Scope and arrangement
The Donna K. Anderson research files on Charles Tomlinson Griffes are composed of scores, research files, and recordings compiled or created by the musicologist Donna K. Anderson in her role as executor of the Griffes estate, and in the preparation of her books, Charles T. Griffes: An Annotated Bibliography-Discography, The Works of Charles T. Griffes: A Descriptive Catalogue, and Charles T. Griffes: A Life In Music. The collection is in four series: Scores, Correspondence, Research Files, and Sound and Video Recordings.
Series I: Scores holds primarily copies of Charles Griffes score manuscripts and sketches, as well as various published editions of some works. Most of the content has Anderson's notes, annotations, or commentary.
Series II: Correspondence documents Anderson's communications with Griffes family members, as well as with other scholars, musicians, libraries, publishers, and record companies. Key content in the Series includes Anderson's long correspondence with Griffes's sister, Anna Marguerite Griffes.
Series III: Research Files documents Anderson's research into Griffes's family history, life, career, and music, as well as Anderson's efforts to promote Griffes's music. It includes genealogical files, notes, photographs, interviews, diaries, scrapbooks, correspondence, writings, and files from Anderson's office at SUNY Cortland.
Series IV: Sound and Video Recordings contain Anderson's interviews and telephone conversations with Anna Marguerite Griffes and other members of the Griffes family; conversations with other scholars, including Griffes biographer Edward Maisel; performances of Griffes's music from the 1950s to 2012; and radio and television programs devoted to Griffes and his music.
The Donna K. Anderson research files on Charles Tomlinson Griffes are arranged in four series:
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1900s-1990s [bulk 1970s-1990s]6.88 linear feet (25 boxes)
This series holds Donna Anderson's annotated study copies of Charles Griffes's score manuscripts in various stages of composition, as well as copyist scores and parts; multiple editions of published scores (usually annotated or corrected); Anderson's extensive notes; and, occasionally, letters or correspondence with scholars or publishers. There are a few instances of original score manuscripts (in the hand of either Griffes or a copyist), but most of the material is copies of manuscripts held by either the New York Public Library or the Library of Congress.
Anderson assigned numbers to every individual Griffes composition, not to groups of works or their opus numbers. Some of the numbered compositions are arranged by the group title and opus number of which they are components. Anderson grouped the compositions by orchestration, although many works began life in one form and were later re-orchestrated (producing separate numbers in the catalog for the two editions of the work). She arranged additional works or sketchbooks into a file of Addenda, which are numbered separately.
Nearly every Griffes composition is present in some form. Most of the research documented here went into the production of The Works of Charles T. Griffes: A Descriptive Catalogue, but in many cases the files hold additional research and information that post-date the publication of that book (such as the score for the piano work A Winter Landscape). The series also contains sketches and sketchbooks, only some of which are accounted for in the Catalogue; and scores owned by Griffes.
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1903-20176.67 linear feet (16 boxes)
This series comprises Donna Anderson's letters and correspondence with Griffes family members, musicologists, libraries, universities, publishers, record labels, musicians, orchestras, conductors, and others with whom she interacted professionally. It also holds Anderson's copies of Charles Griffes's correspondence with his family and his piano teacher, Mary Selina Broughton, with Anderson's notes. Anderson also acquired some original correspondence of Clara Griffes (mother of Charles and Anna) and Anna Marguerite Griffes that is present here, such as their correspondence with the publisher G. Schirmer; the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP); and the Library of Congress.
The correspondents with the most material are Anna Marguerite Griffes, with whom Anderson communicated frequently from the 1960s until Griffes's death in 1983, and Charles Griffes's biographer, Edward Maisel.
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1800s-201618.79 linear feet (37 boxes, 1 volume, 1 tube); 655.2 megabytes (478 computer files)
This series documents decades of research by Donna Anderson into Charles Griffes's life, music, and extended family and ancestors through genealogical research, notes, photographs, diaries of Charles Griffes, scrapbooks, interview transcripts, clippings, correspondence, program notes, writings, lectures, travel diaries, office files, and copies of original documentation on Griffes. Genealogy files and notes are the two largest components of the series.
