Summary |
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| Creator: | Ridge, Kirk, 1895-1991. |
| Title: | Kirk Ridge Papers |
| Dates: | 1905-1991 |
| Size: | 0.25 linear foot |
| Abstract: | Correspondence, portraits and programs related to Ridge's career as a pianist along with professional correspondence related to his faculty position at Syracuse University |
| Language: | English, German |
| Repository: |
University Archives, Special Collections Research Center Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives |
Biography
Kirk Ridge (1895-1991) was an American musician who taught at Syracuse University and served as Director of its School of Music. He studied at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and received his bachelor's degree in 1918. He served in the 64th infantry from June 1918 to June 1919 and did see combat while stationed in France. After his service ended Ridge studied with two composers, Zygmunt Stojowski in New York City from 1920 to 1923 and Severin Eisenberger in Vienna from 1924 to 1926. In 1923 Ridge composed the song "Blue Flower," which was published by G. Schirmer Inc. Ridge taught at Oberlin from 1926 to 1927 before coming to Syracuse. He was appointed to a professorship at Syracuse University in 1928.
Ridge served as the chairman for the graduate committee at the Syracuse University School of Music. He also often organized school concerts, traveled with students on tour and oversaw prospective students' auditions. In 1961 he became acting director of the School of Music. In 1962 his title was officially changed to Director of the School of Music, a position he held until he retired. When Ridge retired in 1964, he was honored with the title Professor emeritus of Piano and Director emeritus of the School of Music.
Scope and Content Note
The Kirk Ridge Papers span from 1905 to 1991, but the bulk of the materials are concentrated from 1927 to 1928 and from 1958 to 1959. The papers include photographic portraits, programs, correspondence, notes, and writings related to Ridge's concert tours from 1927 to 1928 in Europe. Because he toured in Germany, some of these documents are in German. Programs include concerts he played in Syracuse. Correspondence relates to Ridge's teaching at the Syracuse University School of Music, as well as art donations he made to Syracuse University and the Everson Museum of Art.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Related Material
Newspaper clippings were removed from the collection and placed in the Syracuse University Clipping Files.
The University Archives holds a clipping file and a portrait file on Kirk Ridge.
Selected Search Terms
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Kirk Ridge Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Gift of J. Avery Head in 2008 and 2023.
Processing Information
Materials in this collection were placed in acid-free folders and an acid-free box. Delicate materials were placed in mylar sleeves.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Anna Obermayer
Date: 2015
Revision history: June 2022 - Stylistic updates (MAM);
April 2024 - Additional programs, correspondence, and photographs added; newspaper
clippings removed (SS)