Guide to the Pittsburgh Symphony Association Records c1940-1995

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Pittsburgh Symphony Association Records
Creator
Pittsburgh Symphony Association
Collection Number
MSS 0808
Extent
21 linear feet (21 boxes)
Date
c1940-1995
Abstract
The Pittsburgh Symphony Association (PSA) is a volunteer organization that supports the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra through financial, promotional, and educational programs and activities. The PSA began as the Women's Committee of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society in 1939. The Pittsburgh Symphony Association Records document the administration of programs and events that the PSA organizes, and includes administrative and donor correspondence, membership and meeting information, auction files and donor forms, financial documents, and audio-visual materials.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Alex J. Toner.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The Pittsburgh Symphony Association (PSA) is a volunteer organization that supports the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra through financial, promotional, and educational programs and activities. The PSA evolved from the Women's Committee of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society, which was established in 1926 by local musicians seeking to reorganize a symphony orchestra in Pittsburgh. A professional orchestral ensemble had been absent from the city since 1910 because of financial constraints.

The Women's Committee was established in 1939 when Symphony Society President Thurston Wright appointed Mrs. John P. Hoelzel chairwomen of the group. The committee's mission was to promote and financially assist the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. While the board of the Symphony Society was primarily comprised of male business leaders, the Women's Committee brought together influential female leaders of local civic and social groups. These women used their positions to gain publicity through annual events, collect donations through fundraisers, and to promote season-ticket sales.

The Women's Committee was officially incorporated in 1946 as the Women's Association of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and it was in the 1940s when the group initiated a number of their most popular events. The organization's largest fundraiser, the Symphony Ball, was held for the first time in 1947 at the William Penn Hotel. The annual Ball remains the single largest producer of funds for the PSA. Similarly, in 1949, the Women's Committee held a gala event which was the precursor to their annual Fashion Gala.

In the mid-twentieth century the Women's Committee sponsored a variety of outreach initiatives. The group established a lecture series, beginning in 1948, intended to foster musical appreciation, which came to be known as Symphony Silhouettes. The women also began a series of children's concerts in 1954 titled Tiny Tots Concerts. Through their Altruism program, the committee distributed unsold and unused Symphony tickets to less fortunate groups and individuals. In 1984, the newly titled PSA started the Fine Instrument Fund, which was created to provide symphony musicians with musical instruments while under contract with the orchestra. Many of these programs remain in existence today.

The Women's Committee moved into offices within the revitalized Heinz Hall in 1971. Due to confusion between the roles of the Women's Committee and the Symphony Society, The Pittsburgh Symphony Association was formed and became an independent organization in 1983, authorized by, but not governed by, the Symphony Society. The PSA continues to sponsor many of above-mentioned programs, and provides financial assistance and audience development to support the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Scope and Content Notes

The Pittsburgh Symphony Association Records primarily consist of materials documenting the group's administration of their outreach programs and fundraising events, including the annual Symphony Ball and the Fashion Gala, as well as their Tiny Tots concerts, Altruism initiative, Symphony Silhouettes, Music 101, and other outreach programs. The records include administrative and donor correspondence, membership and meeting information, auction files and donor forms, financial records and invoices, and other administrative materials. Additionally, several films contain footage from select Symphony Balls and Fashion Galas. Some photographs are interspersed with manuscript materials in Series II, which help to provide documentation of the yearly Symphony Gala. The Pittsburgh Symphony Association Records have been arranged into four series:

Series I: Event Administration and Operations, boxes 1-10

These materials are comprised of correspondence, membership lists, business reports, event reviews, advertisements and programs, contracts, and general information concerning programs and events the PSA directs, such as: Tiny Tots concerts, Altruism initiatives, Music 101, Symphony Silhouettes, and Festive Creations. There are draft proposals for brochures and yearbooks, as well as committee meeting minutes and weekly summary reports.

  1. Box 1 1980s-1990s: event administration materials.
  2. Box 2 1990s: membership meeting information, some board meeting minutes.
  3. Box 3 1970s-1980s: gala info, auction info, same board members information.
  4. Box 4 1980s: event administration materials.
  5. Box 5 early 1970s: Junior Symphony Ball administration.
  6. Box 6 1970s-1980s: event administration materials.
  7. Box 7 1990s: event administration materials.
  8. Box 8 1980s: event administration materials.
  9. Box 9 1980s: auction materials / 1960-1990 operation materials.
  10. Box 10 contains six binders of committee reports and materials for the years 1960 through 1968.

Series II: Symphony Ball, boxes 11-18

Symphony Ball materials contain business correspondence, contracts, programs, advertisements, tickets, newspaper previews and reviews, photographs, and general planning materials. The bulk of these materials are from the 1980s.

  1. Box 11: 1970s.
  2. Box 12: 1980s.
  3. Box 13: 1984 and 1986.
  4. Box 14: 1985.
  5. Box 15: 1986-1989.
  6. Box 16: 1988-1989.
  7. Box 17: 1989-1995.
  8. Box 18: Fashion Gala materials included with some Symphony Ball materials, 1986-1989.

Series III: Audio-Visual, box 19

Box 19 contains four film reels with footage from the 1958 Symphony Ball and an undated fashion show; three undated VHS tapes; five UCA30 videocassettes containing footage from the 1986 and 1987 Fashion Galas; and several 35mm slides from the 1980 Fashion Gala.

Series IV: Financial, boxes 20-21

Two boxes contain large pages from a financial ledger, some treasurer reports, invoices, organizational bank account statements, and other account and financial operations materials.

Arrangement

The Pittsburgh Symphony Association Records are housed in 21 boxes and have been arranged into four series:

  1. Boxes 1-10: I. Administration and Events.
  2. Boxes 11-17: II. Symphony Ball.
  3. Box 18: III. Media.
  4. Boxes 19-20: IV. Financial

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Pittsburgh Symphony Association in 1997.

Archives accession # 1997.0168

Preferred Citation

Pittsburgh Symphony Association Records, c1940-1995, MSS 0808 , Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

Preliminary processing by Alex J. Toner on 06/26/12.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Related Materials

Fanfare Fifty Years: Pittsburgh Symphony Association, 1939-1989. qML25.b.P692. Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center. The Library maintains 1969 and 1970 membership directories of The Women's Association of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Pittsburgh Symphony Association.
    • Pittsburgh Symphony Society (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh Pa.

Container List