Inventory of the Naoum and Eugenia Blinder Papers, 1909-1988

Processed by John Emerson, revised by Judy Tsou; machine-readable finding aid created by Xiuzhi Zhou
Music Library
Hargrove Music Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-2623
Email: music_reference@berkeley.edu
URL: https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/music_library_archives
© 1997
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the Naoum and Eugenia Blinder Papers, 1909-1988

Collection number: ARCHIVES BLINDER 1

The Music Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information

  • Hargrove Music Library
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
  • Phone: (510) 642-2623
  • Email: music_reference@berkeley.edu
  • URL: https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/music_library_archives
Processed by:
John Emerson (1982?)
Revised by:
Judy Tsou
Date Completed:
April 1991
Encoded by:
Xiuzhi Zhou
© 1996 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Naoum and Eugenia Blinder Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1909-1988
Collection number: ARCHIVES BLINDER 1
Creator: Blinder, Naoum, 1889-1965
Extent: Number of containers: 1 carton, 1 oversize folder

Linear feet: 1.25
Repository: The Music Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Acquisition

The papers were given to the Music Library in three installments--September, 1981; October, 1981; and August, 1989.

Provenance

The first two installments of the Blinder Papers were from Mrs. Eugene Blinder; the last installment from the estate of Mrs. Eugene Blinder via the San Francisco Symphony.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of The Music Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Naoum and Eugenia Blinder Papers, ARCHIVES BLINDER 1, The Music Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Biography

Naoum Blinder, violinist and teacher, was born in Lutsk, Russia in 1889. He graduated from the Imperial Conservatory of Odessa at 14, where he studied with Alexander Fiedeman. From 1910 to 1913, he attended the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied with Adolph Brodsky. After graduation, he took up a teaching post at his alma mater, the Imperial Conservatory of Odessa, and remained there until 1920.
Blinder embarked on a concert tour in 1921. He gave concerts in the Ukraine, Turkestan, Leningrad, Moscow, and other cities. In 1926, Blinder went on a more extensive tour which included the Republic of Turkey, and Palestine, and returned to Russia by way of Siberia in January of 1927.
In 1928 Blinder (later joined by his wife and daughter) went on a concert tour in Japan which included 7 concerts in Tokyo alone, and 23 concerts in other cities of Japan. Instead of returning to Russia, he went to the United States (via Honolulu and San Francisco) to record for Columbia Records in New York. The Blinders remained in New York; Naoum taught at the Juilliard School between 1929 and 1931. It was around this time that his only daughter contracted tuberculosis and died at 13 years of age.
At the invitation of Issay Dobroven, Blinder accepted the concertmaster position at the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, where he played under Pierre Monteux and Enrique Jorda in addition to Dobroven. Blinder remained with the orchestra until 1957, when his failing eyesight forced him to retire. During his years with the SFSO, he was soloist with many orchestras around the country. He was one of the founders of the San Francisco String Quartet (1935), which was comprised of members of the orchestra, including his cellist brother, Boris.
Blinder was a dedicated teacher as well. His most noted student was Isaac Stern. At one time, he had 17 students in the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and all the members of the first violin section of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra were Blinder students as well. Other noted students were David Abel, Austin Reller, and Glenn Dicterow, who was the concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic. Blinder died on November 21, 1965, of heart failure. He was 76 years old.

Scope and Content

This collection contains materials for both Naoum and Eugenia Blinder; however, the majority of the materials concerns Naoum and his concert career. The types of materials include newspaper clippings of concert reviews, concert programs and posters, photographs of many professional musicians of his day, biographical documents such as naturalization papers, and a concert tape. The collection also includes photocopies of Blinder materials presently held at the American Jewish Archives. Some of the materials are duplicates of our holdings.
The materials are largely acquired in three installments. Two portions were acquired in the fall of 1981, donated by Eugenia Blinder. Eugenia Blinder left the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra her estate at her death in 1989. The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra subsequently donated more papers to the Music Library in August, 1989. (See Series I, folder 1 for more information.)
Numerous items have received conservation treatment. Newspaper clippings have been photocopied onto acid-free paper, scrapbooks are also dismantled and photocopied (though the original order was retained), photographs were also treated, and some items were encapsulated.

The collection is divided into ten series, housed in one archival record storage box and an oversized phase box. The folder numbers with an "a" indicate that the materials are in the oversized phase box.
 

Series I: Acquisition Correspondence.

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Letters chronicling the acquisition of the collection, arranged in chronological order.
 

Series II: Biographical Materials.

Scope and Content Note

Includes naturalization papers and supporting documents, Manchester metrials, obituaries, publicity press releases and other biographical documents such as awards.
 

Series III: Concerts.

