Bronx Symphony Orchestra Records, 1960s–2006
Information, Description, and Finding Aid
Collection Information
Reference: MS-BSO
Dates: 1960s–2006
Extent: 0.25 linear ft. across 1 archival box
Finding Aid Information
Creator(s): Steven Payne, Ph.D., Librarian and Archivist
Date created/updated: May 11, 2020
Biography
The Bronx Symphony Orchestra was organized in 1947. Its origins were as an adult education class funded by the Board of Education and offered through the Walton Community Center in The Bronx. The first performances were held at Walton High School. It continued as a community orchestra, moving in 1968 to The Bronx High School of Science, but in 1976 the Board of Education ceased to fund it, along with other evening, adult education offerings.
Through donations, the Symphony survived until 1980, when administration of the orchestra was taken over by the Music Department at Lehman College, which received funding from the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs. In the early 1990s, there was a falling out between the members of the orchestra and Lehman College. In 1995, the members secured funding directly from the Department of Cultural Affairs and dissociated themselves from Lehman.
Description/Scope and Content
The collection documents the later history of The Bronx Symphony Orchestra. Materials include correspondence, concert programs, and newspaper clippings.
Provenance
The Bronx Symphony Orchestra records were donated to The Bronx County Historical Society by Joseph Sherman, president of The Bronx Symphony Orchestra, in September 1998 and August 2005.
Preferred Citation
[Item name or description,] Bronx Symphony Orchestra records, box _, folder _, The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Points of Access
- Arts and cultural organizations (The Bronx, New York) -- Bronx Symphony Orchestra
- Schools and universities (The Bronx, New York) -- Bronx High School of Science -- Lehman College -- Walton High School
Related Collections
- Bronx Council on the Arts records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Frederick Bell papers on St. Augustine Presbyterian Church. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Bronx Museum of the Arts records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Bronx Society of Arts and Sciences records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- David M. Carp papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Maxine Sullivan papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Container List
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents | Date |
|
1 |
1 |
Collection notes | n.d. |
|
1 |
2 |
Circulars: Season Schedules and Announcements | 1994–2006 |
|
1 |
3 |
Correspondence | 1994–1998 |
|
1 |
4 |
History of Bronx Symphony Orchestra | n.d. |
|
1 |
5 |
Newspaper clippings | 1995–1998 |
|
1 |
6 |
Programs, folder 1 | November 1995–April 1998 |
|
1 |
7 |
Programs, folder 2 | October 1998–April 2005 |