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Collection Overview
Title: Roslyn Rensch Papers, 1900- 1993
ID: 26/20/95
Primary Creator: Rensch, Roslyn (1923-2021)
Extent: 10.7 cubic feet
Arrangement: By type of material and alphabetical thereunder.
Date Acquired: 05/31/1989. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Alumni, American Harp Society, Chicago, Illinois, Class Notes, Evanston, Illinois, Harp, Harps, Indiana State University, Musical Repertoires, Music Competitions, Musicology, National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI), Northwestern University, Recitals, Sigma Alpha Iota, Symphony Orchestras, World Harp Congress
Formats/Genres: Concert Programs, Methods--Self Instruction, Microfilms, Papers, Scrapbooks
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of personal papers, student files, teaching notes, research files, book drafts, correspondence, concert programs, harps, string boxes, and scrapbooks (both physical and microfilmed), documenting the career of University of Illinois alumna and harpist Roslyn Rensch. In addition, the papers contain sheet music libraries compiled by Margaret Sweeney and Emma Weast Bichl, both 19th-Century harpists from the Chicago area.
Biographical Note
Rosyln Maria Rensch (1923-2021) was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 12, 1923. After the Rensch family moved to Evanston, Illinois in 1929, her mother Maria Damm Rensch encouraged both her and her sister, Gloria, to learn musical instruments. Maria had played piano, harp, and cello in a family band during her youth, performing throughout England in the late 1890s. Given her musical inclinations, Maria took her own children to many musical events. After hearing a solo recital by Alberto Salvi in Chicago, Maria encouranged Rosyln to study the harp.
Rosyln Rensch began her studies with Alberto Salvi soon after. While she was in high school, Rensch performed at weddings and local society dinners. She also gave public solo recitals in Chicago's Wurlitzer Building and the Lyon and Healy recital hall. She graduated from Evanston Township High School in June, 1941.
Rensch continued her studies with Salvi at Northwestern, earning her bachelors degree in harp performance in 1945. While a student at Northwestern, she was an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota. For six weeks following her graduation, she studied at the Juilliard School of Music with Marcel Grandjany. Soon after, she returned to Northwestern to complete a masters degree in harp performance. While completing her degree, she became the principal harpist for the Chicago Civic Orchestra, a position she would hold for six years. After graduating in 1948, she returned to Juilliard to perform in a summer orchestra conducted by Walter Hendl. She published her first book, The Harp, in 1950.
In 1953 she enrolled in Northwestern University's musicology program intending to write her dissertation on the history of the harp. During her first year as a musicologist, she met Dr. Paul Nettl, Dr. Bruno Nettl's father, who encoraged her to complete her degree at Indiana University. She began her studies in musicology with Dr. Nettl and Dr. Willi Apel in 1954. In 1955, she was invited by Fritz Reiner to perform in the CSO's production of Wagner's Götterdämmerung.
In the spring of 1954, she took a faculty position teaching harp at the University of Illinois and transferred to the musicology program at the University of Illinois. Since her research data primarilly consisted of iconographic depictions of the harp, she decided to complete a masters degree in art history at Illinois in 1957. Since the University of Illinois did not offer a PhD program in art history at the time, she transferred once again to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to enroll as a PhD student in art history in 1958. Her dissertation, completed in 1964, entitled "Symbolism and Form of the Harp in Western European Manuscript Illuminations of the Ninth to the Sixteenth Century," was an iconographic and organological account of the history of the harp.
In 1965, she became a faculty member of Idiana State University in Terre Haute. In 1969, she published her second book,The Harp: Its History, Technique, and Repertoire. She was granted tenure in 1970 and served as a professor of harp and art history at Indiana State until 1988. Between 1967 and 1988 she was the principal harpist in the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. In 1970, she married Philip H. Erbs, the vice-president of the Wrigley Gum Corporation. Between 1977 and 1980, she served as the vice-president of the American Harp Society and from 1983-1987 she helped establish the World Harp Congress. After retiring in 1988, she moved to St. Simons Island Georgia to live with her sister Gloria. She passed away in Brooklyn, New York on November 6, 2021.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
July 27, 1989 and March 30, 1990.
