Rhoda Haas Goldman Stern Grove Festival Archives

Finding aid created by Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library staff using RecordEXPRESS
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
2200 Jerrold Avenue
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San Francisco, California 94124
4157413531
info@mpdsf.org
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2022


Descriptive Summary

Title: Rhoda Haas Goldman Stern Grove Festival Archives
Dates: 2006
Collection Number: CSfPAL_RHGSGFA
Creator/Collector: Goldman, Rhoda Hass Stern Grove Festival Association
Extent: 25 linear feet.
Repository: Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
San Francisco, California 94124
Abstract: Since 1938, the Stern Grove Festival Association has presented the Stern Grove Festival, a free, summer performance series at Sigmund Stern Grove in San Francisco. The Festival has presented more than 800 performances for more than six million concert-goers. In keeping with Mrs. Stern’s original vision, the Festival has continued to offer admission-free performances by some of the world’s greatest artists and companies including Kronos Quartet, Isaac Stern, San Francisco Ballet, Opera and Symphony, Diana Krall, Miriam Makeba, Nancy Wilson, Arrested Development, Dr. John, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ozomatli, Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos, Roberta Flack, Joan Baez, and many more. The Rhoda Haas Goldman Stern Grove Festival Archives documents the history of the Stern Grove Festival and related activities from 1936-2006. The materials are arranged in the following series: Series I: Programs and Flyers; Series II: Photographs; Series III: Press Releases and Public Service Announcements; Series IV: Administrative Records and Clippings; Series V: General History and Personal Papers; Series VI: Correspondence; Series VII: Press Books and Scrapbooks; Series VIII: Artist Proposals and Weekly Reports; Series IX: Financial Records; Series X: Video Recordings; and Series XI: Audio Recordings.
Language of Material: English

Access

Contracts, financial records and minutes are restricted and require permission of the Stern Grove Festival Association.

Publication Rights

Copyright resides with the Stern Grove Festival Association.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Rhoda Haas Goldman Stern Grove Festival Archives. Collection Number: CSfPAL_RHGSGFA. Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library

Acquisition Information

San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum (now Museum of Performance + Design) became the archive and repository for the Stern Grove Festival Association on October 12, 1992

Biography/Administrative History

Since 1938, the Stern Grove Festival Association has presented the Stern Grove Festival, a free, summer performance series at Sigmund Stern Grove in San Francisco. The Grove was purchased in 1931 by Rosalie M. Stern and given as a gift to the city of San Francisco in memory of her husband Sigmund Stern. Rosalie Stern worked with architects Gardiner Dailey, Bernard Maybeck and his assistant William Gladstone on developing the property which included tennis courts, a bowling lawn, and a lake. Maybeck also designed a music pavilion, and on June 19, 1932, the San Francisco Symphony gave the first performance there under the direction of Gaetano Merola. In 2004, Stern Grove underwent a $15 million renovation, designed by renowned landscape architect, Lawrence Halprin. The renovation was completed in June of 2005. The Festival has presented more than 800 performances for more than six million concert-goers. In keeping with Mrs. Stern’s original vision, the Festival has continued to offer admission-free performances by some of the world’s greatest artists and companies including Kronos Quartet, Isaac Stern, San Francisco Ballet, Opera and Symphony, Diana Krall, Miriam Makeba, Nancy Wilson, Arrested Development, Dr. John, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ozomatli, Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos, Roberta Flack, Joan Baez, and many more. In addition to the summer concerts, Stern Grove Festival presents interactive community outreach programs for audiences of all ages. Among these are Kids Days, KidStage, and pre-concert Artist Talks.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Rhoda Haas Goldman Stern Grove Festival Archives documents the history of the Stern Grove Festival and related activities from 1936-2006. The materials are arranged in the following series: Series I: Programs and Flyers; Series II: Photographs; Series III: Press Releases and Public Service Announcements; Series IV: Administrative Records and Clippings; Series V: General History and Personal Papers; Series VI: Correspondence; Series VII: Press Books and Scrapbooks; Series VIII: Artist Proposals and Weekly Reports; Series IX: Financial Records; Series X: Video Recordings; and Series XI: Audio Recordings. Processing, preservation, and maintenance of the collection was supported by the Rhoda Haas Goldman Stern Grove Festival Archive Endowment Fund from a grant by the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund.

Indexing Terms

Ballet
Clippings (Information artifacts)
Correspondence
Dance
Music
Music--20th century--Performance
Opera
Performing arts--United States
Promotional materials
Stern Grove Festival
Photographic Materials
Programs (Documents)

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