Scope and arrangement
The Cleveland String Quartet records, dating from 1965 to 2001, document the formation and evolution of the ensemble; its performances, recordings, tours, and other activities; and its critical reception. They also evidence the careers of Paul and Martha Strongin Katz. The collection holds programs, clippings, correspondence, contracts, itineraries, photographs, publicity files, repertoire lists, management files, touring files, program notes, and datebooks. The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject or format.
The largest components of the collection are programs, clippings, contracts, day files, management files, and the papers of Paul Katz. Both the programs and clippings are extensive and cover much of the Quartet's career from 1969 to 1995. The day files hold correspondence with or among the members of the quartet regarding business, touring, teaching, or other professional matters. Some of that content relates only to the business of Paul or Martha Strongin Katz. Further business and touring information can be found in the secretarial files. Dating from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, these consist of memos to the Quartet members from the group's executive assistant, Carol Freeman.
The management files are divided among several companies, impresarios, and agents: Sofia Amman; Yves Dandelot; ICM Artists; Ingpen and Williams; Kazuko Hillyer International; Hans Ulrich Schmid; Sonia Simmenauer; and Takayanagi Concert Management. These files contain correspondence regarding repertoire and travel arrangements; information on performances and tours; performance contracts; and managerial agreements. Contracts can also be found under the separate heading of contracts. Further information on bookings, in the form of tear sheets regarding individual engagements, can be found under bookings.
The Paul Katz files document his early career with the Toledo String Quartet, his teaching, and his post-Cleveland Quartet activities. They also contain personal correspondence with the Katz's family and friends; datebooks; and personal photographs and slides. The Martha Strongin Katz files document her career before and after her time with the Cleveland Quartet, and hold photographs, programs, clippings, and letters.
The publicity files contain press releases, flyers, and biographies of the Quartet and its members. Some of this material was produced by Shuman Associates.
The touring files document European visits from the mid-1970s to 1995, as well as tours of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, and South America. They hold itineraries, repertoire lists, clippings, programs, photographs, and correspondence with presenters.
The photograph files dates from throughout the Quartet's history. They consist of publicity images and headshots of the Quartet and its individual members; contact sheets; and informal shots of the group on tour or in performance. A set of photographs of the 1968 Marlboro Festival in Vermont show Pablo Casals, Josef Gingold, and Ravi Shankar, among others, but does not show members of the Quartet.
The remainder of the collection is comprised of files regarding individuals, events, organizations, academic institutions, festivals, and special projects. The files hold correspondence, programs, photographs, and contracts. Subjects include Chamber Music America, with which the Quartet worked closely; the Aspen Music Festival; the Eastman School of Music; the Corcoran Gallery of Art; CBS and Telarc Records; the composer John Corigliano; a set of Farewell Letters written to the Quartet upon its disbandment; and special recording projects such as the complete Beethoven quartet cycle. Also present are files regarding individual members of the Quartet; the transcript of a 1983 interview with the Quartet at KQED in San Francisco; and program and liner notes dating from throughout the Quartet's lifetime.
The collection also holds two sound recordings. One is a demonstration recording, circa 1970, of the Quartet playing single movements of quartets by Ravel, Bartok, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Ives, Haydn, and Mozart. The content of the other, undated recording is unknown. Sound recordings are unavailable pending preservation transfer.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject or format.