Harold Shapiro

This collection contains the correspondence, photographs, records, scores and assorted collected materials of Boston Symphony Orchestra French horn player and NEC instructor, Harold “Harry” Shapiro. Dating back from the early 1900s to the 2000s, the various stages of Harry’s life, career, and relationships are reflected through the materials in this collection. The collection contains materials related to Harry’s time in the Army, career in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and his personal life. Contained in this collection are the letters written to and from Harry and his wife during his deployment during World War II, and records relating to his time served. Harry’s career with the Boston Symphony Orchestra is represented by a series of correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings and programs. This collection contains Harry’s collection of scores and manuscripts. As well as an abundance of photographs and correspondence of and between Harry and his family and friends.  In addition to these materials, this collection also contains a significant number of antiquarian materials collected by Oscar Shapiro.

Arrangement: This Collection is arranged into the following 11 series. Within each series, subseries were created that grouped like materials together. And, within these subseries, items are arranged in chronological order.

1. World War II, 1942-1945
2. Correspondence, 1935- 2004
3. Shapiro Family, 1943-2003
4. Oscar Shapiro, 1775-2002
5. Programs and Catalogs, 1882-1968
6. Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), 1936-1997
7. Boston Musicians’ Protective Association Directory and Diaries
8. Collected Books, 1856- 1999
9. Photographs, 1910-2008
10. Music
11. Newspaper Clippings

Series I: World War II, 1942-1945

This series contains the military pins, official documents, and the correspondence between Harry Shapiro and his wife, Frances, during the years of World War II.

1. Military Dog Tags and Pins: This subseries contains Harry’s dog tags and pins from when he served as a part of the Air Force band during WWII.
2. Military Records and Correspondence, June 1942- December 1945: This subseries contains the official military records and correspondence of Harry Shapiro, as well as other collected correspondence and magazines from this time period.
3. Correspondence, December 1943- March 1945: This subseries contains the letters written from Harry and Frances to each other during World War II.
4. Correspondence to Frances, December 1943 – June 1944: This subseries contains the letters Harry wrote to Frances while he was deployed in World War II.
5.  Correspondence to Harry, December 1944 – March 1945: This subseries contains the letters Frances wrote to Harry while he was away serving in World War II.

Series II: Correspondence, 1935-2004

This series contains assorted correspondence to Harry from friends, family, and colleagues, as well as correspondence and notes created by Harry. It also contains correspondence from the NEC library pertaining to Harry’s donation of Oscar’s collection on Niccolo Paganini.

1. Assorted Correspondence, May 1935 – December 1944: This subseries contains assorted correspondence to Harry from individuals, schools, and companies. Included in this subseries are letters from Josef Franzl, W. A. Valkenier (NEC faculty), Hans Goettich (NY Phil librarian), Anton Horner (Philadelphia Orchestra), Erich Leinsdorf (with signed photo), a Charles Munch signed photo, and Christmas cards from Serge Koussevitzky
2. Correspondence from Avram David, 1974-1989: This subseries contains the correspondence and original scores written to Harry, from his friend Avram David.
3. Correspondence and notes from Harry, 1956-2005: This subseries contains assorted correspondence from Harry, along with some of his handwritten notes.
4. NEC Library Correspondence, 2003-2004: This subseries contains the correspondence between Harry and the NEC, regarding Harry’s donation of Oscar Shapiro’s Paganini collection.
5. Membership Cards and Awards, 1948-1996: This subseries contains Harry’s membership cards for the Boston Musicians’ Protective Association and the Associated Musicians of Greater New York. As well as awards and certificates earned by Harry

Series III: Shapiro Family, 1943-2003

This series contains records, documents, and correspondence pertaining to the Shapiro Family as a whole, as well those pertaining to Harry’s Parents, Max and Sarah Shapiro, specifically.

1. Lineage Documents, undated: This subseries contains multiple pages of handwritten notes outlining the lineage and genealogy of the Shapiro Family.
2. Max and Sarah Shapiro Documents, 1943-2003. This subseries contains the official government records and other assorted documents pertaining to the lives and deaths of Max and Sarah Shapiro.
3. Max Shapiro Correspondence 1928- 1944: This subseries contains miscellaneous correspondence to Max Shapiro

Series IV: Oscar Shapiro, 1775-2002

This series contains government forms, personal correspondence, and biographical information about Harry’s brother Oscar Shapiro. This series also contains Oscar’s collection of photos, autographs, music, and memorabilia from famous people and events of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

1. Forms and Biographical Information, 1910-2002: This subseries contains government forms for Oscar Shapiro, as well as records that provide biographical information about him.
2. Correspondence, 1942-1973: This subseries Contains assorted correspondence to Oscar from friends, family, and colleagues.
3. Autographs, 1840-1972: This subseries contains Oscar’s collection of autographs and correspondence from famous musicians and notable figures from the late 19th and early 20th century. These include letters from William Crotch, William Vincent Wallace, Oktar Marak, Erna Rubenstein, Siegfried and Lotte Ochs, Rudolph Kolisch, Louis Lacombe and Charles Auguste de Beriot. The subseries also contains: signed snippets of music by George H. Clutsam, Frederic H. Cowen, and Vivien Chartres; greeting cards from Clara Butt and Kennerley Rumfor; autographs of Peter Dawson, Felix Weingartner, Pinchas Zuckerman, and Olga Koussevitzky. There is also a translation of letter form Ole Bull regarding a violin owned Kruetzer and a translation copy of a letter concerning the purchase of Beethoven’s Kreutzer sonata
4. Collected Sheet Music, 1844-1915: This subseries contains Oscar’s collection of antiquarian sheet music
5. Collected Headshots: This subseries contains headshots and photos of various performers and celebrities from the late 19th and early 20th century. It is organized, alphabetically by last name. Some of the photos are autographed.
6. Collected Memorabilia, 1775-1982: This Subseries contains Oscar’s collection of memorabilia from famous and significant events of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Included is an autographed program by the Berkshire Quartet.

Series V: Programs and Catalogs, 1882-1968

This series contains the various programs and catalogs collected by Harry, ranging from orchestral, operatic, and theatrical performances.

1. Boston Ballet Orchestra, 1965-1968: This subseries contains the programs from the Boston Ballet for their 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968 Seasons. It also includes correspondence from the Boston Ballet Orchestra.
2. Opera and Theatre Programs 1922-1968: This subseries contains the collected programs for multiple theaters and opera performances.
3. Miscellaneous Programs, 1921-1975: This subseries contains a collection of programs for various orchestral performances and concerts from the years 1920-1975.
4. Catalogs 1882-1959: This subseries contains the correspondence and catalogs for the Boston Records Catalogs. This subseries also contains a catalog advertising the sale of the Zimbler Sinfonietta performance recordings, as well as a catalog booklet for the Brookline Academy of Music and Arts. A booklet detailing the 1882 NEC plan for building the Conservatory Building and also course catalogs. Lastly there is a copy of C. F. Schmidt’s French Horn catalog, featuring a review by Max Shapiro.

Series VI: Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), 1936-1997

This Series contains correspondence, programs, player profiles, travel documents, books and booklets for the BSO throughout Harry’s time as a performer, teacher, conductor, and staff member of the organization.

1. Correspondence, Memos, and Newsletters, 1938-1997: This subseries contains correspondence, memos, and newsletters for the BSO.
2. Player Profiles, 1953-1960: This subseries contains BSO profile booklets that provide information about each member of the BSO for a specific season.
3. Programs, 1977-1991: This subseries contains the programs for the BSO, the Berkshire Music Center and the Tanglewood Music Festival.
4. Manuals, 1966: This subseries contains the 1979 BSO Staff Personnel Manual, and the Association of Wind Instrument Players of the BSO rules and price booklet for 1943.
5. Travel, 1956-1983: This subseries contains the itineraries, notes, and booklets from the traveling and touring Harry did with BSO abroad.
6. Books and Booklets,1936-1983: This subseries contains assorted books and booklets about the BSO.

Series VII: Boston Musicians’ Protective Association Directory and Diaries

This series contains Max Shapiro’s Boston Musicians’ Protective Association Directory and Diary booklets which included a directory of the members for the year as well as engagement calendars.

Series VIII: Collected Books, 1856-1999

This series contains fine arts related books collected by Oscar and Harry Shapiro. There is one oversize book Les Rues des Paris: Historie by Bloch and Mercklein, housed in Box 7, Folder 15.

