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Settlement Music School Records

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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
613, PC-35, Acc. 957
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
  • 48.15 linear feet (56 boxes)
  • 1 archived websites
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Settlement Music School Records, URB 9, Acc. 613, PC-35, Acc. 957, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1910-2016 (inclusive), 1910-1986 (bulk), and 2000-2016 (inclusive)
Creator:
Settlement Music School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Form:
35mm (photographic film size), Administrative records, Architectural drawings, Bylaws (administrative records), Clippings, Correspondence, Ephemera, Financial records, Legal documents, Minutes (administrative records), Negatives, Newsletters, Photographs, Publications (documents), Reports, School records, Scrapbooks, Sound recordings, Souvenir programs, and Web sites
Abstract:

The Settlement Music School is a private organization whose purpose is to provide music instruction for children and adults regardless of ability to pay. In its early years a major function was to assist immigrants in finding employment. The school was incorporated in 1913, and moved into its present building on Queen Street in 1917. Branches in Germantown and Frankford were established in 1951.

The Settlement Music School Records consist of minutes of executive and board meetings, financial statements, correspondence, scrapbooks and photographs, newspaper clippings, and a few class reports. Subject matter primarily concerns music instruction, concerts, and recitals, but the Personal Service Committee minutes also detail services for immigrants during the period 1920-28. Photographs consist of undated and uncaptioned photos depicting children at artistic, dramatic, and musical activities. Photographers include Eugene J. Amenra, Chappel Studio, Alfred A. DeLardi, Harry Finberg, Elias Goldensky, Alan D. Hewitt, Miriam Tana Hoban, Kubey-Rembrandt Studios, Margery Lewis, Richard K. Mallin, Sam Miller, J.D. Narbeth, Betty Nettis, Photo-Illustrators, Harry Pinkerson, William H. Rau, Rembrandt Studios, Jules Schick, and Adrian Siegel. This collection includes preserved versions of the organization's website, available through Archive-It.

This collection is organized into 5 series as follows:

  • Series 1: URB 9, 1910-1966
    • Subseries 1.1: Executive and Financial Papers, 1910-1960
    • Subseries 1.2: Correspondence, Programs, and Publications, 1931-1966
    • Subseries 1.3: Photographs, Scrapbooks, and Notebooks, 1913-1966
  • Series 2: Accession 613, 1917-1986
    • Subseries 2.1: Administration, undated
    • Subseries 2.2: News Clippings, 1967-1971
    • Subseries 2.3: Printed Literature, 1917-1986
    • Subseries 2.4: Branch Materials, 1981-1985
    • Subseries 2.5: Outside Organizations, 1967-1970
    • Subseries 2.6: Miscellaneous, 1917, undated
  • Series 3: Photographs (PC-35), 1917-1968
  • Series 4: Accession 957, circa 1920-1986
  • Series 5: Website versions in Archive-It, 2000-2016

Additions to this collection are expected. Websites are captured using Archive-It periodically, and the latest additions may not yet be included in this finding aid. For information on material–physical and digital, including captured websites–that may have been added since the last finding aid update, please contact the Special Collections Research Center.

URB 9 was deposited by the Settlement Music School through Mr. Sol Schoenbach, Director, in March 1970. Accession 613 and PC-25 were deposited by Joan Graham in January 1986. Accession 957 was deposited by the School through Eric Johnson, July 17, 2008.

Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy. Certain digital files may also be inaccessible. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in July 2015. Revised in May 2016. Finding aid updated with captured website information in July 2016. Updated with new series and box numbers in 2023.

People
Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
July 2025
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Settlement Music School Records are on deposit at the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

