Inventory of the Winston-Salem Civi Music Association Papers, 1930-1975
The Civic Music Association sponsored annual concert series in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The collection includes programs (some autographed), photographs, newspaper clippings, lists of performances, and papers of Association Chairs and other officers.
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Summary Information
- Repository
- Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
- Title
- Winston-Salem Civic Music Association Papers
- Creator
- Civic Music Association (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
- Date
- 1930-1975 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 1.0 linear feet
- ID
- MS598
Biographical and Historical Note
The Civic Music Association of Winston-Salem, North Carolina was founded by Ralph P. Hanes, Sr., in 1930. Over the next 45 years, the CMA brought four to six visiting performers per year to Winston-Salem.
For at least part of its existence, the Winston-Salem CMA contracted with the Civic Concert Service, Inc., which was owned by NBC. The "Civic Music Plan" outlined in a Civic Concert Service brochure states that "Each Civic Music Association functions on a permanent membership basis.... The artists are selected by the local talent committee immediately after the close of the membership week. At least three concerts are presented each season, and as many more as the local budget permits.... The concerts are completely serviced by Civic Concert Service, Inc. Programs with explanatory notes are furnished for each concert, with descriptive circulars giving the artist's background and record."
Most of the sponsored artists were musicians or musical groups, with a few dance and drama performers. Financial support for these events came from the Association membership. At times there was a one to two year waiting list for membership.
Civic Music Association series performances were important social events, with audience members in formal evening dress. The performances were held at Reynolds Auditorium, which seats 1900. Performers included Eugene Ormandy, Artur Rubinstein, Isaac Stern, Cornelia Otis Skinner, and Andres Segovia.
The Winston-Salem CMA was disbanded in 1975. By that time Wake Forest University, North Carolina School of the Arts, and other organizations were providing concert series and cultural events for the Winston-Salem area.
Collection Overview
Holdings for the early period of the Winston-Salem CMA (1930s-1950s) consist mainly of programs for CMA concerts and publicity photographs of various artists, some of which are autographed by the artists, and newspaper clippings. There is also a disbound scrapbook covering 1930-1940, which contains programs, photos, newspaper clippings, and other publicity materials.
Coverage of the later years of the CMA (1960s-1970s) includes publicity brochures, some programs, and newspaper review clippings. The administrative files date mostly from this period, and include correspondence from CMA chairs to members, membership cards, notes on the responsibilities of the Chair and other officers, lists of board members, a complete membership roster for 1973-74, membership drive materials, and manuscript speeches of Beth Hudspeth.
Beth Hudspeth also provided a typed list of performances by season, covering the years 1930/31 to 1955/56 and 1966/67 to 1974/75, and typed notes throughout the collection.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Names
- Civic Music Association (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Finding aid prepared by Processed by: Megan Mulder; machine-readable finding aid created by Megan Mulder, 2005
- Access Restrictions
- Collection is open for research.
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question or their descendants, unless otherwise designated. Users of this collection are responsible for using the materials in conformance with U.S. copyright law.
- Custodial History note
- Frances Rainey, Executive Secretary of the Winston-Salem CMA 1930-1966, collected the materials for that period. Rachel Lawrence, Executive Secretary 1967-1975, organized and preserved Rainey's materials. Beth Hudspeth, Prospect Chair 1965-1975 and Membership Chair 1974-1975, collected materials from 1966 to 1975. Hudspeth also reorganized the earlier materials and donated the collection to Wake Forest University in April 1995.
- Preferred Citation
- MS 598, Winston-Salem Civic Music Association Papers, 1930-1975, Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.