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Personal papers of Laurel E. Anderson

 Collection
Call Number: PP 587

Overview

Personal papers of University of Kansas Music professor L.E. Anderson, predominately handwritten musical scores by Anderson and by some of his students from the 1930s-1960s. The collection includes full orchestral scores and individual instrumental parts, as well as pieces for piano or organ. Student compositions were based on a poem the student selected to put to music. Many pieces in the collection are undated; some pieces are heavily annotated with corrections, and some pages are difficult to distinguish to which piece they may belong.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1935-1986

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Laurel E. Anderson

Laurel Everette Anderson was born April 8, 1896 in Wisconsin. He earned degrees in organ and composition from Oberlin College in Ohio and taught at Grinnell College in Iowa before moving to Paris to study organ.

Anderson taught in the University of Kansas Music Department from 1927-1966, serving in roles that included university organist, professor of organ, director of graduate studies, and chair of departments of organ and theory. He was the first organ specialist faculty member. Before coming to KU, Anderson studied organ in France and was the organist of the American Church in Paris from 1924-1927.

Anderson was a charter member of the Kappa Chapter of the national honorary music society Phi Kappa Lambda, formed at KU in the early 1930s. He was also an honorary member of the men's society in music Phi Mu Apha Sinphonia.

Anderson married Mervy Demuth Agnew in 1924, with whom he had two children, Claudia (Anderson) Lewey and Whitfield Demuth. Laurel Anderson died in 1993.

Extent

7.5 Linear Feet (6 oversize boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

PP 587

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Claudia Lewey, 1998.

Related Materials

Mervyn Anderson papers, Kansas Collection, RH MS 1091, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Source

Title
Guide to the Laurel E. Anderson Collection
Subtitle
Personal papers of Laurel E. Anderson
Author
Finding aid prepared by mmm. Finding aid encoded by mmm.
Date
2017-9-21
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/1160409577
Preferred citation
Personal papers of Laurel E. Anderson, PP 587, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334