Sources from ESM Archive
The Eastman School of Music Archive is the official repository for the School’s institutional and administrative records; the Archive also preserves scores, books, photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia that document the history, activities, and contributions of the School community. While the departmental and administrative papers relating to the operations of the School are restricted, other materials in the Archive are open to members of the Eastman community, researchers, and the public. Additional sources and collections related to the history of the University of Rochester are held in the University Archives in the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation in Rush Rhees Library.
Select sources from the ESM Archive are described below.
Digitized Sources
The School’s student yearbook was first published in 1925 and 1926 under the titles “Senior Annual” and “Keynote,” respectively. The yearbook became “The Score” in 1927 and was issued, with gaps, until 2013. Digitized and available online.
The Note Book was a weekly student publication issued from 1921–1925. Digitized and available online.
University of Rochester commencement programs have included graduates of the Eastman School of Music since 1922. The full series of the university’s commencement programs (1851–present) is digitized and available online.
The Alumni Bulletin of the Eastman School of Music was issued quarterly from 1931–1951. Digitized and available online.
Available in the ESM Archive
Programs of major recitals and concerts sponsored by or held at ESM from 1922 to the present, including student and faculty recitals, Collegium Musicum and other student ensemble concerts, guest performances, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, and Eastman Theatre concerts. Select volumes are catalogued; the full series of programs is available in the Archive.
Several series of scrapbooks were compiled by Sibley Music Library from ESM’s opening until the 1970s. The uncatalogued Rochester Scrapbooks (1921-1979) is a series of approximately 200 scrapbooks that contain newspaper clippings relating to musical life in Rochester and events related to the Eastman School of Music, including faculty and alumni news. The Eastman Theatre Scrapbooks (1920-28) contain clippings about the theatre’s construction, opening, and special events, including motion picture screenings and live performances. Available in the Archive.
Archival copies of ESM master’s theses and doctoral dissertations in composition, musicology, performance, and theory. Catalogued; recent theses and dissertations available online through UR Research.
The Eastman School Photo Archive (ESPA) includes more than 4000 photographs, the bulk of which relate to the history of the School. Searchable through the Iconography Database.
The ESM Bulletins (1925-1986) describe the academic programs and courses offered through the undergraduate and graduate programs as well as the preparatory department (later ECMS).
A Tempo was a student magazine issued from 1947-1950. Select issues available in the Archive
Leaflets (1977-82) was a student literary journal sponsored by the ESM Humanities Department. Copies available in the Archive and in the bound periodicals.
Notes from Eastman (1966-80) was a periodical, published quarterly by the Office of Institutional Advancement, devoted to the activities of the Eastman School of Music Catalogued; copies available in the Archive.
Eastman Notes (1980-present) is the current School magazine, which is issued twice a year for ESM alumni, parents, and friends. The most recent issues are available online; older issues are catalogued and available in the Archive.
Sibley Muse (1977–2008) was a newsletter published quarterly by the Sibley Music Library. Catalogued; copies available in the Archive and in the bound periodicals.