Robert Watt Miller Papers

Title: Robert Watt Miller Papers

Dates: 1937-1969

Collection Number: 988.70

Creator/Collector: Miller, Robert Watt

Extent: 5 Boxes. 8 linear feet.

Repository: Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library

Abstract: Robert Watt Miller (1899-1970) was a noted San Francisco industrialist and civic leader. He attended early performances of the San Francisco Opera Company and became a director of the San Francisco Opera Association in 1932. In 1937, he was elected President and held this post until 1942, when he entered the Army Air Forces. He resumed his office as President in 1951 and remained in this role through 1966. During this time, Miller oversaw fundraising campaigns, helped develop a plan to raise the company to international stature, handled labor negotiations, and contributed informal artistic advice. Miller was also a leading industrialist, headed the Pacific Lighting Company, and served on the boards of the San Francisco Symphony and the De Young Museum. He remained active in the San Francisco Opera Association after his retirement from the presidency, serving as chairman of the board from 1967 until his death in 1970. This collection documents Miller’s civic activities as president of the San Francisco Opera Association and as a board member of the San Francisco Symphony and the De Young Museum, including minutes, reports, budgets, correspondence and clippings, as well as several photo albums documenting SFO seasons. The papers also include one file of miscellaneous materials relating to Miller’s management of the Pacific Lighting Corporation.

Language of Material: English

Certain series within the collection are restricted for 75 years (fundraising, reports, etc.).

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

[Identification of item]. Robert Watt Miller Papers. Collection Number: 988.70. Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library

The Robert Watt Miller Papers were donated to S.F. PALM in the 1980s by the Miller family. The five photograph albums in the collection were donated by Mrs. Sheldon Cooper on October 25, 1988.

Robert Watt Miller (1899-1970) was born in San Francisco to a family with a distinguished history of involvement in the city’s development and business growth. Miller continued this tradition by becoming a noted industrialist and civic leader. As a child, Miller developed a keen interest in musical theater after seeing a production of “Lucia di Lammermoor” at the Cort Theater on Ellis Street in 1912. He attended early performances of the San Francisco Opera Company and became a director of the San Francisco Opera Association in 1932. In 1937, he was elected President and held this post until 1942, when he entered the Army Air Forces. He resumed his office as President in 1951 and remained in this role through 1966. Along with overseeing fundraising campaigns for the opera, Miller worked closely with Gaetano Merola and Kurt Herbert Adler in developing a plan to raise the company to international stature. He also contributed a great deal of informal artistic advice during rehearsals through careful readings of librettos and detailed discussions with stagehands. Miller was tasked with raising funds which would allow the company to lengthen its seasons, offset its deficit, and expand its repertoire. Through working with private, corporate, and government funders, Miller helped to continually raise the company’s annual base of support. Miller also handled labor negotiations, such as the dispute between the Opera Association and the musician’s union which almost let to the cancellation of the 1964 season. In addition to working tirelessly for the opera, Miller was a leading industrialist and headed the Pacific Lighting Company. He also served on the boards of the San Francisco Symphony and the De Young Museum. He remained active in the San Francisco Opera Association after his retirement from the presidency, serving as chairman of the board from 1967 until his death in 1970.

The Robert Watt Miller papers document Miller’s civic activities as President of the San Francisco Opera Association and as a board member of the San Francisco Symphony and the De Young Museum. They consist of traditional paper files, such as minutes, reports, budgets, correspondence and clippings, as well as of several photo albums documenting SFO seasons. The bulk of the papers relate to Miller’s tenure as President of the SFO Association in the 1960s, including information collected about the opera’s financial status and documents regarding the fund drives he oversaw each year between 1959 and 1969. They also encompass papers regarding labor negotiations between the opera and the American Federation of Musicians and the American Guild of Musical Artists. Miller also attended meetings concerning city funding, and his papers contain appeals he prepared on behalf of the opera. Documentation regarding the expansion and improvements of the War Memorial Opera House is also present. Since Miller provided administrative guidance to such affiliate programs of the opera as the Spring Opera and the Los Angeles season, the papers include a few administrative files on these programs, as well. Miller’s other civic activities are less thoroughly recorded in the papers. Included is one file regarding Miller’s post on the Board of Trustees of the De Young Museum encompassing minutes, meeting notices, reports, financial statements, and correspondence. Two files are present regarding Miller’s role on the board of the San Francisco Symphony Association encompassing minutes, reports, and correspondence regarding fund drives, labor negotiations, and the improvement of the War Memorial Opera House complex. The papers also include one file of miscellaneous materials relating to Miller’s management of the Pacific Lighting Corporation. Along with records of administrative matters, Miller collected press materials and photos which document the San Francisco Opera seasons. His papers contain a file of clippings on opera performances, as well as five photo albums prepared by the SFO Association which highlight performances between 1937 and 1941.