The Genealogy files reveal Anderson's extensive research into the Griffes and Tomlinson families. They include the original Griffes family bible; images of other family bibles; copies of birth, death, census, legal, and property records; timelines; photographs of and notes regarding cemeteries; information from libraries, archives, and historical societies in New York state; and notes on Anderson's research travels. Most of these records are filed by individual or family names.
Anderson's Notes are composed primarily of card files. They include notes on research done at various repositories, such as the American Music Center, the Library of Congress, and The New York Public Library; lists and citations of biographical sources; discographical information; permission notes; and Anderson's research process, such as notes on outstanding questions and speculations.
The Photographs are comprised mostly of print copies of original images of Griffes, his family, and ancestors, many of which were published in Anderson's books; some originals are among the files as well. Also present are photographs Anderson produced of important locations in Griffes's life, such as the town of Elmira, the Hackley School, and his tombstone; and surviving members of the Griffes family. Many of the prints are held in albums.
The Charles Griffes diaries are copies or transcriptions which contain Anderson's annotations.
The Scrapbooks are originals compiled by Griffes, and continued by his family after his death. They hold clippings and programs.
The Interview Transcripts, derived from Anderson's recorded interviews, are devoted mostly to Anna Marguerite Griffes, with one interview of Charlotte Griffes. The original recordings are in Series IV.
Clippings document Griffes's career as well as the performances of his music and his growing stature following his death. Most are copies, and many are annotated.
The Program Notes are from programs gathered by Anderson for performances by orchestras around the United States over decades. The files hold original programs or images of them, texts of the notes, and Anderson's commentary and citations.
Anderson's own program notes and other writings are found throughout the series. These include a file of Articles and Reviews; notes for concerts such as the Griffes Celebration at Wigmore Hall and the Kennedy Center; files on Anderson's Descriptive Catalogue, Charles Tomlinson Griffes: A Life In Music, and The Songs of Charles Griffes; lectures, such as those delivered at the Hackley School; and a file of Anderson's liner notes. Also present are Anderson's Powerpoint presentations on Griffes and (unrelated to Griffes) choral music in the American colonies.
Anderson's files from her office at SUNY Cortland hold correspondence with other scholars, students, musicians, and school administration regarding Griffes, exhibits, festivals, scholarships, and SUNY Research Foundation awards.
Other contents of this series include research on Elmira, the Hackley School, Tarrytown, and the Loomis Sanitorium; the personal (original) library of Charles Griffes; Anderson's own books, including her dissertation (all annotated); an annotated copy of Edward Maisel's biography of Griffes; concert programs; and posters for Griffes-related events.
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1954-2017
The bulk of this series is composed of Anderson's interviews and phone conversations, and performances of music by Charles Griffes. It also holds radio and television broadcasts.
The most significant documentation here is the series of recorded conversations between Donna Anderson and Anna Marguerite Griffes, dating from 1969 to 1983. These are supplemented by further telephone conversations with A.M. Griffes and other members of the Griffes family, as well as with scholars such as Edward Maisel and Oliver Daniel; publishing officials from G. Schirmer and Alfred Knopf; and musicians such as James Tocco. Recordings with multiple names do not imply conference calls; rather, Anderson would record multiple conversations on a single tape. Other recordings include a radio interview with Anderson; and further interviews with the Griffes family or descendants.
The performances include all-Griffes concerts or festivals dating from 1964 to 1995, as well as recordings of particular pieces, or excerpts of them. These include The Kairn of Koridwen, The White Peacock, Symphonische Phantasie (in different arrangements), and Salut Au Monde, as well as two complete recitals of Griffes piano music by Ada Fischer and Alwin Bär.
The broadcasts include an episode of Ada Fischer's Piano Time show, and programs on WQXR, WNCN, and National Public Radio devoted to Griffes. There is a single television program from CBS Camera Three titled Charles Griffes: An American Original, for which Anderson acted as consultant.