Scope and Content Note

This series includes many newspaper clippings of concert reviews from Russia, Japan, Turkey, Israel, and the United States. The scrapbooks are also filled with newspaper reviews. (See also Series X).
 

Series IV: Correspondence.

Scope and Content Note

Letters from friends and colleagues.
 

Series V: Blinder's students and friends.

Scope and Content Note

Letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs of friends and students, including star pupil Isaac Stern.
 

Series VI: Blinder's violin.

Scope and Content Note

Appraiser's reports and photographs.
 

Series VII: Photographs.

Scope and Content Note

This series is divided into:
 

Naoum Blinder

Scope and Content Note

Includes studio pictures as well as snapshots; all alone except one.
 

Pierre Monteux

Scope and Content Note

Includes pictures of the Monteux school in Hancock, Maine, and family members of Monteux.
 

Signed studio pictures from friends and students.

Scope and Content Note

If the only material on a student are pictures, they are arranged in this series. However, if there are letters as well as photographs, they are arranged under the series "Blinder's Students and Friends."
 

Other miscellaneous pictures.

 

Series VIII: Blinder's music

Scope and Content Note

One score with his fingerings.
 

Series IX: Eugene Getzeld Blinder.

Scope and Content Note

Includes an autobiography, various citizenship papers, photographs, and letters.
 

Series X: American Jewish Archives.

Scope and Content Note

Photocopies of materials from AJA, mostly newspaper clippings.

 

Series 1: Acquisition Correspondence

Folder 1

Acquisition Correspondence

Physical Description: Correspondence regarding the acquisitions of various portions of the collection.
Physical Description: 22 letters and memos
Physical Description: 1 newspaper clipping
Physical Description: 2 other items
 

Series 2: Biographical Materials

Folder 1

Immigration, 1928-1930

Physical Description: 3 items
 

A statement (in English translation) from Moscow Conservatory stating that he was a professor of violin there from 1923 to September 1, 1927.

 

A letter from the Dean of the Juilliard School to the American Consul in Montreal, Canada.

 

A statement of his activities in the United States from January, 1928 to June, 1930.

Folder 2

Manchester

Physical Description: 7 items
 

4 documents (1910-1913) from The Royal Manchester College of Music pertaining to his studies there.

 

"Extracts from student register of (the) Royal Manchester College of Music"

 

History of the Royal Manchester College of Music (excerpts), mentioning Naoum Blinder.

 

"Extract from Annual Report of Royal Manchester College of Music, 1914."

Folder 3

Other Biographical Materials

Physical Description: 20 items
 

The Frank Mancini Music Teaching Award Certificate

 

A publicity release (biographical sketch)

 

Press Release No. 2, and No. 4

 

A script from KCBS radio station (San Francisco), dated July 26, 1957, announcing the retirement of Naoum Blinder from the San Francisco Symphony. Includes biographical sketch.

 

"Naoum Blinder -- His Career"

 

From Famous Jewish Musicians (p.321-322)

 

International Musician (January, 1947) --

Additional Note

Cover photo and article on Blinder
 

Incomplete clipping of article on Blinder. "The Remarkable Record fo the Symphony's Violin Teacher," San Francisco Sunday Chronicle (This World), January 14, 1962, page 26.

 

8 clippings from magazines and newspapers about Blinder.

Folder 3a

Other Biographical Materials (Oversize) Ministere de l'Education Nationale Certificate

Folder 4

Obituaries (4 pages): Newspaper clippings.

 

Series III: Concerts

Folder 1

Programs and Reviews, Russia, 1923-1926

Physical Description: 4 items
Physical Description: 2 originals
Folder 1a

Programs and Reviews, Russia

Physical Description: Oversize, 2 items
 

Concert Posters.

Folder 2

Programs and Reviews, Tel Aviv, 1926

Physical Description: 2 items
Physical Description: 1 original
Folder 3

Programs and Reviews, Turkey, 1926-1927

Physical Description: 3 items
Physical Description: 2 originals
Folder 4

Programs and Reviews, Japan, 1927

Physical Description: 17 items
Physical Description: 10 originals
Folder 5

Programs and Reviews, United States

Physical Description: Includes programs for San Francisco String Quartet. Also includes English translations of Foreign Press Reviews.
Physical Description: 20 items
Physical Description: 12 originals
Folder 5a

Programs and Reviews, United States

Physical Description: Oversize, 2 items
 

Posters, New York.

Folder 6

Scrapbook 1. Reviews of concerts from various stages of Blinder's career.

Physical Description: Includes an autographed program by Alexander Glazunov; an article on Pierre Monteux in the May, 1975 San Francisco Symphony Orchestra program.
Physical Description: 59 pages of acid-free photocopies with 2 original inserts
Folder 7

Original of scrapbook 1 without inserts.

