Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
HRHS-010 |
Collection |
The Harman School of Music Collection |
Scope & Content |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: James A. Harman was born at Dry Fork, West Virginia in 1882. His desire to learn about the violin inspired him to cross over one of the "hills" by foot, 14 miles to a teacher, taking a chicken as payment for the lesson. From 1903-1904 he attended Dana's Musical Institute in Ohio (now the music school at Youngstown State University, where he earned notable distinction. In 1906, he and his wife Della moved to Dayton where he would teach violin and direct the orchestra at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. He also taught violin and was director of the orchestra at Bridgewater College and the State Teachers College, now James Madison University. In 1920 Mr. Harman founded The Harman School of Music in Harrisonburg. His daughters Mary Jane and Priscilla taught there until the school closed in 1980. Mary Jane and Priscilla continued to teach at the home place in Dayton. His son Gordon taught music at McGaheysville, and his daughter Dorotha taught music in Luray. Professor Harman was over 60 when he set up his own shop to begin making violins. He found that the making of a violin is "an exacting labor requiring understanding not only in the making but in the playing". SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection contains items from The Harman School of Music, consisting of recital programs, correspondence, song books and other miscellaneous paperwork. COLLECTION INVENTORY: Box 1: Folder 1: -Recital programs from 1926 to 1935 (donated by Jeff Evans & Rebecca Harman Hunter) Folder 2: -Recital programs from 1937 to 1945 (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 3: -Recital programs from 1947 to 1952 (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 4: -Recital programs from 1953 to 1956 (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 5: -Recital programs from 1957 to 1960 (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 6: -Recital programs from 1961 to 1968 (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 7: -Harman's School of Music, School Prospectus for 1923-1924 (donated by Jeff Evans) -Employment agreement dated July 16, 1923 between J. A. Harman and Mrs. Starr Preston Sprinkel. Mrs. Sprinkel was to teach Advance Piano Voice and Pipe Organ, with compensation of fifty cents per one half hour lesson per pupil. (donated by Jeff Evans) -Harman's School of Music, brochure for 1929 - 1930 (2) (donated by Jeff Evans) -School of Music, brochure c. 1920 (donated by Jeff Evans) -Songbook, Songs Dear to the Hearts of the Harman Tribe", for the Harman Reunion at Elkins, West Virginia, August 31, 1930 (donated by Jeff Evans) -The Harman-Harmon Messenger, September, 1929 (donated by Jeff Evans) -Two Centuries of American Musical Composition, The Etude Music Magazine, Souvenir of the Sesqui-Centennial, Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years of American Independence, 1776-1926. Stamped on front: Harman's School of Music (donated by Sherry Leffel) -Christmas greeting cards from The Harman School of Music, no dates (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 8: -Payment journal for 1931 - 1934 (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 9: -Issue of The School Musician, February, 1931, picture of the Harman family on page 30 (donated by Jeff Evans) -Sousa's Favorite March Book, A collection of the best and most popular marches of John Philip Sousa, no date. This was used by Harman's School of Music. (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Bulletin from Virginia Federation of Music Clubs, 1929. Article about Harman family from Harman's School of Music on page 11 & 12. (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) Folder 10: -Publication titled 4-Tone Folio, an album of instrumental quartets arranged for all string, woodwind and brass instruments with piano accompaniment, 1931. Used by Harman's School of Music. (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Publication titled First National Institute of Violin of America, 1930. James A. Harman of Harman's School of Music was affiliated with this institution. Folder 11: -Typed directions used by J. A. Harman for the use of Lewis Oil Varnish on a violin. (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Blank report card from Harman's School of Music. (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Blank matriculation card from Harman's School of Music (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Blank statement from Harman's School of Music (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Two business cards for J. Gordon Harman, Guitar & Violin Lessons, McGaheysville, VA (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Harman's School of Music letterhead, Harrisonburg, VA (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Mail envelope from Theodore Presser Co., Bryn Mawr, PA, addressed to Harman's School of Music, 1950 (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Correspondence from Harman's School of Music, 1972 (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) Folder 12: -Miscellaneous receipts and correspondence (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 13: -1927 photograph of students of The Harman School of Music (donated by Jeff Evans) -1903 photo of James A. Harman (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -1973 photo of children on stage (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Photo of violins on table (no date) (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) Photo5186 through Photo5191 are available online Folder 14: -Programs and correspondence from Prof. Harman's time at Bridgewater College and State Teacher's College (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 15: -Programs and correspondence from Prof. Harman's time at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (donated by Jeff Evans) Folder 16: Coles's Library of Familiar Music, Songs for all Instruments, Book No. 1, No. 2, No. 5 (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) Folder 17 (OV): -1929 issue of Bridgewater College newsletter with an article about Prof. Harman's orchestra (donated by Jeff Evans) -Two certificates for Gordon Harman, 1938, 1941 (donated by Jeff Evans) -Poster featuring The Harman Family, Virginia Winners of the National Home Music Contest, May 1929 (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) -Certificate dated July 29, 1928, certifying that James A. Harman is a member of the Extension Department of the National Academy of Music (framed) (donated by Rebecca Harman Hunter) Box 2: -Attendance books, 1931-1978. (donated by Jeff Evans) |
Donor |
Jeff Evans |
Object Name |
Collection |
Containers |
Series I: Monthly Time Books, 1931-1978 Series II: Scrapbook Series III |