Scope and arrangement
The Richard Maltby Sr. papers hold score manuscripts, correspondence, business papers, photographs, clippings, and scrapbooks. The vast majority of the collection consists of scores and parts for arrangements and compositions by Maltby as well as by his staff arrangers (primarily Al Muller and Red Bone). The scores are largely for jazz big band but also contain music for small groups, concert band, orchestra, commercial jingles, fraternity songs, choir, marching/pep band, strings and rhythm section, and various other instrumentations. The scores include music from Maltby's band and its recordings of the 1950s, including its hits St. Louis Blues Mambo and Theme from The Man with the Golden Arm. Also present is music written for Lawrence Welk and possibly for the singers Maltby worked with as arranger/conductor.
The collection also contains sound recordings in vinyl and open reel formats. Inquiries regarding audio materials in the collection may be directed to the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound (rha@nypl.org). Audio materials will be subject to preservation evaluation and migration prior to access.
The Richard Maltby Sr. papers are arranged in two series:
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1936-20006 boxes
The Personal Files series consists of letters, business documents, photographs, clippings, and scrapbooks documenting Maltby's personal life and professional career. The bulk of this material is business files comprised of letters, contracts, legal documents, and copyright forms for songs. Photographs include publicity shots and live performance shots of Maltby and his various bands, as well as photographs of his colleagues at radio stations and recording studios, and a group of autographed portraits of astronauts from the 1950s and 1960s, among others. The two scrapbooks contain photographs of friends and performers with whom Maltby collaborated, along with telegraphs, programs, autographs, fliers, and contracts for engagements with bands and venues, and with recording and publishing companies.
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1949-2006117 boxes
This series holds the score and part manuscripts for music composed and/or arranged by Maltby and several other musicians. It also contains score inventories prepared after Maltby's death. Most songs have at least a full score, and many have both a full score and parts. Others contain only a full set of parts, while some have only an incomplete set of parts. Several songs have multiple arrangements.
The scores are arranged in the following subseries: Inventories, General, Big Band, Choir, Commercial Jingles, Concert Band, Fraternity Songs, Marching Band/Pep Band, Orchestra, Small Groups, Strings and Rhythm Section, and Unidentified/Incomplete.