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Arthur Shepherd photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P0103

Scope and Contents

The Arthur Shepherd photograph collection consists of 2 boxes. Box 1 contains black-and-white portraits of Arthur Shepherd, members of his family, and others, as well as Shepherd family portraits and general photographs of homes and banquets. Box 2 is oversize and contains black-and-white photograph prints of sketches and a photograph of the 1944 American composers dinner. The collection dates from approximately 1880 to 1958.

Dates

  • 1880-1958

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Arthur Shepherd photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Arthur Shepherd was born on February 19, 1880 in Paris, Idaho, to Emily Mary Phipp and William Nathaniel Budge Shepherd. The Shepherds were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Arthur Shepherd was raised in the faith. William N.B. Shepherd composed the hymn “Give Us Room That We May Dwell,” and the family supported Arthur Shepherd is musical pursuits as a child: he performed with the Paris Brass Band and the Bear Lake Stake Choir. At the age of twelve, Shepherd entered the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating in 1897. After graduating, Shepherd returned west, rejoining his family in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they had moved.

Between 1897 and 1909, Shepherd worked in various aspects of music in Utah. He served as conductor of the Salt Lake Theatre orchestra and played chamber music. Shepherd offered private lessons in music theory and piano. He also organized and conducted the Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra, the forerunner of the Utah Symphony. During this time, Shepherd also began receiving recognition for his work as a composer: in 1905 he won the Paderewwski Prize for his composition Overture Joyeuse and in 1909 he received first prize in the National Federal of music Clubs for his Sonata for the Pianoforte.

In 1909, Shepherd returned to Boston, and in 1910 he began teaching at the New England Conservatory and served as conductor at the St. Cecilia Society. When the United States joined World War I, Shepherd enlisted and served as bandmaster of the 303rd Field Artillery. In 1920, Shepherd was recruited by Nikolai Sokoloff to serve as assistant conductor and program annotator for the Cleveland Orchestra. Shepherd also lectured at Cleveland College and in 1927 resigned from his position as assistant conductor to take a job teaching at Western Reserve University, where he was involved in the founding of the music department, which he chaired, and the development of its program in experimental opera. Shepherd retired from this position in 1950. Throughout his career, Shepherd composed over 100 works. In addition to his continuing work as annotator for the Cleveland Orchestra and his work as a composer, Shepherd served as the music critic for the Cleveland Press.

On March 5, 1903, Arthur Shepherd married Hattie Hooper Jennings; together, the couple had four children. Shepherd’s experiences in World War I led him to distance himself from the Church of Jesis Christ of Latter-Day Saints and put pressure on his marriage, and Arthur and Hattie Shepherd divorced around 1920. On May 27, 1922 Arthur Shepherd married Grazella Puliver; together, they had one son.

Arthur Shepherd died on January 12, 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio, and was buried in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Extent

161 Items (2 boxes)

Abstract

Musician and composer Arthur Shepherd (1880-1958) was originally from Utah, but lived most of his professional life in Cleveland, Ohio. Arthur Shepherd weas a composer and professor of music at Case Western Reserve University. The Arthur Shepherd photograph collection consists primarily of personal and family photographs.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Addendum donated by Brian Hill in 2008.

Separated Materials

Audio-visual materials were transferred to the Arthur Shepherd audio-visual collection (A0103).

Manuscript materials were transferred to the Arthur Shepherd papers (MS 0103).

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.
Title
Guide to the Arthur Shepherd photograph collection, 1880-1958
Author
Finding aid created by Mary Ann Curtis, updated by Claire A. Kempa
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Revision Statements

  • 2016: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Margaret Benson.
  • 2022: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Claire A. Kempa.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863