Scope and arrangement
The Malena Kuss files on Carleton Sprague Smith date from 1981 to 2007 (most date from 1981 to 1987). They mainly document the creation of Libraries, History, Diplomacy, and the Performing Arts: Essays in Honor of Carleton Sprague Smith (1991), for which Kuss served as an associate editor from 1984 to 1988. The book is often referred to in the collection as "the Festschrift." The files hold correspondence with Smith, as well as with other editors and contributors to the book, including Richard J. Wolfe, Israel Katz, Luís Heitor Correia de Azevedo, D. W. Krummel, Sydney Beck, Angier Biddle Duke, Genevieve Oswald, Ruth Watanabe, Alec Hyatt King, Josef Braunstein, and Howard Boatwright. Letters from contributors hold drafts of their contributions to the book.
The files also contain correspondence from Smith regarding the early history of the Music Library Association; a file of biographical notes on Smith, including a photograph of him; notes on the eightieth birthday celebration for Smith held at The New York Public Library; and copies of published articles by Smith, with annotations by Kuss. The first folder of the collection holds a letter from Kuss to George Boziwick, Chief of the Music Division. It includes a description of the collection and background information on Kuss's long friendship with Smith.
Arrangement
Original file order was maintaned. Music Library Association files are arranged separately from the rest of the collection.