Virgil Thomson papers, 1920-1981

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1240
Bib ID:
4079399 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Thomson, Virgil, 1896-1989
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
12.5 linear feet (24 ms boxes and 1 tall ms box (box 15))
Language(s):
English .
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 18-25 are located 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.

Some unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized.

Description

Summary

Prose manuscripts, related correspondence, notes, printed material, and audio tapes of Thomson. Included are notes and drafts of many of Thomson's early articles, written while he was a student at Harvard University and in Paris, and numerous manuscripts of columns published in the HERALD TRIBUNE in the 1940s. Thomson's special interests reflected in these writings are modern music, American hymns, and the performance of music in Europe. Also, manuscripts and related material for six of Thomson's books and for Gertrude Stein's BEE TIME VINE, which was published after her death and for which he wrote the preface; and 125 reels of tapes of Thomson's program on radio station WNCN (New York), 1969-1970. Cataloged correspondents include Chalmers Clifton, Lincoln Kirstein, Alfred A. Knopf, and Man Ray.

Arrangement

Cataloged and listed.

Using the Collection

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 18-25 are located 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.

Some unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions 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.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Virgil Thomson papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

The main body of Thomson's papers are at the Yale Music Library: MSS 29, MSS 29A.

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--Thomson, Virgil. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1980. Accession number--M-80.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/89.

Revision Description

2019-09-06 Finding aid derived from PDF. kws

2020-06-09 Links to first batch of digitized material added.

Biographical / Historical

Composer, music critic.

Subject Headings

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

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Open reel audiotapes CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sound recordings CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
Clifton, Chalmers, 1889-1966 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Kirstein, Lincoln, 1907-1996 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Man Ray, 1890-1976 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
WNCN (Radio station : New York, N.Y.) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Composers (Music) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Hymns, English -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Music -- Instruction and study -- France -- Paris CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Music -- Instruction and study -- Massachusetts -- Cambridge CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Music -- Performance -- Europe CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Music critics CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Radio programs -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID