Lewis M. Isaacs papers

id
3841
origination
Isaacs, Lewis Montefiore, 1877-1944
date statement
1906-1942
key date
1906
identifier (local_mss)
20313
org unit
Music Division
call number
JPB 04-7
b-number
b16069094
total components
77
total series
3
max depth
4
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:04:52 UTC
updated
2026-01-20 20:38:08 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"1 linear foot", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
unitid
{"value"=>"JPB 04-7", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20313", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1906-1942", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1906/1942"}
date_inclusive_start
1906
date_inclusive_end
1942
keydate
1906
unittitle
{"value"=>"Lewis M. Isaacs papers"}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. <span class=\"subarea\">Music Division.</span></span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"Lewis m. Isaacs (ca. 1877-1944) was born and raised in New York City. Although better known as a lawyer and for his friendship with the poet E.A. Robinson, Isaacs was also composer. This collection highlights Isaacs's less well known musical ability."}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Lewis M. Isaacs Papers, JPB 04-7. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Isaacs, Lewis Montefiore, 1877-1944", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Lewis M. Isaacs (c. 1877-1944) was born and raised in New York City, attending first City College (1891-1983) and then New York University where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1897. It was later at Columbia University where Isaacs received his law degree and subsequent music instruction from the composer and Columbia faculty member Edward MacDowell. After passing the bar in1903 Isaacs joined the firm M.S. and I. S. Isaacs where he eventually became a senior member. Throughout his life, Isaacs remained active in the law community. In 1932 Isaacs was appointed to the Washington Bicentennial Commission. Isaacs also served on the Bill of Rights Committee for the City of New York Association of the Bar from 1942 until his death in 1944.</p> <p>Isaacs maintained a passion for music. Around 1908 MacDowell died and his farm in Peterborough, New Hampshire was converted into a secluded work environment for artists, the so-called MacDowell Colony. Isaacs and his wife Edith frequented those studios during the summer and it is here where much of the Isaacs music was composed. It was also on this 600-acre colony where Isaacs also met the poet E.A. Robinson. Not only did E.A. Robinson write lyrics for much of Isaacs’s music, but the poet also relied on Isaacs as a friend and as his lawyer. After Robinson’s death in 1935, Isaacs collaborated with Herman Hagedorn, a fellow Peterborough-er and lyricist for some of Isaac’s scores, on the poet’s biography, which was published by the MacMillan Company. In short, Isaacs had two lifelong involvements, one with the law and the other with music. He died at the age of 67.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>This collection connotes a musical rather than biographical appreciation for Lewis M. Isaacs. The bulk of the collection is unpublished vocal scores written for piano accompaniment that attest to Isaacs’s work proclivity. Of particular mention are the unknown vocal scores. Although not necessarily complete, the title <span class=\"title\">Sheema</span> (recited as confirmation of the Jewish faith in one God) suggests that Isaacs was working on a religious score.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Lewis M. Isaacs papers are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20313#c562095'>Series I: Scores</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1906 - 1940</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>44 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains Isaacs's unpublished music, the bulk of which are vocal scores with piano accompaniment.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20313#c562160'>Series II: Sheet Music (vocal scores)</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1912 - 1942</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>7 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains Isaacs’s published vocal scores. Lyricist identities are provided before the title in order to highlight this information and are not to be considered as an arrangement technique. Publisher information is given in the notes following the title.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20313#c562169'>Series III: Ephemera</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1933 - 1942</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This last series includes clippings and correspondence. The newspaper clippings are reviews of Isaacs’s <span class=\"title\">Policeman’s Serenade</span>, which was performed in New Canaan, Connecticut in 1933. The correspondences are two letters, both of whom are Isaacs’s lyricists and pertain to matters of their work with the composer.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is organized into 3 series and 3 sub-series. They are: <ul> <li>Series I: Scores <ul> <li>Sub-series 1 - Chorus</li> <li>Sub-series 2 - Piano</li> <li>Sub-series 3 - Vocal</li></ul></li> <li>Series II: Sheet Music</li> <li>Series III: Ephemera</li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
accessrestrict
{"value"=>"<p>Photocopying prohibited.</p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division.</p>"}
note
{"value"=>"<p>The Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library holds related material, the Lewis M. Isaacs collection of E.A. Robinson papers, 1896-1967</p>", "encodinganalog"=>"500"}
langmaterial
{"value"=>"English"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Camille Reilly Meyer; Machine-readable finding aid created by Camille Reilly Meyer.</p>"}
extent_statement
1 linear foot (2 boxes)
date_start
1906
date_end
1942

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https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/musisaac.pdf

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