Acquisition Source:
Roslyn Rensch
Acquisition Method:
gift
Related Materials:
See also record series number 35/3/68, box 3, folders 47-48 (contains MPAL correspondence with Rensch and processing notes)
See also the International Harp Archives' finding aid for the Roslyn Rensch Papers: https://harp.lib.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/roslynrensch.pdf. Relocated from Brigham Young University to University of Northern Texas in 2025.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Education, 1946-1981],
[
Series 2: Research, Service, and Teaching],
[
Series 3: Concert Programs, Posters, and Scrapbooks],
[
Series 4: Music Instruments],
[All]
- Series 1: Education, 1946-1981
- Consists of Rensch's cirriculum vitae, class notes, commencement program, term papers, and a preliminary Ph.D. exam. Arranged chronologically.
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Vitae, 1950-1981
- Folder 2: Wedding Invitation and Political Pamphlet, ca. 1970
- Folder 3: Commencement Program, Northwestern, 1946
- Folder 4: Class Notes for Curt Sachs Course, 1953
- Folder 5: Class Notes for Music Survey: Antiquity to 1508, 1953
- Folder 6: Class Notes for Music History Survey 1700-1800, 1954
- Folder 7: Class Notes for History of Medieval Polyphony, 1955
- Folder 8: Class Notes for Renaissance Music, 1955
- Folder 9: Term Paper: Intarsia For a Duke, 1957
- Written for Renaissance Art History taught by Dr. Minerva Pinnell at the University of Illinois
- Folder 10: Term Paper Outline: Odilon Redon, 1961
- Folder 11: Term Paper: Some Social and Artistic Aspects of the Harp: 1750-1900, 1955
- Written for 19th Century Art History course taught by Dr. Frank Roos at the University of Illinois.
- Folder 12: Ph.D. Preliminary Exam Manuscript: James Whistler, 1961
- Box 14
- Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings about Roslyn, 1937-1938
- Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings about Irish Harps and Roslyn's Performances, 1950-1955
- Folder 5: Newspaper Clippings about Roslyn at Indiana State University [Folder 1 of 2], 1962-1970
- Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings about Roslyn at Indiana State University [Folder 2 of 2], 1970-1979
- Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings about Sigma Alpha Iota and Swopes Gallery, 1980-1983
- Folder 8: Newspaper Clippings, undated
- Folder 9: Phi Kappa Lambda Newsletter, Spring 1949
- Folder 10: Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society, 1984-1975
- Includes introductory brochure, letter of congratulations, initation program, and newspaper highlighting Rensch's induction.
- Series 2: Research, Service, and Teaching
- Sub-Series 1: Publications
- Box 2
- Folder 6: "The Harp in School Bands and Orchestras" Article, March 1960
- Published in The Instrumentalist, vol. XIV, no. 7.
- Folder 7: "The Development of the Medieval Harp: A Re-examination of the Evidence of the Utracht Psalter and its Progeny" Article, 1972
- Published in Gesta, vol. XI, no. 2.
- Folder 8: Articles and Book Reviews for The American Harp Journal, 1972-1987
- Folder 9: Articles for American String Teacher, 1977-1988
- "Progress Report on the Harp," published in vol. XXVII, no. 2, Spring 1977, and "The Third World Harp Congress," published in vol. XXXVIII, no. 1, Winter 1988.
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Articles in Tri-State Trader, December 2, 1978-April 14, 1979
- "Harps: Once Antique Ones Could Be Had for a Song, Now Makers of New Ones Can' Handle Demand," published December 2, 1978 and "Readers Ask 'What Types of Harps Are These?'," published April 14, 1979.
- Folder 2: Articles in American Harp Journal, 1987
- "Out in the Cold World," published in vol. II, no. 2, Winter 1987.
- Folder 3: Manuscript of The Frame Harp -- In Western Europe and in America, chapters 1-5, April 1968
- Listed as "own copy."