Series IX: Photographs, 1910-2008

This series contains professional and personal photos of Harry and his family, friends, and travels

1. Headshots and Press Photos 1940-1988: This subseries contains the professional headshots and press photographs of Harry Shapiro through the span of his career,
2. Air Force Band Photos, 1940s: This subseries contains photos of the Air Force Band that Harry was a part of, performing at various places during World War II, as well as an unframed group photo of Harry’s Air Force Trainee class.       
3. Candid and Personal Photos, 1929-2008: This subseries contains candid photos of Harry, his friends, and family members.
4. Oscar Shapiro Photos, 1910-1984: This subseries contains photos of Oscar Shapiro throughout his life.
5. Max and Sarah Shapiro Photos, 1910- : This subseries contains photos of Max and Sarah Shapiro, together and by themselves from various points of their lives. Includes original photo and prints of the horn section of Boston Opera Company Orchestra, 1910-1915 (which included Max Shapiro)
6. BSO Photos: this subseries contains a multitude of photos from performances, rehearsals, and travels during Harry’s time at the BSO
7. Large BSO Photos: These are ensemble photos from 1938, 1947, 1973, 1982, 1985 and undated
8. Miscellaneous Large Photos: This series contains an assortment of photos of various ensembles, including the People’s Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Opera Company, WBZ Orchestra, the Venetian Brass Quartet (a group that Harry’s Uncle, Avram Shapiro, played in), and a composite of members of a Russian orchestra, ca. 1899.
9. Framed Photos and Art: This series contains Harry’s collection of framed musical artwork and group photos of the 1936 Boston Opera Company Orchestra, the Boston Stewart’s Band when Max Shiapiro was a member, and a 1910 group photo of the Italian Opera Symphony of which Max Shapiro was also a member.

Series X: Newspaper Clippings

This series contains collected newspaper clippings about Harry Shapiro throughout his years as a member of the BSO and the Air Force Band, as well as some of the antiquarian newspapers collected by Oscar Shapiro. The series is arranged into folders in chronological order by decade.

1. Pre-1900s Clippings: This subseries contains an 1871 clipping about the Mendelssohn Quintette Club of Boston. This subseries also contains a copy of the first volume of the New England Conservatory’s Newspaper from 1867
2. 1910s-1920s Clippings: This subseries contains newspaper clippings from the 1910s and 1920s.
3. 1930s-1940s Clippings: This subseries contains the collected clippings and news articles that mention Harry Shapiro or the Air Force Band he played in during World War II
4. 1950s Newspaper Clippings: This subseries contains clippings about Harry’s performances in this decade, as well as two clippings about Oscar. One is about him winning a chess tournament the other shows him watching a violin he made be played.
5. 1960s Clippings: This subseries contains newspaper clippings and photos of Harry and the BSO during the 60s.
6. 1970s Clippings: This subseries contains a review of the BSO’s 1976 Performance in Amsterdam
7. 1980s Clippings: This subseries contains a clipping of Harry Shapiro’s profile from a BSO program, as well as a copy of James Stagliano’s obituary in the October 1987 volume of The Horn Call: International Horn Society
8. 1990s Clippings: This subseries contains clippings of articles and interviews about Harry Shapiro and his life from the 1990s.
9. 2000s Clippings: This subseries contains a clipping of Oscar Shapiro’s obituary in the 2002 Washington Times, as well as a copy of a Boston Sunday Globe article written about Harry’s involvement with Tanglewood throughout his life.
10. Miscellaneous Clippings, undated: This subseries contains miscellaneous, undated clippings and photos mentioning Harry or Oscar Shapiro
11. Collected Magazines, 1850-1950: This subseries contains Oscar’s collection of music related magazines from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.

Series XI: Music

This series contains the music manuscripts and published scores collected by Harry Shapiro.

1. Richard Wagner Scores: This subseries contains the full score for Wagner’s Overture to Rienzi with parts for the French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.
2. Music manuscripts: This subseries contains Harry’s assorted collection of music manuscripts.  One is the Ave Maria by Louis Engel for voice and organ. There is the French horn obligato part to Donizetti’s “Cavatina” from Il Pirata, the French horn part for La Cracovienne. La Schiava, Overture and Andante. Rondo – Miller.  There are a few other unidentified manuscripts.
3. Printed Scores: This subseries contains the published scores collected by Harry Shapiro including: the Brandenburg Concerto no. 1 / Bach; “A New Low Horn Piece” / (Daniel Katzen’s audition piece to get out of the BSO!); 4 music excerpts on one page from Weston Favel, Rules for Tuning the Voice, The Names of the Notes, Buckland Tune, Bangor Tune; The Ragtime Violin / Irving Berlin; Trio Concertant pour Harpe, Cor, & Violon, ou clarinette / F. J. Naderman; Divertissement pour Cor en Mib ou Violon et Piano / Joseph Küffner; and Sonata for Horn Solo op. 101 / Avram David.