PA12C Steve Zellmer Collection Finding aid created by Leslie Czechowski University of Minnesota Libraries 23 July 2003

University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN 55455

EAD encoding by Leslie Czechowski, 23 July 2003 English Steve Zellmer Steve Zellmer Collection 1942-95 University of Minnesota Libraries. Performing Arts Archives, Manuscripts Division [paa] 4 boxes (1.5 linear feet)+ 4 scrapbooks The collection includes scrapbooks, personal files, and memorabilia from a musician who was the principal trombone player for the Minnesota Orchestra for over forty years. PA 12 C English Zone B, R6, D4, Shelf 16 Restrictions on Access

Materials are open to research without restriction. Permission to examine this collection will be granted to any qualified researcher upon completion of an application form. The original documents do not circulate and may only be used in the Reading Room of the Manuscripts Division.

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

Steve Zellmer Collection (PA 12 C), Minnesota Orchestra Archives, Performing Arts Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis.

Acquisition

Files were transferred in the late 1990s; scrapbooks were donated by Frank Winsor in 2001.

Processing Information

The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Leslie Czechowski in March 2001 and updated in July 2003.

Separated Material

Numerous Orchestra programs (both at home and on tour) and magazines were transferred to the Minnesota Orchestra Archives, Series 10; M.O.A. annual reports were transferred to Series 1; programs from unrelated performances were transferred to PA 46.

The following items were discarded: Advertising supplement to the N.Y. Times, Sept. 16, 1990; High Fidelity, Feb. 1960 (article about Chicago Symphony Orchestra); Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 1971-72 season; Time (magazine), Feb. 22, 1963 (cover feature article on George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra).

Organization of the Collection

The collection is roughly organized by material type.

Biographical Note

Steve Zellmer was the principal trombone player with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra/ Minnesota Orchestra from 1954 to 1995. During World War II he was a member of the 42nd Infantry Division Band. After the war he studied at the American Conservatory of Music and Roosevelt College. He played with the Chicago Civic Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony before coming to Minneapolis. He performed with various ensembles including the Minneapolis Brass Ensemble.

Scope and Content Note

This is an intensely personal collection about the Minnesota Orchestra and Zellmer that reflects his work with and interest in the Orchestra. It is an excellent source of information about musicians who played with the Orchestra and information about Orchestra tours. The files include clippings about musicians and reviews of the Orchestra on tour; materials from his time on the Musicians’ Committee; and notes he made about his favorite concerts and other Orchestra activities, perhaps in preparation for a history of the organization. Folder labels are those given by Zellmer. Many of the files are in disarray. Also included are photographs he took of composers’ graves and tombs in Europe.

The scrapbooks document tours of the Orchestra from 1957 to 1985 and contain travel and personal photos, postcards, newspaper reviews of the Orchestra on tour, wine & beer labels, and other travel memorabilia. These items reflect on Zellmer's broad interests: good food and drink, art, baseball, history, natural history and architecture.

Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Zellmer, Steve Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra Minnesota Orchestra Minnesota Orchestra. Members' Committee Detailed Contents

The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the collection.

Zellmer's files 1942-95 Important miscellany pre-1945 1 Retirement survey 1979 1 Misc. personalities, Minneapolis Symphony [sic.] 1 Notes & final statistics: "Concerts I wish to remember" -- Skrowaczewski, etc. 1 Notes & final statistics: Tours & salaries 1 Notes & final statistics: Personnel, recordings, "Concerts I wish to remember," etc. 1 Notes & final statistics: Clippings, mainly from tours 1965-90 1 Season programs 1954-95 1 Carl Sands 1952 2 "Legacy of a Master: Influence of Arnold Jacobs" by Steve Zellmer 2 Mary Ann Feldman (incl. bio. of Zellmer written by Feldman, 1995) 2 Memorabilia, pre-Minneapolis 1942-46, 1991 2 Memorabilia highlights 2 Minneapolis Brass Ensemble & other groups Zellmer was in 1959-71 2 "Principal positions of the Orchestra" 1960 2 Program pages: Pops, 1958; "A Century of Music in Minnesota," 1957-58 2 Recordings of Minneapolis Symphony [sic.] 2 Miscellaneous 2 Orchestra Members' Committee 1961-65 2 Orchestra Members' Committee 1962-63 2 Orchestra Members' Committee: Holiday gift fund 1963-64 2 Tour schedules and memoranda 1939-81 2 Dorati years--Memorabilia 1954-55 -- 1959-60 3 Middle Eastern tour 1957 3

2 folders

Skrowaczewski years 1960-61 -- 1967-68 3 Skrowaczewski years 1968-69 -- 1978-79 3 Marriner years (Tennstedt--Dutoit) 1979-80 -- 1985-86 3 Marriner years: get-well card to Zellmer 3 Neville Marriner 1979-80 -- 1985-86 3 Australian tour 1985 3 Edo de Waart years 1986-95 3

2 folders

Philadelphia Orchestra South American tour (with Skrowaczewski & Zellmer) 1966 3 Photograph: Minnesota Symphonetta (Henry Denecke, conductor) 1952 4 Clippings (dis-ordered) 4

2 folders

Photographs (8"x10" color) 4

Includes photos of various composers (birthplaces, burial sites, other pertinent photos; there are approximately 80 photos in 2 folders

Zellmer's scrapbooks 1957-86 Scrapbook #1: 1957 Middle East Tour and 75th Anniversary Season 5

Highlights include a photograph (14 May 1957) of Orchestra musicians in front of an airplane at Heathrow; a snapshot of Antal Dorati; a letter (21 May 1957) from Dorati to Zellmer; newspaper clippings from the 1957 tour; an autographed "ad" of Arthur Fiedler; postcards received from other musicians; wine labels; family photos; and items relating to personal trips

Scrapbook #2: 1986 Hong Kong Festival and 1986 Casals Festival (Puerto Rico) 5

Highlights include photographs of David Zinman conducting a rehearsal (taken by a musician); and newspaper clippings, photographs, and travel memorabilia

Scrapbook #3: Tours to U.S. locations (Carnegie Hall, New York; Washington, DC; Boston; Miami) 6

Highlights include a photograph of Edo de Waart with a New York Yankees hat and a photograph of a poster saying: "Minnesota Orchestra: SOLD OUT"

Scrapbook #4: Australia Tour 1985 6

Includes photographs of concert halls; newspaper clippings about their concerts; photographs and memorabilia of Zellmer the sight-see-er.