Houghton, James Russell, 1897-1981 | Theology Library Archives

Collection Overview

Title: Houghton, James Russell, 1897-1981

ID: 03/021

Extent: 26.0 Boxes

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection contains papers from the various activities during Dr. Houghton's life, primarily 1931-1964. Included are: Minutes of the Joint Hymnal Commission (1931-1934) with resource materials; Preliminary report of the Commission on Rituals and Orders of Worship (1944); Minutes of the Commission on Worship and the Arts (1955-56) and later Commission on Worship (1956-1960), including some correspondence; Minutes, correspondence and other resource materials from the Commission on Worship and Hymnal Committee (1960-64), with a collection of general Methodist resource materials. From Boston University, the collection includes: Programs and Handbills for the University Chorus and Glee Clubs (1936-1964); Seminary Singers programs and tour records (1936-1964); and other scattered music, programs, correspondence (mostly from 1937-38); Sermons from Dr. Stidger's radio program (1937-39) annotated with hymns presented, plus correspondence and fan letters to the New England Singers. Memorabilia and scrapbooks, mostly from the Glee Club and Seminary Singers.

Collection Historical Note

Born April 11, 1899 in Davenport, Iowa, he came to Boston University in 1927 as Instructor in Worship and Church Music, rising to Assistant Professor in 1929 and Professor of Church Music and Worship in 1937 following his graduation from Simpson College with the Mus.D. degree.

Prof." led the Seminary Singers and founded the Boston University Glee Club, served as Director of Music for the General Conferences of the Methodist Church (1939-1960), as well as serving on the Hymnal Committees (1935, 1964) and Worship Committees (1944, 1964). He created the New England Singers, which provided music for Dr. William L. Stidger's radio sermon program sponsored by Fleischmann's Yeast (1937-39). Dr. Houghton retired to California, where he died on May 2, 1990, at the age of 91.

Information from: http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/ark:/99166/w6qz2nsx

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: 1905-1962],
[Box 2: 1933-1963],
[Box 3: 1927-1981],
[Box 4: 1932-1973],
[Box 5: 1937-1939],
[Box 6: 1911-1948],
[Box 7: 1925-1960],
[Box 8: 1898-1939],
[Box 9: 1941-1962],
[Box 10: 1949-1962],
[Box 11: 1939-1981],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15: 1933-1981],
[Box 16: 1925-1944],
[Box 17: 1922-1981],
[Box 18: 1931-1985],
[Box 19: 1911-1945],
[Box 20: 1939-1968],
[Box 21: 1897-1979],
[Box 22: 1918-1980],
[Box 23: 1922-1981],
[Box 24: 1950-1977],
[Box 25: 1938-1952],
[Box 26],
[Box 27: Glee Club, Notes, Student notes, Programs, Correspondence],
[All]

Box 4: 1932-1973

C-045 in finding aid. Boston University Chorus and Glee Clubs, Seminary Singers, Personal miscellanea

Folder 1: Boston University Glee Club - tour and concert material, 1936-1963
Folder 2: Boston University Chorus - concert material, 1947-1955
Folder 3: Christmas Convocation, 1936, 1937, 1939-1949, 1951-1954, 1956-1958, 1961, 1963
Folder 4: Thanksgiving Convocation, 1946, 1948, 1952-1954
Folder 5: Founder's Day, 1935, 1938, 1940-1942, 1946, 1947
Folder 6: Choral Union - The Messiah, A German Requiem; Miscellaneous programs - Bach Festival, Laymen's Night at the General Conference, Choral Art Society Tour, 1946, 1948, 1962-1964
Folder 7: Handbills - Joint concert, Bach Festival, University Chorus and Orchestra, Glee Clubs, 1937, 1946, 1947, 1955
Folder 8: Glee Club - Publicity folder, 1958-1962
Folder 9: Glee Club - General information and facts, 1960
Folder 10: Glee Club - Letters of commendation, 1953, 1958
Folder 11: Glee Club - Typical programs, 1958-1962
Folder 12: Glee Club - photographs, n.d.
Folder 13: Glee Club - publicity releases, 1952-1960
Folder 14: Glee Club - European tours, 1952, 1960
Folder 15: Glee Club - misc. ephemera, 1952-1973: Includes copy of Club Incorporation, photographs, 2 cassette tapes from tours, some correspondence, misc. itineraries
Folder 16: Glee Club - tour logs, 1955-1958, 1961, 1964
Folder 17: Seminary Singers - Consititution and by-laws, history, 1959
Folder 18: Seminary Singers - Programs, 1936-1964
Folder 19: Seminary Singers - tour logs, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964
Folder 20: Seminary Singers - publicity press book, 1942
Folder 21: Seminary Singers - press book, 1955
Folder 22: Seminary Singers - Daily Christian Advocate press, 1944, 1964
Folder 23: Seminary Singers - Zion's Herald press, 1935, 1939
Folder 24: Seminary Singers - photographs and flyers, n.d.
Folder 25: Seminary Singers - loose clippings and articles, n.d.
Folder 26: Personal miscellanea - music scores, 1938-1939: The Blood and the Rose, Brotherhood, Cathedrals, A Child's Grace Before Meals, I Will Pray, and Some Sinai, all by William L. Stidger
Folder 27: Personal miscellanea - programs, dated, 1932, 1933, 1946-1948, 1963, 1981: This material is missing - was in original finding aid
Folder 28: Personal miscellanea - programs, undated, n.d.
Folder 29: Personal miscellanea - Letters to JRH, 1937-1938
Folder 30: Personal miscellanea - Letters from JRH, 1937-1938
Folder 31: Personal miscellanea - various papers, including Social Security application, n.d.
Folder 32: Personal miscellanea - misc. newspaper clippings, 1944-1959
Folder 33: Personal miscellanea - newspaper clippings, n.d.
Folder 34: Personal miscellanea - misc. memorabilia items, n.d.: 1940s-1950s
Folder 35: Personal miscellanea - newspaper clippings, 1944, 1948