RPS MS 272-417

Royal Philharmonic Society Archive

RPS MSS 272-417. Official papers, etc., of the Royal Philharmonic Society; 1813-1968, n.d. Formerly British Library Loan 48. The Society was founded in London in 1813, and granted the prefix ‘Royal’ in 1912. The larger part of the archive was placed on loan in 1962 and, where the arrangement allowed, added to on a number of subsequent occasions. When the final additions were made, in 1990, a terminal date of 1960 was set, though because of the format of some classes of material some later items were included. Unbound papers from the first loan consignment were bound when being placed on loan, some arranged in alphabetical series. The largest group of material in this category is the collection of ‘original letters’ (RPS MSS 333-368), which were so arranged when catalogued by Myles Birket Foster in 1910 (see RPS MSS 403-404). Wherever possible, papers subsequently added to the loan have been arranged chronologically. On the history of the archive, see A. H. King, ‘The Library of the Royal Philharmonic Society’, The British Library Journal, xi (1985), 1-24, reprinted in Musical Pursuits (1987), pp. 151-77, and on the history of the Society, see C. Ehrlich, First Philharmonic (1995). The former BL Loan 48 numbers are given for each item or class. The Schaller bust, retained by the Royal Philharmonic Society, remains on loan as BL Loan 48.

One hundred and forty-six volumes. Mostly paper. Arranged as follows:—

A. Official books and papers: RPS MSS 272-327.

Foundation book: RPS MS 272.

Laws, etc.: RPS MSS 273-274.

Minute books: RPS MSS 275-298.

Financial records: RPS MSS 299-314.

Records of membership and subscribers: RPS MSS 315-320.

Miscellaneous official material: RPS MSS 321-327.

B. Correspondence: RPS MSS 328-391.

Out letter books: RPS MSS 328-332.

General correspondence (‘original letters’ received: alphabetical sequence; concerts and general correspondence: chronological sequence): RPS MSS 333-378.

Special correspondence (royal, membership, concert halls, special concert series, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Arts Council, prizes and awards, special funds, library and archives): RPS MSS 379-391.

C. Catalogues of the Society’s music: RPS MSS 392-402.

D. Catalogue of the archive and lists of other Philharmonic Society property: RPS MSS 403-405.

E. Material relating to Beethoven and the Philharmonic Society: RPS MSS 406-412.

F. Accounts of the Society’s history: RPS MSS 413-417.