- Folder 4: Manuscript of The Frame Harp -- In Western Europe and in America, chapters 6-8, undated
- Folder 5: Manuscript of The Frame Harp -- In Western Europe and in America, photocopy, undated
- Folder 6: Corrected Manuscript of The Frame Harp -- In Western Europe and in America, chapters 1-5, undated
- Corrected after the Duckworth copy and gallery
- Folder 7: Corrected Manuscript of The Frame Harp -- In Western Europe and in America, cahpters 6-7, undated
- Box 4
- Folder 4: Final Publisher Proofs for The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire [Folder 1 of 5], ca. 1968
- Folder 5: Final Publisher Proofs for The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire [Folder 2 of 5], ca. 1968
- Folder 6: Final Publisher Proofs for The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire [Folder 3 of 5], ca. 1968
- Folder 7: Final Publisher Proofs for The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire [Folder 4 of 5], ca. 1968
- Folder 8: Final Publisher Proofs for The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire [Folder 5 of 5], ca. 1968
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Research Notes for Harp Books [Folder 1 of 6], 1940-1989
- Folder 2: Research Notes for Harp Books [Folder 2 of 6], 1940-1989
- Folder 3: Research Notes for Harp Books [Folder 3 of 6], 1940-1989
- Folder 4: Research Notes for Harp Books [Folder 4 of 6], 1940-1989
- Folder 5: Research Notes for Harp Books [Folder 5 of 6], 1940-1989
- Folder 6: Research Notes for Harp Books [Folder 6 of 6], 1940-1989
- Sub-Series 2: Teaching Materials
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Teaching Notes [Folder 1 of 5], August 1977-May 1978
- Folder 2: Teaching Notes [Folder 2 of 5], August 1979-May 1980
- Folder 3: Teaching Notes [ Folder 3 of 5], August 1980-May 1981
- Folder 4: Teaching Notes [Folder 4 of 5], August 1983-May 1984
- Folder 5: Teaching Notes [Folder 5 of 5], September-December 1986
- Sub-Series 3: Research Subject Files
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Bernier, Rosamond, 1987
- Folder 2: Boehm, Mary Louise, 1971-1981
- Folder 3: Carron, Arthur, 1954-1958
- Folder 4: Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Newsletter, 1987
- Folder 8: De Volt, Artiss, 1937-1949
- Folder 9: Franklin, Benjamin, 1979
- Article from Music Through Sources and Documents
- Folder 11: Great Harpists of the World - National Public Radio Series, 1984
- Folder 12: Great Lakes Harpers News, 1988-1989
- Folder 13: Grove Dictionary, 1972-1985
- Box 10
- Folder 1: Harp Classes and Workshops [Folder 1 of 2], 1940-1990
- Folder 2: Harp Classes and Workshops [Folder 2 of 2], 1940-1990
- Folder 3: Harp Competitions [Folder 1 of 2], 1959-1990
- Folder 4: Harp Competitions [Folder 2 of 2], 1959-1990
- Folder 5: Harp Happenings, 1983
- Folder 6: Harp Festivals, 1950-1988
- Folder 7: Harp Music Listings [Folder 1 of 2], 1930-1988
- Folder 8: Harp Music Listings [Folder 2 of 2], 1961-1989
- Box 11
- Folder 1: Harp Music Reviews, The Musical Times, 1976-1984
- Folder 2: Harp Recitals, ca. 1940
- Folder 3: Harp Recordings, 1954-1989
- Folder 4: Harp Teacher's Survey - College Level, October 4, 1977
- Folder 5: Harp Week, International, 1960-1984
- Held in Queekhoven, Netherlands
- Folder 6: Harpists' Brochures, 1940-1989
- Folder 7: Harpmakers - Hayward, Jack, 1984-1986
- Folder 8: Harpmakers - Lyon and Healy [Folder 1 of 2], 1955-1982
- Folder 9: Harpmakers - Lyon and Healy [Folder 2 of 2], 1959-1987
- Folder 10: Harpmakers - Salvi, Victor, 1954-1981
- Box 12
- Folder 1: Harpmakers, 1948-1986
- Folder 2: Harpmakers - Smith Wilfred, 1978-1980
- Folder 3: Harps West, 1971-1979
- Folder 4: Hillis-Fulks Bureau - Outstanding Personalities and Programs, undated
- Folder 5: Historical Harp Conference and Workshop, 1984-1988
- Folder 6: Humanist Directory, 1976
- Folder 7: Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs and Program Suggestions Brochures, 1951-1955
- Folder 8: Indiana School of Sky, 1954-1955
- Folder 9: Indiana State University - Harp Requirements, 1971
- Box 13
- Folder 1: Keathley, Allen - Musical Instruments and Art: A Selected Bibliography, 1984
- Folder 2: Kozikova, Marcela - Beaux Arts Concerts, 1980-1988
- Folder 3: Lake View Musical Society - Forty-Second Annual Announcement, 1937-1938
- Located in Lake View, Chicago, IL.