Folder 8

Scrapbook 2 -- Original and acid-free photocopy (22 pp.)

Folder 9

Tapes (3)-- Concert tapes with Fresno Philharmonic

 

Series IV: Correspondence

Folder 1

Letters and telegrams

 

A. Letters from Isaac Stern

Physical Description: (3 letters)
 

12-30-1939.

Physical Description: 2 pp. typescript.
 

11-9-1955.

Physical Description: 2 pp. typescript.
 

No date. Hobart, Tasmania.

Physical Description: 7 pp.
 

B. From others

Physical Description: (19 items)
 

Bloch, Ernest. 3-3-1945.

Physical Description: 2 pp.
 

Bobchinsky, Isaac and Shura. Telegram. 2-5-1958.

 

Busse, Phyllis. 1-13-1946.

Physical Description: 1 p.
 

Forbes, Robert J. 11-24-1925.

Physical Description: 4 pp.
 

Forbes, Robert J. 1-24-1930.

Physical Description: 10 pp.
 

Forbes, Robert J. 9-3-1950.

Physical Description: 2 pp.
 

Gaucheron, Roger. 12-1-1938.

Physical Description: 1 p.
 

Hapgood, Elizabeth. 3-30-1928.

Physical Description: 1 p.
 

Monteagle, Kenneth. 12-18-1957. 1 p. And reply from Blinder. 12-27-1957.

Physical Description: 1 p. (and acid-free xerox)
 

Monteux, Pierre. 3-6-1958.

Physical Description: 2 pp.
 

[Monteux, Pierre.] Letter from Charlotte, sister of Mrs. Monteux, describing the last illness of Pierre Monteux. [June 1964]

Physical Description: 3 pp.
 

Nimitz, Admiral Chester W. 4-20-1963.

Physical Description: Card.
 

Oistrakh, David. 2-1-1960. 2 pp. In Russian

 

Oistrakh, David. 6-23-1962.

Physical Description: Post card. In Russian.
 

Schumann-Heink, Henry. 2-23-1949.

Physical Description: 1 p.

Scope and Content Note

With a copy of a letter from Howard Skinner to Schumann-Heink, complimenting Naoum Blinder. 2-23-1949. 1 p.
 

Shostakovich, Dmitri. 1-7-1961.

Physical Description: 2 pp. In Russian.
 

Spitalny, Leopold. No date.

Physical Description: 2 pp.

Scope and Content Note

Copy of text of a telegram, with text of the reply from Blinder.
 

Series V: Blinder's Students and Friends

Folder 1

General

Physical Description: 2 photocopies
Physical Description: 2 originals
Physical Description: 1 photograph
Physical Description: 4 snapshots
Folder 2

Brown, William Howard -- A log of his Russian tour August-September, 1960.

Physical Description: 27 pp.
Folder 3

Dicterow, Glenn

Physical Description: 3 photocopies of newpaper items
Physical Description: photograph of Blinder and Dicterow.
Folder 4

Mana-Zucca

Physical Description: 1 recording
Physical Description: 1 autographed printed score
Folder 5

Reller, Austin

Physical Description: 1 recording
Physical Description: 1 newspaper clipping
Physical Description: 1 signed photograph
Folder 6

Sheinfeld, David

Physical Description: 1 score, 30 pp. Sonata for violin alone.
Folder 7

Stern, Isaac (1950s to 1989) Article on Stern in Horizon, outside folder 7.

Physical Description: 6 photocopies of newspaper clippings
Physical Description: 29 photograph/greetings cards
Physical Description: 9 small b/w photographs (smaller than 4.5" x 6"), including 3 pictures of Blinder and Stern.
Physical Description: 1 medium photograph of Stern and Blinder.
Physical Description: 4 large b/w photographs (some with Blinder).
Physical Description: 3 color photographs of Stern and Mrs. Blinder
Physical Description: 1 letter from San Francisco Symphony thanking Mrs. Blinder for lending the Stern pictures for the May 1987 program.
Folder 7a

Stern, Isaac

Physical Description: Oversize, 1 item

Signed photograph of a young Isaac Stern.
 

Series VI: Blinder's Violin

Folder 1

7 small and 3 large color photographs of the violin

 

9 documents regarding appraisals, etc.

