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 3: Programs and Festivals

Box 5

Folder 1-2: Programs of other choral organizations

Folder 3: Fall Music Festival programs --- 1949-1960

Folder 4: First MIAA Choir Festival in Kalamazoo --- 1952

Folder 5

Item 1: Second MIAA Festival --- 1954
Item 2: Third MIAA Festival --- 1956

Folder 6: Fourth MIAA Festival --- 1958

Folder 7

Item 1: Sixth MIAA Festival (fifth is missing) --- 1962
Item 2: Seventh MIAA Festival --- 1964
Item 3: Eighth MIAA Festival --- 1966

Folder 8: MIAA Directors' Conferences --- 1939-1964

Folder 9: Mid-West Choir Festivals

Item 1: 1st --- 1943
Item 2: 2nd --- 1944
Item 3: 3rd --- 1945

Folder 10: Mid-West Choir Festivals

Item 1: 4th --- 1946
Item 2: 5th --- 1947
Item 3: 6th --- 1948

Folder 11: Mid-West Choir Festivals

Item 1: 7th --- 1949
Item 2: 8th --- 1950
Item 3: 9th --- 1951

Folder 12: Mid-West Choir Festivals

Item 1: 10th --- 1952
Item 2: 11th --- 1953
Item 3: 12th --- 1954

Folder 13: Mid-West Choir Festivals

Item 1: 13th --- 1955
Item 2: 14th --- 1956
Item 3: 15th --- 1957

Folder 14: Mid-West Choir Festivals

Item 1: 16th --- 1959
Item 2: 17th --- 1961
Item 3: 18th --- 1963

Folder 15: Mid-West Choir Festivals

Item 1: 19th --- 1966
Item 2: 20th --- 1967

Folder 16: Music department choral workshop --- 1966

Folder 17: College Fine Arts Festivals --- 1965-1966

Folder 18: Choral adjudication forms