- Folder 4: Lindroth, Lloyd, 1955-1987
- Folder 5: Luberano, J+J Catalog and Correspondence, 1987-1988
- Folder 11: Museums - Europe, ca. 1980
- Folder 12: Museums - US, 1977
- Folder 13: Music Teachers National Associationg Bulletin, December 1950
- Folder 14: Musical Album of the Gay Nineties, undated
- Folder 15: A History of Musical Instruments, undated
- Published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Folder 17: National Music Camp, 1935-1941
- Pamphlet and yearbook for National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan
- Box 14
- Folder 1: "The Romace of the Harp", 1929
- Written by Dr. Annie Patterson
- Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings about Harps and Harpmakers, 1942-1949
- Folder 11: Recommendation Letters, 1972-1989
- Folder 14: "On Teaching the Literature and Materials of Music", 1948
- Written by WIlliam Schuman
- Folder 19: Suzuki Method for Harp, 1980-1988
- Sub-Series 4: Service Files
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Alpha Delta Kappa, 1978-1979
- Folder 2: Alliance Française of Terre Haute, 1978
- Folder 3: American Harp Society [Folder 1 of 9], 1970
- Folder 4: American Harp Society [Folder 2 of 9], 1971
- Folder 5: American Harp Society [Folder 3 of 9], 1972
- Folder 6: American Harp Society [Folder 4 of 9], 1973
- Folder 7: American Harp Society [Folder 5 of 9], 1974
- Folder 8: American Harp Society [Folder 6 of 9], 1975
- Folder 9: American Harp Society [Folder 7 of 9], 1976
- Folder 10: American Harp Society [Folder 8 of 9], 1977
- Folder 11: American Harp Society [Folder 9 of 9], 1978
- Box 7
- Folder 1: American Harp Society [Folder 1 of 5], 1979
- Folder 2: American Harp Society [Folder 2 of 5], 1980
- Folder 3: American Harp Society [Folder 3 of 5], 1981
- Folder 4: American Harp Society [Folder 4 of 5], 1982
- Folder 5: American Harp Society [Folder 5 of 5], 1982
- Box 8
- Folder 1: American Harp Society [Folder 1 of 8], 1983
- Folder 2: American Harp Society [Folder 2 of 9], 1984
- Folder 3: American Harp Society [Folder 3 of 8], 1985
- Folder 4: American Harp Society [Folder 4 of 8], 1986
- Folder 5: American Harp Society [Folder 5 of 8], 1987
- Folder 6: American Harp Society [Folder 6 of 8], 1988
- Folder 7: American Harp Society [Folder 7 of 8], 1989-1990
- Folder 8: American Harp Society [Folder 8 of 8], undated
- Folder 9: American Harp Society Membership Documents, 1967-1969
- Includes member directories, constitution, memos, minutes, correspondence, newsletters, notices, and competiton and conference information
- Folder 10: American Harp Society - College Harp Instruction Questionnare, 1979-1988
- Box 9
- Folder 10: Grant Applications, 1984-1986
- Box 12
- Folder 11: Indiana State University - Graduate School Fafculty Applications, 1982-1986
- Folder 12: Indiana State University - Harp Students, 1968-1978
- Folder 13: Indiana State University - Harp Workshops, 1977-1978
- Folder 14: Indiana State University - Seventh Juried Student Competition, 1987
- Folder 15: Indiana State University - Society of Friends of Music, 1976
- Folder 16: Indiana State University - Student Research Papers, 1986-1987