School and Director's Committee, 1949, 1952-1953, 1960.
Box 1 Folder 1
Executive Meetings, 1910-1912.
Box 1 Folder 2
Executive and Annual Meetings, 1913-1918.
Box 1 Folder 3
Executive and Board Meetings, 1919-1920.
Box 1 Folder 4
Executive and Board Meetings, 1921.
Box 1 Folder 5
Executive and Board Meetings, 1922.
Box 1 Folder 6
Executive and Board Meetings, 1923.
Box 1 Folder 7
Executive and Board Meetings, 1924.
Box 1 Folder 8
Executive and Board Meetings, 1925-1926.
Box 1 Folder 9
Executive and Board Meetings, 1927.
Box 1 Folder 10
Executive and Board Meetings, 1928.
Box 1 Folder 11
Executive and Board Meetings, 1929.
Box 1 Folder 12
Executive and Board Meetings, 1930-1931.
Box 1 Folder 13
Executive and Board Meetings, 1932-1934.
Box 1 Folder 14
Executive and Board Meetings, 1935-1937.
Box 1 Folder 15
Executive and Board Meetings, 1938-1940.
Box 1 Folder 16
Executive and Board Meetings, 1941-1942.
Box 2 Folder 17
Executive and Board Meetings, 1943-1945.
Box 2 Folder 18
Executive and Board Meetings, 1946-1947.
Box 2 Folder 19
Executive and Board Meetings, 1948-1950.
Box 2 Folder 20
Executive and Board Meetings, 1951.
Box 2 Folder 21
Executive and Board Meetings, 1952.
Box 2 Folder 22
Executive and Board Meetings, 1953.
Box 2 Folder 23
Executive and Board Meetings, 1954.
Box 2 Folder 24
Executive and Board Meetings, 1955.
Box 2 Folder 25
Executive and Board Meetings, 1956.
Box 2 Folder 26
Executive and Board Meetings, 1957.
Box 2 Folder 27
Executive and Board Meetings, 1958.
Box 2 Folder 28
Executive and Board Meetings, 1959.
Box 2 Folder 29
Executive and Board Meetings, 1960.
Box 2 Folder 30
Miscellaneous Meetings, undated.
Box 2 Folder 31
Kensington Branch Reports, 1914-1916.
Box 2 Folder 32
Personal Service Committee, 1920-1921.
Box 2 Folder 33
Personal Service Committee, 1922-1923.
Box 2 Folder 34
Personal Service Committee, 1924-1928.
Box 2 Folder 35
Personal Sheets, 1927.
Box 2 Folder 36
Financial Statements, 1941-1942, 1950.
Box 3 Folder 37
Financial Statements, 1951-1953.
Box 3 Folder 38
Financial Statements, 1954-1956.
Box 3 Folder 39
Financial Statements, 1957, 1959-1960.
Box 3 Folder 40
Operating Financial Statement, 1947.
Box 3 Folder 41
Operating Financial Statement, June 1953-May 1954.
Box 3 Folder 42
Operating Financial Statement, June 1954-May 1955.
Box 3 Folder 43
Operating Financial Statement, June 1955-May 1956.
Box 3 Folder 44
Operating Financial Statement, June 1956-May 1957.
Box 3 Folder 45
Operating Financial Statement, June 1957-May 1958.
Box 3 Folder 46
Operating Financial Statement, June 1958-May 1959.
Box 3 Folder 47
Operating Financial Statement, June 1959-May 1960.
Box 3 Folder 48
Citizenship Questionnaires, undated.
Box 3 Folder 49
Two Student Records, 1944, 1945.
Box 3 Folder 50
Building Fund, 1961.
Box 3 Folder 1
Civil Defense, 1962-1964.
Box 3 Folder 2
Concert, Annual, 1966.
Box 3 Folder 3
Fels, Jennie May - auditorium dedication, 1963.
Box 3 Folder 4
Girl Scouts, 1963-1966.
Box 3 Folder 5
Health and Welfare Council - Reports, 1953.
Box 3 Folder 6
Kinhaven Music School, Vermont, 1965-1966.
Box 3 Folder 7
Music Instruction, undated.
Box 3 Folder 8
Musico en Compostelo, 1964.
Box 3 Folder 9
National Guild of Community Music Schools, undated.
Box 4 Folder 10
Oppenheimer, Joseph E.-Estate, 1960-1961.
Box 4 Folder 11
Philadelphia, City of, 1961-1965.
Box 4 Folder 12
Programs, annual, undated.
Box 4 Folder 13
Programs, Settlement Music School, 1930s.
Box 4 Folder 14
Programs, Settlement Music School, circa 1940.
Box 4 Folder 15
Programs held elsewhere, undated.
Box 4 Folder 16
Rosenbaum, Morris - Memorial, 1961-1963.
Box 4 Folder 17
Schoenbach, Sol (Director of Settlement Music School 1957-) Correspondence, 1952-1959.
Box 4 Folder 18
Turner, William Jay - Estate, 1960-1961.
Box 4 Folder 19
Wexler, Sylvia G. - Award Fund, 1960-1962.
Box 4 Folder 20
Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated.
Box 4 Folder 21
Miscellaneous Affairs, undated.
Box 4 Folder 22
"Grace Notes", 1931-1934.
Box 4 Folder 23
"Grace Notes", 1935-1938.
Box 4 Folder 24
"Grace Notes", 1939-1941.
Box 4 Folder 25
Photographs (see general photograph collections), undated.
Box 4 Folder 1
Newspaper clippings, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
Scrapbook, 1916-1937.
Box 5 Folder 3
Scrapbook, 1923.
Box 5 Folder 4
Scrapbook, 1930 - 1933.
Box 6 Folder 5
Scrapbook, 1946.
Box 6 Folder 6
Scrapbook, 1947-1957.
Box 6 Folder 7
Scrapbook, 1957-1958.
Box 6 Folder 8
Scrapbook, 1959-1964.
Box 7 Folder 9
Scrapbook, 1965-1966.
Box 7 Folder 10
Scrapbook Various, undated.
Box 7 Folder 10
School reports, 1913-1916.
Box 8 Folder 11
School reports (includes staff meetings 11/1918 - 2/1924), 1916-1924.
Box 8 Folder 12
Classes and concerts, 1914-1917.
Box 8 Folder 13
Concert book, 1924.
Box 8 Folder 14
Appointment book, 1939.
Box 8 Folder 15
Publicity Brochure, 1939.
Box 8 Folder 16

