Seymour Swets Collection, 1919-1973 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Seymour Swets Collection, 1919-1973

ID: COLL/252

Primary Creator: Swets, Seymour (1900-1982)

Extent: 6.5 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Professor of music at Calvin College. The collection includes lectures, correspondence, the manuscript of "Fifty Years of Music Making," programs, publicity, soloist information, articles, plus information on performances of the Messiah, other oratorios, musical groups, choirs, and tours.

Biographical Note

Seymour Swets was born in South Holland, Illinois, in the year 1900, the beginning of a new century. His parents moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in order to make use of the greater Christian education opportunities for their large family. Swets received his BA degree from Calvin in 1922, and a master's degree in history from the University of Michigan the following year. That year, 1923, he has appointed to teach music and speech at his alma mater.

In 1923 there was no music department, nor were any music courses offered for credit. As former President William Spoelhof said, "He was at the beginning." The next forty-four years were dedicated to serving Calvin, the church, and the community through teaching music, directing the A Cappella Choir, and administering the music affairs of the school. In addition, he directed the musical programs of the Oratorio Society from 1924 until his retirement in 1967. Upon his retirement he spent some five years in research for his book, published in 1973, Fifty Years of Music at Calvin College.

He served as an elder at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as their choirmaster for many years.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal and Music Department Papers, 1928-1965],
[Series 2: Music Department Affairs, 1919-1967],
[Series 3: Programs and Festivals],
[Series 4: Music Conferences and Miscellaneous, 1953-1962],
[Series 5: Music Conferences and Programs, 1926-1968],
[Series 6: Oratorios, 1938-1966],
[Series 7: Miscellaneous Items Related to the Oratorio Society, 1930-1968],
[Series 8: Pageant Materials and Music],
[Series 9: Miscellaneous materials],
[Series 10: Books and pamphlets],
[Series 11: Soloists' Correspondence and Photographs, 1932-1966],
[Series 12: LP33's],
[All]

Series 11: Soloists' Correspondence and Photographs --- 1932-1966

Box 10

Folder 1: Evelyn Ames, Contralto (only photocopies of photo) --- 1942-1952

Folder 2: Else Harthan Arendt, Soprano --- 1933-1938

Folder 3

Item 1: Virginia Auyers, Contralto --- 1941-1942
Item 2: Helen Bickerton, Soprano
Item 3: Grace Ravesloot Buckley, Soprano --- 1959

Folder 4: Nancy Carr, Soprano --- 1952

Folder 5: Sidney Smith Cooley, Contralto --- 1935

Folder 6

Item 1: Ada Belle Files, Contralto
Item 2: Esther Goodwin, Contralto --- 1935-1936

Folder 7

Item 1: Helene Hekman, Contralto --- 1951
Item 2: Ahleen Dekker Heynen, Soprano

Folder 8

Item 1: Mary Ann Kaufman, Contralto
Item 2: Lillian Knowles, Contralto --- 1933-1937

Folder 9

Item 1: Margit Kormedy, Contralto
Item 2: Muriel Kyle, Soprano
Item 3: Frances James, Soprano
Item 4: Beatrice Brody Larsen, Contralto

Folder 10

Item 1: Eileen Law, Contralto
Item 2: Marjory Mc Clung, Soprano

Folder 11

Item 1: Esther Muenstermann, Contralto --- 1933-1934
Item 2: Maud Nosler, Soprano --- 1947

Folder 12

Item 1: Maurine Parzybok, Contralto --- 1933
Item 2: Ruth Slater, Contralto

Folder 13

Item 1: Virginia Strouse Speaker, Soprano --- 1947
Item 2: Marjorie Squires, Contralto --- 1934
Item 3: Edna Swanson Ver Haar, Contralto
Item 4: Thelma von Eisenhauer, Soprano --- 1939-1940

Folder 14

Item 1: David Austin, Baritone
Item 2: James De Jonge, Tenor --- 1945
Item 3: Carlton Eldridge, Tenor --- 1940-1944
Item 4: Roy Glahn, Tenor
Item 5: Bruce Foote, Baritone --- 1947

Folder 15

Item 1: Leroy Hamp, Tenor --- 1933
Item 2: Harold Haugh, Tenor --- 1942
Item 3: Barre Hill, Baritone; Russell Horton, Tenor --- 1942
Item 4: Frederick Jenks, Baritone --- 1935-1939

Folder 16

Item 1: Edwin Kemp, Tenor --- 1935
Item 2: Raymond Koch, Baritone --- 1943
Item 3: Frederic Kreuger, Tenor --- 1940-1941
Item 4: Joseph V. Laderoute, Tenor --- 1944-1949
Item 5: Mark Love, Bass (only photocopies of photos) --- 1933

Folder 17

Item 1: John Mac Donald, Baritone --- 1937-1955
Item 2: Michael Marsman, Bass-Baritone --- 1939
Item 3: Ray Mc Afee, Baritone --- 1951-1966
Item 4: Cameron Mc Lean, Baritone
Item 5: James Miller, Tenor (Helen Stob's husband)
Item 6: William Miller,Tenor --- 1932-1936

Folder 18

Item 1: Carl Nelson, Baritone --- 1946
Item 2: Howard Nelson, Baritone
Item 3: Ralph Nielsen, Tenor --- 1949-1952
Item 4: Reinhold Schmidt, Bass-Baritone --- 1936
Item 5: Robert Speaker, Baritone --- 1943
Item 6: John Toms, Tenor --- 1941
Item 7: Hardin Van Deursen, Baritone --- 1940

Folder 19: Muskegon Michigan Messiah --- 1944-1953

Folder 20: Diamond Jubilee, musical material --- 1951