Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Herbert Inch Papers, 1860-1982
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Inch, Herbert, 1904-1988
- Title
- Herbert Inch Papers
- Dates
- 1860-1982 (inclusive)18601982
- Quantity
- 3.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 214 (collection)
- Summary
- Herbert Inch was a composer who was born in Montana. This collection includes pieces Inch wrote for orchestra, strings, winds, voice, and keyboard as well as biographical material such as contracts and copyright statements, a master's thesis written on Inch, programs and reviews, and personal correspondence.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Composer Herbert Reynolds Inch was born in Missoula, Montana, on November 25, 1904. He studied at University of Montana from 1920 to 1922 and continued his education at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1925 and his master's in 1928. Inch received a honorary Doctorate in music from the University of Montana, (then Montana State University) in 1943. He taught at the Eastman School of Music from 1925 through 1928 and 1930 to 1931. Inch headed the music department at Hunter College in New York City starting in 1937 until his retirement in 1966.
Inch was a composer of works for orchestra, chorus, solo voice, piano, organ and chamber music. He has won many honors, including the Walter Damrosch Fellowship in 1931 through 1934 and the Ernest Bloch Award in 1946. Some of his published works includes Variations on a Model Theme, Answers to a Questionnaire, and Northwest Overture, which was written for the 1943 commencement exercises at the University of Montana. He died in 1988.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes pieces written for orchestra, strings, winds, voice, keyboard, and other miscellaneous scores, many of which were completed in London, Rome and New York. Also included in the collection is biographical material, a list of Inch's finished compositions, contracts, correspondence, programs and reviews. There is a copy of a master's thesis written about Inch written in 1944, and newsletters and commencement programs of the various colleges that Inch worked for.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audiocassette duplicates of the three reel-to-reel audiotapes in Series VIII are available through the Mansfield Library's media collection. Researchers are encouraged to access the materials in Series VIII through the duplicate audiocassettes.
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Herbert Inch Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is divided into eight series:
Series I: Compositions, 3 linear feet, 1926-1966
Series II: Other Composers, 4 folders, 1941-1965
Series III: Biographical, 10 folders, 1931-1982
Series IV: School Publications, 6 folders, 1941-1979
Series V: Programs and Reviews, 3 folders, 1931-1976
Series VI: Correspondence, 4 folders, 1933-1981
Series VII: Photographs, 16 items, 1860-1980
Series VIII: Audio, 3 tapes, undated
Custodial History
The music section of the collection was donated to the K. Ross Toole Archives from the Music Department in November 1994, then transferred to the archives. Another portion of the collection was donated directly to the archives by Herbert Inch's family in August 1993.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Miriam Inch, 1993, and The University of Montana School of Music, 1994. In 2007, additional material was transferred from the Mansfield Library's music collection to the Archives to become part of this collection
Processing Note
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1998 and 2007 subsequent additions were integrated into the collection and all materials were re-described.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Compositions , 1926-1966Return to Top
This series is made up of Herbert Inch's compositions. They include keyboard, orchestral, strings, voice, winds and other miscellaneous compositions. Many were completed in London, Rome and New York. Materials that were part of the original donation were arranged alphabetically by sub-series of Keyboard, Orchestral, Other, Strings, Voice, and Winds. Materials from the 2007 donation have been placed together in a subseries and listed chronologically by creation date as indicated by the list of compositions in Series III.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Keyboard
|
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Five Organ Preludes
|
1944 |
| 1/2 | Agitato (Piano) |
1926 |
| 1/3 | December Moods (Piano)
|
1933 |
| 1/4 | Little Bourree (Piano)
|
undated |
| 1/5 | Piano Pieces |
1944 |
| 1/6 | Piano Sonata No. 2 |
1946 |
| 1/7 | Piano Sonata No. 3 |
1966 |
| 1/8 | Piano Sonata No. 6 |
undated |
| 2/1 | Sonata for Five Ancestors
(Piano) |
1935 |
Subseries 2: Orchestral
|
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/2 | Answers to a Questionnaire
|
1942 |
| 2/3 | Anthem - Sing O Heaven
|
1963 |
| 2/4 | Concerto (Piano and Orchestra)
|
1940 |
| OS 11 | To Silvanus |
1933 |
| 3/2 | Sinfonietta in C |
1948 |
| 4/1 | Sinfonietta in D |
1950 |
| 4/2 | Sinfonietta in F |
1955 |
| 4/3 | Sinfonietta in F cont.
