MS Mus. 1840/2

Papers and other memorabilia relating to Myra Hess, collected by Howard Ferguson. Originally grouped in files annotated by Ferguson.

(1). Three photographic negative plates in an envelope marked ‘M.H. + H.F. at Joyce Grenfell’s house’.

(2). Letter dated 14 October 1933, to ‘Miss Caton Thompson’.

(3). Typed letter, dated 20 April 1941, to ‘Margaret’. Envelope addressed to ‘Lady Campbell, British Embassy, Washington’.

(4). Papers from a folder labelled: ‘transcripts of letters from E.M. Forster concerning the National Gallery Concerts during World War II’.

(5). Three printed programmes and one typescript relating to the 100th, 500th and 1000th concerts given at the National Gallery (28 February 1940; 14 August 1941; 23 July 1943). Together with two photographs of a concert at the National Gallery given on 15 October 1943, both showing Myra Hess at the piano and in one accompanying the tenor Roland Hayes. Taken by Ronald Procter.

(6). Dame Myra Hess Her Book, printed booklet dated 14 June 1945.

(7). Folder of papers relating to Myra Hess’s honorary doctorate from Cambridge, 9 June 1949. Including: correspondence; an order of proceedings; seating plan for a luncheon; and a typescript headed ‘Howard’s description of Cambridge, June 9th 1949’.

(8). Folder labelled: ‘Myra Concert Engagements 1956-1960’. Containing typed lists of dates and venues of performances.

(9). Four loose sheets, comprising handwritten diary entries by Myra Hess covering the period 18 April-9 May 1960. Annotated with a note in Howard Ferguson’s hand: ‘Myra’s diary of holiday in Scicily [sic] with H. F. and Frank Mannheimer’.

(10). Papers from a folder labelled: ‘Myra: America 1961’; and: ‘mainly letters of Anita Gunn (“Saz”) to her sister Marjorie (“Person”) with details of serious illness that made it necessary to cancel most of the tour’.

(11). Typescript: ‘Music profile: Dame Myra Hess’, by Harold Rutland. Recorded 12 March 1962, first broadcast 17 March 1962.

(12). Typescript: ‘Myra’s notes for BBC interview with John Amis’.

(13). Typescript: ‘Myra Hess: a 75th birthday tribute by H F.’, for BBC ‘Music Magazine’, broadcast 21 February 1965.

(14). Order of Service for a memorial service given for Dame Myra Hess at St Paul’s Cathedral, 13 December 1965.

(15). Correspondence between Howard Ferguson and Colin Ford, Keeper of Film and Photography at the National Portrait Gallery, concerning the donation by Ferguson of some photographs of Myra Hess. 1977.