Description: Consists of sheet music, publicity, programs, correspondence, education materials, photographs and sound recordings that document Paul Martin Zonn's career as a composer, conductor, clarinetist, and educator.
Series 1: Sheet Music, ca. 1955 - 1998 (Boxes 1 - 26 and 41)
Contains Paul Zonn's original compositions, his jazz arrangements, and his Mandolin Ensemble arrangements, compositions written for him and his various performing ensembles, and method books. The music is arranged alphabetically by size and then by styles. Cross referencing between locations is indicated with the use of brackets, [ : ]. The first number identifies the box and the second identifies the folder. Of special note is his "Ultimate Nimbus" written for Clarinet Trio.
Series 2: Publicity, ca. 1950s - 2004 (Boxes 26 - 32, and 38 - 41)
Contains concert programs divided into important performances or performance venues, program notes, concert flyers, press releases, newpaper and magazine publicity, photographs, and sound recordings. The material is arranged by type and each type is then arranged chronologically. Legal sized material is in box 38 and oversized materials in boxes 39 and 41.
Series 3: Correspondence, ca. 1957 - 1999 (Boxes 33 - 34, and 38)
Contains correspondence between Paul Zonn and contemporary composers and educators, various performing ensembles, Universities, publishing companies and radio stations. The material is arranged alphabetically by the writer. Of note are commissions for compositions made by several professional orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Series 4: Education, ca. 1955 - 1998 (Boxes 35 - 37, 38, and 40)
Contains Paul Zonn's classroom materials, published articles, and grant and fellowship proposals. Also contained here is the work of his students. The material is arranged chronologically. Of note is a paper by Daniel Perantoni, former Professor of Tuba at the Unversity of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign.
Series 5: Ephemera, ca. 1930s - 2004 (Boxes 37 - 39)
Contains material from Paul Zonn's high school years, college transcripts and commencement programs, memorial service programs, family photographs and history, and autographs from two famous composers.
Series 6: Sound Recordings, 1957 - 1990 (Boxes 41 - 53)
Organized in two sub-series: Sub-Series 1: Zonn Recordings and Sub-Series 2: Other Recordings. Sub-series 1 includes recordings of Paul Zonn's compositions, performances, and conducting and of Wilma Zonn's performances. Organized in chronological order where dates are provided and then arranged alphabetical order by composer, title, ensemble or event where dates are not provided. Sub-series 1 includes recordings of compositions, performances and conducting by others. It too is organized in chronological order where dates are provided and then in alphabetical order by composer, title, ensemble or event where dates are not provided.