, and 22 digital sound files. Their dates range from 1939 to 1966. The majority are live concert recordings of pieces composed by Eda Rapoport, which were created by or for the radio station WNYC. Others appear to have been recorded in studios in Manhattan and the Bronx.

  Some of the recordings feature Rapoport herself, performing her own compositions on the piano. Other musicians who frequently appear include the violinists Yvette Rudin Bader, Carmela Ippolito, and Harold Kohon; the pianists Esther Ostroff and and Maria Rey; the cellist Alexander Goldfield; and the soprano vocalist Gretchen Ganvoort.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Boxes 1-9 and 13 are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via the Digital Library Collections portal. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized. Email rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of both the physical property and copyright. To request permission to quote or publish, please contact the RBML at rbml@columbia.edu.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Eda Rothstein Rapoport Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Rapoport, Dr. Boris and Eda. Method of acquisition--Bequest; Date of acquisition--1969. Accession number--M-69.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Processed by Megan Darlington, August 2012.

The collection originally included 92 lacquer or aluminum discs, which were previously stored in nine albums. In 2008, the discs in Album 5 were removed for digitization. Their digitized contents can be accessed in the reading room at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Celeste Brewer reprocessed materials in Series III in February 2020, in preparation for digitization. The lacquer and aluminum discs had previously been stored in eight albums with paper sleeves. The sleeves had become acidified and were no longer strong enough to support the weight of the discs without tearing. The discs were assigned numbers in a sequence reflecting the order in which they were found in the albums, and rehoused in acid-free phonograph storage envelopes. Two discs, 62 and 65, which are delaminating, were moved to Box 14 for flat storage.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2012-08-09 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2012-08-09 XML document revised by Megan Darlington

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

2020-02-07 Series III item level inventory and descriptive notes updated by Celeste Brewer in preparation for digitization

2020-08-21 Links to digitized audio added. kws

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Eda Rapoport was a Jewish American composer and pianist. Born December 25, 1890 in Daugavpils, Latvia, she later immigrated to the United States, where she lived much of her life in New York. Considered a prolific composer of her day, she arranged several hundred compositions for piano, violin, voice, and symphony orchestra. Rapoport died on May 9, 1968 at her home in Manhattan.