Arthur C. Edwards papers,
1840s-1989
Finding aid prepared by UCLA Library Special Collections staff, 2002. Reprocessed in 2015 by Lori Dedeyan; machine-readable
finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Finding aid last modified on 31 March 2016.
Title: Arthur C. Edwards papers
Collection number: PASC-M 91
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
6.0 linear ft.
(14 document boxes and 1 flat box)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1941-1989
Date (inclusive): 1840s-1989
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of ethnomusicologist Arthur C. Edwards. It consists of collected folk music scores, manuscript
notes, and, to a lesser extent, original compositions by Edwards, as well other material relating to his professional career.
Language of Materials: Materials are in multiple languages.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
creator:
Edwards, Arthur C.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL: Use of materials requires production of access copies. Please notify the UCLA Library
Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Arthur C. Edwards Collection of Musical Compositions and Research (Collection PASC-M 91). UCLA Library
Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Miriam Edwards, 1990.
Biography/History
Arthur C. Edwards was a music teacher, composer, and ethnomusicologist. He taught on the faculty of the University of Illinois
School of Music, Urbana, from 1928 to 1945, and at UCLA from 1950 until his retirement in 1966. As an ethnomusicologist, he
extensively studied folk music from around the world. His book, The Art of Melody, was pubished in 1956. He lived in Los Angeles
and pursued various research projects until his death.
Scope and Content
This collection consists largely of collected folk music scores and songbooks from around the world, Edwards' manuscript notes
and music sketches, typescripts for various essays, seven original compositions, and a few materials relating to Edwards'
professional career.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into the following series:
- Series 1. Original compositions
- Series 2. Research material
- Subseries 2.1. Collected scores
- Subseries 2.2. Notes
- Series 3. Professional material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Edwards, Arthur C.--Archives.
Composers--United States--Archives.
Folk music--Research.
Folk songs--Research.
Melody--Research.
Music--Manuscripts.
Musicologists--United States--Archives.
Series 1. Original compositions.
circa 1941-1953.
Scope and Content
This series contains original compositions by Edwards.
Box 1, Folder 1
Concerto for Orchestra in Three Movements. full score.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 2
Etude for Piano. piano score.
1953 February 25.
Box 1, Folder 3
John Bunyan Suite- First Movement. full score.
1950 August 23.
Box 1, Folder 4
Paul Bunyan Suite. piano score.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 5
Piece for Symphonietta. full score.
circa 1941 April 6.
Box 1, Folder 6
Suite for Orchestra. full score.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 7
Suite in Modern Style for Woodwin Quartet. parts.
undated.
Series 2. Research material.
1840s-circa 1979.
Scope and Content
This series contains material relating to Edwards' work in ethnomusicology; it consists of published folk music scores from
various countries and Edwards' notes on the scores and song structures.
Subseries 2.1. Collected scores.
1840s-circa 1979.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains photocopied scores of folk music, which are arranged by region and country. It also contains full
books and songbooks, which are indicated separately.
Box 2, Folder 9
Czechoslovakia.
circa 1956.
Box 4, Folder 4
Various countries.
undated.
Scope and Content
Manuscripts in these folders are intermixed and pertain to many of the countries above.
Boxes 10-15
Books and songbooks.
1840s-1960s.
Scope and Content
Books and folk music songbooks from Austria, Basque Country, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Peru, Russia, Spain, and Sweden. Publication dates range from the mid-19th to mid- 20th century.
Subseries 2.2. Notes.
undated.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains manuscript notes and musical sketches relating to Edwards' analysis of folk music from various countries.
Edwards' folder organization has been retained.
Box 4, Folder 5
Argentina, Italy.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 8
Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Basque.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 9
Bohemia, Yugoslavia, Slovak.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 10
Estonia, Greece, Rumania, Switzerland.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 11
Estonia, Norway, Slovakia.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 12
Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 16
Ireland, Mexico.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 17
Norway, Finland.
undated.
Box 4, Folder 20
Wales, Finland, Guatemala.
undated.
Box 5, Folders 1-8, Box 4, Folder 21
Various countries (1 of 2).
undated.
Scope and Content
Manuscripts in these folders are intermixed and pertain to a large portion of the countries and areas included above.
Box 7, Folders 1-3, Box 6, Folders 1-5
Various countries (2 of 2).
undated.
Scope and Content
Manuscripts in these folders are arranged in a specific order and pertain to France (particularly the Cantal region), Germany,
Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Russia.
Series 3. Professional material.
1954-1989.
Scope and Content
This series contains material related to Edwards' career, travels, and writing.
Box 8
Dictionaries and atlases.
1954-1974.
Scope and Content
Two world atlases and dictionaries in Finnish, Dutch, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, and one "world-wide phrasebook".
Dictionaries are largely published by Berlitz.
Box 9, Folder 1
Correspondence.
1965-1989.
Box 9, Folder 2
The Art of Melody- reviews and correspondence.
1956-1957.
Box 9, Folder 3
"The Analysis and Comparison of Folk Melodies" typescript.
circa 1976.
Box 9, Folder 4
"German Folk Melodies: Their Characteristics and Organization" typescript and notes.
undated.
Box 9, Folder 5
"A Re-examination of Melodic Structure" typescript.
undated.
Box 9, Folders 6-7
"A System for Analyzing, Organizing, and Cataloguing Folk Melodies" typescript.
circa 1976.
Box 9, Folder 8
Bulletin of the International Council for Traditional Music, No. LXIX-LXXIV.
1986-1989.
Box 9, Folder 9
Directory of Traditional Music.
1987, 1989.
Box 9, Folders 10-12
Yearbook for Traditional Music, Vol.18-21.
1986-1989.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Includes one compact audio cassette.
Use of audio material requires production of listening copies. Please notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference
Desk in advance of your visit.
Box 9, Folder 13
Itinerary and bookseller's lists.
circa 1975.
Box 9, Folder 14
Eulogy for memorial.
undated.
Box 5, Folder 9
Untitled film.
undated.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
16 mm film reel
Use of moving image material requires production of viewing copies. Please notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference
Desk in advance of your visit.