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Creator
Kohs, Ellis B., 1916-2000
Call number
JPB 04-25
Physical description
18 linear feet. (45 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation

Ellis B. Kohs Papers, JPB 04-25. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Music Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Ellis Kohs was a composer of classical music. He is well known for his opera Amerika based upon the Franz Kafka novel by the same name. Kohs began his teaching career in 1946 with posts at the Kansas City Conservatory, the College of the Pacific and Stanford University. In 1950 he joined the faculty of the University of Southern California, teaching there for 38 years. Kohs was the author of several music theory textbooks.

Biographical/historical information

Ellis Bonoff Kohs was born on May 12, 1916 in Chicago Illinois. He was a composer, educator and author. Following early studies at the San Francisco Conservatory, Kohs attended the University of Chicago (1938), Julliard (1938-1939), and Harvard (1939-1941). While at Harvard, he studied composition with Walter Piston, and musicology with Willi Apel and Hugo Leichtentritt. He also attended Stravinsky’s seminar for graduate composers.

During World War II, Kohs conducted the Army and Air Force bands at Fort Benning, Georgia, St. Joseph, Missouri, and Nashville. Following his military service, he taught at the Kansas City Conservatory, Wesleyan University (Washington D.C.), College of the Pacific, Stanford University and the University of Southern California. His career at USC spanned over thirty-five years (1950-1985) including several years as the chairman of the Theory Department in the School of Music.

Kohs wrote three textbooks: Music Theory: a Syllabus for Teacher and Student (1961), Musical Form: Studies in Analysis and Synthesis (1976) and Musical Composition: Projects in Ways and Means (1980). He was also the recipient of the Ditson Award in 1946 and the BMI Publication Award in 1948. He received commissions from Moteux, Fromm Foundation and USC in commemoration of its centenary.

His principal works include the opera Amerika (1969), two symphonies, three string quartets, and concerti for violin and for viola. He also wrote large and small chamber works and choral pieces. Additionally he wrote works for piano, organ and voice.

Ellis Kohs died on May 17, 2000 in Los Angeles.

Scope and arrangement

The Ellis B. Kohs papers span the years 1906-1998 and consist of correspondence, research material, scores, and librettos. There are clippings, photographs, programs and posters. The collection is important in its documentation of Kohs’ musical composition career. The collection does not include information concerning his teaching career at USC.

The Ellis B. Kohs papers are arranged in eight series:

  • Series I: Correspondence
    1943 - 1998
    4 Boxes

    This series contains correspondence, both personal and professional.

  • Series II: Catalog of Works
    1939 - 1996
    5 Boxes

    This series contains information about Kohs’ composed works. Included are details about its creation and performance. Also included are correspondence, contracts, rights and permissions for copyrighted tests, and some clippings of reviews about each of the works.

  • Series III: Scores
    1939 - 1987
    22 Boxes

    This series contains completed scores created by Ellis Kohs. There are parts scores, master scores and holograph/autograph scores, and published scores. Some librettos have been included here. Notable titles include the opera Amerika, Lohiau and Hiiaka, Rhinoceros, and Men.

  • Series IV: Programs
    1938 - 1988
    2 Boxes

    This series contains programs of works written by Kohs. Also included are programs of Kohs’ colleagues.

  • Series V: Subject File
    1939 - 1997
    3 Boxes

    This series contains material about associations and societies that Kohs was a member of, work contracts, grants, reviews of works, and material about promoting the works and tourist material. Also included is Kohs’ doctoral dissertation material, and some material about his time as chairman of the Music Theory Department of USC. This series also includes an incomplete book draft.

  • Series VI: Photographs
    1950 - 1994
    3 folders

    This series contains snapshots of Ellis Kohs from his time as a young man through his later years. There are some 8 x 10 photographs that were probably used for publicity purposed. Included also is an autographed photo of Olga Samaroff Stokowski

  • Series VII: Clippings
    1936 - 1997
    1 Box

    This series contains clippings. There are clippings of reviews of works created by Kohs. There are extensive clippings about mid-1980s politics and the Reagan Administration. Also included are clippings about performing arts productions, and books.

  • Series VIII: Oversized Scores
    1946 - 1986
    7 Boxes

    This series contains oversized versions of various scores.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

The collection was donated to New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in 1997 by Ellis B. Kohs.

Processing information

Processed by Leslie Reyman; Machine-readable finding aid created by Leslie Reyman.

Using the collection

Location

Music Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.