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Alexander Fried Collection
979.001  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Biography/Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms
  • Additional collection guides

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Alexander Fried Collection
    Dates: 1930-1977
    Collection Number: 979.001
    Creator/Collector: Fried, Alexander
    Extent: 6 Boxes. 6.7 linear feet.
    Repository: Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
    San Francisco, California 94124
    Abstract: Alexander Fried (1903-1988) was a musical critic writing in San Francisco from the 1920s to the 1970s. He worked for various publications including “Musical Digest” as a translator and managing editor, “San Francisco Chronicle” as a music editor, and “San Francisco Examiner” as an art and music editor. This collection consists of news clippings illustrating his career as a critic from 1930-1977 that provide insight into the growth of the San Francisco performing arts scene, including pieces on the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, and the San Francisco Ballet, as well as others.
    Language of Material: English

    Access

    Entire Collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    Reproduction of these materials can occur only if the copying falls within the provisions of the doctrine of fair use. Copyright varies by item.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item]. Alexander Fried Collection. Collection Number: 979.001. Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library

    Acquisition Information

    Donated to the Archives for the Performing Arts in May 1979 by Alexander Fried.

    Biography/Administrative History

    Alexander Fried (1903-1988) was a pianist turned musical critic. At Columbia University, he studied with composer Daniel Gregory Mason and received a Mosenthal Fellowship and began writing musical criticism and analysis of performances while ushering at Carnegie Hall. He worked as a translator for “Musical Digest,” where he eventually became a managing editor. With help from San Francisco Opera director, Gaetano Merola, he became a music editor for the “San Francisco Chronicle” where he worked from 1926 to 1934 when he took a job as art and music editor at the “San Francisco Examiner” where he worked until 1977.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Alexander Fried Collection consists of news clippings of daily and weekly art and music reviews Fried wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner. These clippings illustrate almost the entire span of his career as a critic in San Francisco, dating from 1930-1977. They reveal the rich array of artistic and musical activities which took place in San Francisco during these forty-seven years. In addition, they provide insight into the growth of the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, and the San Francisco Ballet, as well as into issues which affected support for the performing arts.

    Indexing Terms

    Art critics
    Theater critics
    Musical Digest
    San Francisco Ballet
    San Francisco Chronicle
    San Francisco Examiner
    San Francisco Opera
    San Francisco Symphony

    Additional collection guides