|
1955 |
| Box | ||
| OS 10 | Symphony #1 |
1932 |
Subseries 3: Other |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/4 | Birthday Song for Miriam
(piano, flute and voice) |
1974 |
| 4/5 | Harmony Examples (voice)
|
undated |
| 4/6 | Inch Student Compositions from
High School circa |
1915 |
| 4/7 | Suite for Margaret (Piano and
Violin) undated |
|
Subseries 4: Strings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/1 | Ballade (Strings and Piano)
|
1943 |
| 5/2 | Ballade (Violin and Piano)
|
1937 |
| 5/3 | Concertino (String Orchestra)
|
1953 |
| 5/4 | Concerto (Violin and Orchestra)
|
1947 |
| 5/5 | Three Conversation (String
Quartet) |
1944 |
| 6/1 | Sonata (Violin, Cello and
Piano) |
1934 |
| 6/2 | Sonata (Violin Solo #1)
|
1930 |
Subseries 5: Voice |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/3 | Anthem (Chorus and Orchestra)
|
1963 |
| 6/4 | Cannons |
undated |
| 6/5 | Cradle Song (words by William
Blake) (for women's chorus) |
1958 |
Subseries 6: Winds |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/6 | Chromatic Rondo (Two Flutes and
Oboe) |
1944 |
Subseries 7: 2007
Acquisition
Dates of materials listed in Subseries 7 come from the list of
compositions finished located in Series III of this collection.
|
||
| 8/1 | Fox-Trot Fantasy |
1926 |
| Box | ||
| OS 10/1 | Variations on a Modal Theme
(for Orchestra) |
1927 |
| 8/2 | Four Songs: The Alchemist, When
Amaryllis Bowls, I Walked Abroad, Pastoral |
1928 |
| 8/3 | Prelude and Scherzo - Fugue for
String Quartet |
1928 |
| 8/4 | Four Seasons (Song) |
1929 |
| 8/5 | Frolic (Song) |
1929 |
| 8/6 | Quintet |
1930 |
| 8/7 | Songs: Alms, The
Rider |
1931 |
| 8/8 | Mediterranean Sketches (for
String Quartet) |
1933 |
| 8/9 | Homily (for Piano, Violin, and
'Cello) |
1934 |
| 8/10 | Sonata (for Piano and
'Cello) |
1934 |
| 8/11 | Divertimento (for Brass
Septet) |
1934 |
| 8/12 | Songs: Highland
Spring |
1934 |
| 8/13 | String Quartet |
1936 |
| 8/14 | Idyll (Song) |
1936 |
| Box | ||
| OS 10/2 | Serenade (for Small
Orchestra) |
1936 |
| 8/15 | Northwest Overture |
1943 |
| 9/1 | Nocturne (for
Piano) |
1943 |
| 9/2 | Song of Liberation (for Women's
Chorus and Piano) |
1943 |
| 9/3 | Sonatina for Flute, Oboe and
Bassoon |
1944 |
| 9/4 | Sonatina for Oboe, Clarinet,
and Bassoon |
1944 |
| 9/5 | The Return to Zion (for Women's
Chorus and Piano) |
1945 |
| 9/6 | Legend (for Oboe and String
Orchestra) |
1946 |
| 9/7 | Holiday Overture (for
Orchestra) |
1949 |
| 9/8 | Three Songs: Spring Song, The
White Owl, Frontier Love Song |
1952 |
| 9/9 | Lullaby (for Chamber
Orchestra) |
1953 |
| 9/10 | Funeral March for a Tyrant (for
Orchestra) |
1953 |
| Box | ||
| OS 10/3 | Psalm (for Voice and
Orchestra) |
1953 |
| 9/11 | Festival: Twelve Pieces for
Piano |
1957 |
| 9/12 | Psalm 64 (for Solo Voice and
Piano) |
1957 |
| 9/13 | Recessional (for
Organ) |
1959 |
| 9/14 | Trio (for Piano, Violin, and
Violocello) |
1963 |
| 9/15 | Study for Left Hand and
Pedal |
undated |
| 9/16 | Trio Study for Two Manuals and
Piano |
undated |
| 9/17 | Examples of Modes and
Augmentation |
undated |
| 9/18 | Four Seasons (Song) |
undated |
| 9/19 | unidentified
fragments |
undated |
Series II: Other Composers , 1941-1965Return to Top
This series includes the works of other composers, including Inch's daughter Margaret. Others are Walter Kimmel, Julia Brand Niseon and musical examples by Thomas Morley, which Inch transcribed.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/7 | Margaret Inch (Voice and Music)
|
undated |
| 6/8 | Walter Kimmel - "Kireji"(Voice
and Chamber) |
1965 |
| 6/9 | Thomas Morley - "Plaine and Basic
Introduction" |
1941 |
| 6/10 | Julia Brand Niseon - "Corroboree"
(Piano) |
undated |
Series III: Biographical , 1931-1982Return to Top
This series includes an autobiographical sketch that Inch wrote and his Walter Damrosch Fellowship Acceptance Letter. While in Rome for the fellowship, Inch took an astronomy course and his books and maps are included in the series. The series also contains a list of compositions that Inch finished in during his career and numerous copyright documents and contracts. Inch's records of his contributions are also included. There is a copy of a master's thesis written on Inch and two of Inch's report cards.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/1 | Astronomy Course in Rome
|
ca. 1931-1934 |
| 7/2 | Autobiographical Sketch
|
undated |
| 7/3 | Compositions Finished
|
1926-1966 |
| 7/4 | Contributions |