 

Series VII: Photographs

 

Naoum Blinder-Some with Mrs. Blinder

Folder 1

Large Studio Portraits, 13, 1 with Mrs. Blinder

Scope and Content Note

Includes one early portrait from Odessa (mounted) Medium sized photographs (3)
 

Small b/w photographs of N. Blinder (4)

 

Small color photographs with Eugenia Blinder (3)

 

Pencil drawings of Naoum Blinder (2)

 

Oversized studio portrait of Naoum Blinder

Folder 2

San Francisco Quartet

Physical Description: 3 small photograph
Physical Description: 1 medium photographs
Physical Description: 8 large photographs
Folder 2a

San Francisco Quartet

Physical Description: 2 oversized caricatures
Folder 3a

San Francisco Sumphony Orchestra

Physical Description: 1 oversized photo
 

Signed Studio Photographs (29)

Folder 4

Abel, David (3)

 

Blair, Zena (2)

 

Chavez, Carlos

 

Fiedler, Arthur

 

Heifetz, Jascha

 

Joffa, Betty (2) (signed Kee Coleman)

 

Kantor, Gerhard

 

Kozojian(?), Robert

 

Kraus, Lily

 

Monteux, Doris

 

Monteux, Pierre

 

Nugata, George

 

Piatigorsky , Gregor

 

Riedel, Ernestine

 

Rodzinski, Arthur

 

Rose, Kent

 

Skalar, Sabrina(?)

 

Szigeti, Joseph

 

Szeryng, Henryk

 

Tressel, Williard

 

Vannin, Luisa

 

Walter, Bruno

 

Linda

 

Norma

 

Val

 

Pierre Monteux

Scope and Content Note

Photographs of Pierre Monteux, his family, friends, and the Monteux School in Hancock, Maine.
Folder 5

Large photographs (8)

 

Medium photographs

Physical Description: (6 b/w, 2 color)

Scope and Content Note

Color pictures include Bruno Walter.
 

Small photographs --Monteux School.

 

18 photographs of Monteux School in Hancock, Maine.

 

6 photographs marked "On the way to Hancock, Maine"

 

Miscellaneous (small, 32 items)

Folder 6

7 items -- picture with brother Boris (a cellist), picture with Arthur Fiedler.

 

4 items -- picture with Howard Skinner and others Igor Stravinsky (1)

 

Andres Segovia (1)

 

"George [Nugata?] and Margaret ..."

 

12 items of Eugenia Blinder and the scenery

 

6 miscellaneous items

 

Miscellaneous (10 large and 1 duplicate small picture)

Folder 7

Kimber Award (for best teaching)

 

With Yehudi Menuhin

 

With David Abel, Arthur Fiedler, etc. (3)

 

With Bruno Walter (1 large, 1 small)

 

With Enrique Gorda

 

With an unidentified person

 

Group picture (from Buenos Aires)

Folder 7a

Unidentified woman violinist

Physical Description: (oversize)
 

Series VIII: Music

Folder 1

Music owned by Blinder

Scope and Content Note

A volume of Beethoven's violin sonatas with Blinder's fingerings.
 

Series IX: Eugenia Getzeld Blinder

Folder 1

Biographical Materials.

 

Autobiographical essay

 

Newspaper clipping on Mrs. Blinder and Isaac Stern

 

Documents:

 

Birth Certificate (1)

 

Daughter's (Yelena) birth certificate and synagogue doument (2)

 

Citizenship papers (2)

 

Homemade recordings (2)

 

Interview with George Hellyer, her attorney,

Physical Description: casette tape

Additional Note

See also letter in Acquisition File (I:1).
 

Photographs

 

1 group picture

 

3 with student

 

Photograph with Mrs. Chikaring

 

"Song"

Additional Note

(undated lyrics of a song)
 

2 unidentified studio portraits, possibly a young Eugenia Getzeld, or Yelena, their daughter.

Additional Note

One of the portraits was kept on the family piano.
Folder 2

Condolence Letters (18)

 

Telegrams (2)

Folder 3

Other Correspondence

 

Carmi, Celine (1) of Jerusalem Music Centre. 9-7-1980.

 

Commanday, Robert (1). 8-4-1980.

 

Pease, June (1). "Credo"

 

Stern, Isaac (2) 4-9-1985 regarding appraisal of Naoum Blinder's violin; and 5-16-1985 regarding his concert tours.

 

Stern, Vera (2) one note undated; one letter thanks Mrs. Blinder for attending Isaac Stern's birthday concert in Jerusalem in July 1980.

 

Postcard (1) from Margaret and Ken. Postmarked 2-28-89.

 

Postcards (11), miscellaneous.

Folder 4

Alexen, Vladimir and Tamara

 

Certificates of Citizenship (2)

 

Certificate of Marriage (1)

 

Certificate of Death (1) -- Vladimir Alexen

 

Miscellaneous items (3)

 

13 photographs

Folder 5

Photographs (5) Possibly photographs of family from Russia

Folder 6

Miscellaneous documents

Physical Description: (3 items [with 2 originals documents], and 2 photographs)-- folder originally marked "Mrs. Blinder."
 

Series X: American Jewish Archives

Folder 1

Photocopies of the Blinder materials at the American Jewish Archives.