Administrative Reports, Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 9
Bylaws, undated.
Box 9
Correspondence, undated.
Box 9
News Clippings, undated.
Box 9
Scrapbook, 1967-1971.
Box 9
Newsletters, 1937, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1985.
Box 9
Printed Literature, 1913-1948.
Box 9
Printed Literature, 1953-1985.
Box 9
Programs, 1917, 1949.
Box 9
Programs, 1950, 1952.
Box 9
Programs, 1953, 1957.
Box 9
Programs, 1958, 1959, 1969.
Box 9
Programs, 1978, 1981.
Box 9
Programs, 1983, 1984.
Box 9
Programs, 1985, 1986.
Box 9
Germantown Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 9
Kordan, Northeast News Clippings, undated.
Box 9
Kordan, Northeast Printed Literature, 1981, 1983.
Box 9
Kordan, Northeast Programs, 1982, 1983.
Box 9
Kordan, Northeast Programs, 1984, 1985.
Box 9
Queen Village Community Fair, 1967.
Box 9
Queen Village Community Fair, 1968.
Box 9
Queen Village Community Fair, 1969.
Box 9
Queen Village Community Fair, 1970.
Box 9
Blueprints, undated.
Box 10
Auditorium Addition, undated.
Box 10
Studio, undated.
Box 10
Public Ledger, 1917.
Box 10

Scope and Contents

The number in parentheses indicates the number of photographs within the file.

Art Department: Children's Art Class (4), undated.
Box 11 Folder 11
Art Department: Children's Art Class (9), 1949.
Box 11 Folder 2
Art Department: Miscellaneous (4), undated.
Box 11 Folder 3
Art Department: Painting and Instruction (7), undated.
Box 11 Folder 4
Art Department: Sculpting and Instruction (11), undated.
Box 11 Folder 5
Art Department: Sculptures (22), undated.
Box 11 Folder 6
Art Department: Student Art Exhibit (9), 1936, 1937, 1938.
Box 11 Folder 7
Art Department: Student Art Exhibit, 1948.
Box 11 Folder 8
Art Department: Boy Scouts, Troop 76 (1), 1924.
Box 11 Folder 9
Art Department: Building Exteriors and Interiors (22), undated.
Box 11 Folder 10
Art Department: Children and Parents in Waiting Room (1), undated.
Box 11 Folder 111
Art Department: Christmas Party, Postcard with Letter (1), undated.
Box 11 Folder 12
Art Department: Dance Department, Classes (4), undated.
Box 11 Folder 13
Drama Department: Italian Women's Club (8) Women in Costume, undated.
Box 11 Folder 14
Drama Department: Little Theatre Group (5) The Portrait Players, "Taming of the Shrew," "Adam", undated.
Box 11 Folder 15
Drama Department: Miscellaneous (11) Krupshin's Classes, 1936.
Box 11 Folder 16
Music Department: Chorus (3), undated.
Box 11 Folder 17
Music Department: Classes and Instruction (27), undated.
Box 11 Folder 18
Music Department: Performances (15, One Color), undated.
Box 11 Folder 19
Portraits: Director (1 Print, 9 Copies), undated.
Box 12 Folder 20
Portraits: Groups (19), undated.
Box 12 Folder 21
Portraits: Individuals (12), undated.
Box 12 Folder 212
Portraits: Programs of Performances [Not Photographs], 1917-1949.
Box 12 Folder 23
Portraits: Queen Village Community Fair Scholarships (4 Photos on One Mat), 1968.
Box 12 Folder 24
Portraits: Sewing Group (2), undated.
Box 12 Folder 25
Portraits: Zimbalist Wing (12), undated.
Box 12 Folder 26
Portraits: Contact Series # 1 (7), undated.
Box 12 Folder 27
Portraits: Contact Series # 2 (12), undated.
Box 12 Folder 28
Portraits: Contact Series # 3 (4), undated.
Box 12 Folder 29
Portraits: Contact Series # 4 (5), undated.
Box 12 Folder 30
Portraits: Contact Series # 5 (7), undated.
Box 12 Folder 31
Portraits: Contact Series # 6 (2 with Negatives), undated.
Box 12 Folder 312
Portraits: Contact Series # 7 (2), undated.
Box 12 Folder 33
Portraits: Contact Series # 8 (13), undated.
Box 12 Folder 34
Portraits: Contact Series # 9 (1), undated.
Box 12 Folder 35
Portraits: Negatives, undated. 5 sets.
Box 12 Folder 36
Physical Description

5 sets

Series 4: Accession 957, circa 1920-1986.
Box 1-40 Box 41-45
Scope and Contents

Accession 957 contains approximately 30 boxes of unprocessed records.

Series 5: Website versions in Archive-It, 2000-2016. 1 Archived Websites.
Scope and Contents

Contains preserved versions of the Settlement Music School's website. To access these sites, see the Temple University Special Collections Urban Archives Archive-It web page.

Physical Description

1 Archived Websites

Materials Viewable Online
  1. Settlement Music School records archived websites

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