Rare Book & Manuscript Library
 

Max Neuhaus papers, 1950s-2008

Summary Information

Abstract

Research materials relating to the creation and installation of sound sculptures by Max Neuhaus.

At a Glance

Call No.: MS#1517
Bib ID 7459260 View CLIO record
Creator(s) Neuhaus, Max
Title Max Neuhaus papers, 1950s-2008
Physical Description 31.25 linear feet (16 document boxes; 9 record cartons; 8 cassette boxes; 4 videotape boxes)
Language(s) English , German , Korean , Italian , French , Spanish; Castilian .
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.

This collection is 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.

Arrangement

Arrangement

Arranged in 11 series.

Description

Summary

A variety of materials relating mostly to his various installations and explorations of sound. Neuhaus did not record the sounds of his installations because he believed the sound was meaningless without the surrounding environment. The papers are comprised of correspondence, plans, designs, background research files, maps, catalogs, slides, reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes, videos, photographs, floppy disks, cds, a full Macintosh PowerBook 5300ce laptop, and printed material.

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.

This collection is 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.

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.

Audiovisual content must be digitized prior to use. 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. Email rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Max Neuhaus Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accrual

No accruals are expected

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

2009-2010-M039: Source of acquisition--Source. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--9/17/2009.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers processed PTL 1/2014.

Boxes 38 and 39 contain CDs of material digitized from audio reels and audio cassette tapes. As of September 2019, these materials can be accessed on-site via links in the container list below and directly via the DLC portal. A printed list of the contents of boxes 38 and 39 is found in the collection file. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Revision Description

2014-01-07 File created.

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

2019-08-26 Links to previously digitized audio and video added; references to digital CD access copies removed for those items. kws

2020-01-10 Former Series IX (Film) added to video series; series numbers adjusted. 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

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Audiocassettes Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Audiotapes Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Compact discs Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Floor plans (form attributes) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Floppy disks Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Photographs Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Slides (photographs) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Videotapes Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

Subject

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Art, Modern -- 20th century Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Dia Center for the Arts (New York, N.Y.) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Fuzzy systems Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Installations (Art) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Musicians Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Neuhaus, Max Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Neuhaus, Max Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Neuhaus, Max (Time Piece Beacon) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Neuhaus, Max (Times Square) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Performance art Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Site-specific art Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Sound in art Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Sound installations (Art) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Tourist maps Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Max Neuhaus was born in Beaumont, Texas in 1939. He studied music at the Manhattan School of Music and became a renowned percussionist and interpreter of contemporary music while still in his twenties. He developed into a pioneer of artistic activities with sound. He was the first to extend sound as an autonomous medium into the domain of contemporary art. Neuhaus died at age 69 in Maratea, a coastal town in southern Italy.