- Bound papers written by Wan Ahmad Wan Mohamod
- Folder 17: Indiana State University - Survival Handbook, 1974
- Includes Faculty Salary list
- Folder 18: Julliard School of Music - Summer School Brochures, 1945-1948
- Box 13
- Folder 7: Midwest Popular Culture Association Conference Itinerary, 1982
- Rensch moderated and presented in "Harps and Heroines"
- Box 14
- Folder 15: Scottish Harp Society, 1982-1986
- Folder 16: Sigma Alpha Iota Booklets, 1961-1987
- Folder 17: Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen, 1973-1988
- Sub-Series 5: Correspondence
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Correspondence Regarding Photographs for The Harp, Its History, Technique, and Repertoire [Folder 1 of 2], January-March 1968
- Folder 2: Correspondence Regarding Photographs for The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire [Folder 2 of 3], April-December 1968
- Folder 3: Correspondence Regarding Photographs for The Harp, Its History, Technique and Repertoire [Folder 3 of 3], 1969
- Box 9
- Folder 5: Correspondence - A-C, 1952-1988
- Folder 6: Correspondence - D-L, 1958-1989
- Folder 7: Correspondence - M-Z, 1949-1988
- Box 12
- Folder 10: Indiana State University - Correspondence with Deans and Department Chairmen, 1973-1988
- Box 13
- Folder 6: Lyon and Healy Correspondence
- Box 14
- Folder 12: Salvi, Victor Correspondence, 1947-1951
- Folder 13: Salzedo, Carlos Correspondence and Article, 1947-1987
- Folder 18: Suchy, Jessica, 1976-1985
- Series 3: Concert Programs, Posters, and Scrapbooks
- Box 13
- Folder 8: Mimura, Tsutomu Concert Programs [Folder 1 of 2], 1969-1974
- Concert programs printed in Japanese
- Folder 9: Mimura, Tsutomu Concert Programs [Folder 2 of 2], 1975-1986
- Folder 10: Mozart Society, 1974-1975
- Located in Glynn County, Georgia
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 1: Artwork, Posters, and Photographs, 1951-1991
- Poster of Clarence Day quote. Poster of artwork entitled "Lady with a Harp: Eliza Ridgley." Black and white artwork of women playing a harp. Black and white art work on a blue background. Signed poster of "Lloyd Lindroth and His Golden Harp" to Roslyn from Variety Newspaper. Poster entitled, "I Concurso De Investigatcion Aripista Ludovico." Poster for "Harp and Dulcimer Music" at Lincoln Quad. Black and white artwork entitled, "The Evles' and Fauns' Grand Autumn Festival." Signed poster of Jessica Suchy to Roslyn. Black and white photograph of a women with a harp.
- Oversize Portfolio Case 2
- Item 1: Harp Posters, ca. 1951-1970
- Series 4: Music Instruments
- String Instrument 1: Royal Portable Harp - Charles Egan, ca. 1821-1835
- Accession # 2004.2620095.001. Made by Charles Egan, 30 Dawson Street, Dublin, Ireland; Egan "Royal Portable" Harp.
- String Instrument 2: Frame Harp, ca. 1450
- Accession no. 2004.262095.002. Italian harp, 15th century according to label accompanying the instrument.
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Education, 1946-1981],
[
Series 2: Research, Service, and Teaching],
[
Series 3: Concert Programs, Posters, and Scrapbooks],
[
Series 4: Music Instruments],
[All]
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