1940-1982 |
| 7/5 | Copyright Written Pieces
|
1945-1949 |
| 7/6 | Copyright Statements and
Contracts |
1941-1974 |
| 7/7 | Master's Thesis on H. Inch by
Nancy Laughbaum |
1944 |
| 7/8 | Programs Submitted for Promotion
|
1961 |
| 7/9 | Report Cards |
1926, 1934 |
| 7/10 | Walter Damrosch Fellowship
Acceptance Letter |
1931 |
Series IV: School Publications , 1941-1979Return to Top
This series contains newsletters, commencement programs and a program from the 1953 dedication of the Music Building at the University of Montana (Montana State University) from Hunter College, University of Rochester and University of Montana. The collection also includes a list of the U of M School of Music holdings of Inch's compositions.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/11 | Hunter College Commencement
Programs |
1942, 1944 |
| 7/12 | Hunter College Newsletter
|
1961 |
| 7/13 | University of Montana H. Inch
Music Collection |
undated |
| 7/14 | University of Montana Music
Department Newsletter |
1979 |
| 7/15 | University of Montana (MSU)
School of Music Dedication |
1953 |
| 7/16 | University of Rochester
Commencement Program |
1941 |
Series V: Programs and Reviews , 1931-1976Return to Top
This series contains programs from performances of Inch's music, in New York as well as Montana. The collection also includes reviews from newspapers of various performances. Various programs from the government sponsored Federal Music Project of New York City between 1935 and 1939 are included, for Inch's music was featured in the performances.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/17 | Federal Music Project of N.Y.C.-
WPA |
1935-1939 |
| 7/18 | General Programs |
1940-1976 |
| 7/19 | Reviews |
1931-1949 |
Series VI: Correspondence , 1933-1981Return to Top
This series consists of Inch correspondences from his homes in California and New York. They also include foreign correspondences as well as from the University of Montana. The series contains many personal letters, birthday cards (including on from his grandchildren), and Christmas cards. The professional letters sent to Inch are mainly requests for his music or referral information.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/20 | California |
1965-1981 |
| 7/21 | Foreign |
1933, 1934, 1950 |
| 7/22 | New York |
1939-1976 |
| 7/23 | University of Montana (Montana
State University) |
1943-1973 |
Series VII: Photographs , 1860-1980Return to Top
This series consists of sixteen photographs of Inch's family and friends. In 1998, the processor inserted notes (in brackets) providing relational identifications wherever possible.
| Description | Dates |
|---|---|
214(VII)1: [Miriam Inch with unknown woman
and children] |
October, 1979 |
214(VII)2: Margaret [Inch, Inch's mother]
|
ca. late 19th Century |
214(VII)3: [Inch family picture, J.H. Inch
(father), Margaret Inch (mother), Beatrice Inch (sister), and Herbert Inch]
|
ca. 1914 |
214(VII)4: [Tom Bowden, friend of Inch
family] |
ca. 1950 |
214(VII)5: [Beatrice Inch, Inch's sister]
|
February, 1963 |
214(VII)6: [Margaret Inch, Inch's daughter]
|
December, 1960 |
214(VII)7: [A.N. Shirreffs, Inch's friend]
|
undated |
214(VII)8: [Margaret] Elizabeth [Inch,
Inch's daughter] |
May, 1937 |
214(VII)9: [Margaret Inch, Inch's mother]
|
undated |
214(VII)10: Montana Power Transmission
Company Dam and Powerhouse on Wise River |
1901 |
214(VII)11: [Herbert Inch with two other men]
|
1947 |
214(VII)12: Marion [Inch's aunt], Mother
[Inch's grandmother], and Margaret [Inch's mother] |
undated |
214(VII)13: Sydney Richard Inch [Inch's
uncle] |
June, 1958 |
214(VII)14: Hammond Fisher |
undated |
214(VII)15: Pansy Alice Evans |
1923 |
214(VII)16: Angus C. |
undated |
Series VIII: Audio , undatedReturn to Top
This series contains three audiotapes of performances of Inch's works. Performers and dates are not identified.
| Description | Dates |
|---|---|
214(VIII)1: Anthem for Chorus and Orchestra
|
undated |
214(VIII)2: Recessional for Organ
|
undated |
214(VIII)3: Trio for Pianoforte, Violin, and
Violincello |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Corporate Names
- Eastman School of Music--Alumni and alumnae
- University of Montana--Alumni and alumnae
Form or Genre Terms
- Music
- Photographs
- Sound recordings
Occupations
- Composers--United States--Montana
Finding aid prepared by Jannie Prawitz
(1998) and Donna McCrea (2007)
1998
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
