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Pfohl, James Christian. Collection, 1929-1983

 Collection
Identifier: DC100

Scope and Contents

The 1929 scrapbook contains postcards, photographs, clippings and Pfohl's application form for Wainright Band and Orchestra Camp in Lagrange, Indiana. The 1933-1934 scrapbook documents Pfohl's graduation, appointment as music director and first year at Davidson College. The 1934 scrapbook contains photographs and clippings about various Davidson College musical groups, including the Symphonic Band, Orchestra and Glee club and the Concert Series. There are two scrapbooks labeled 1934-1935 one has clippings primarily about the Lenoir High School Band and James Harper, DC class of 1915. The other has clippings and programs related to college musical ensembles and events. The 1936 photograph album has images of a band tour, marching bands from other colleges and as well as Davidson's football band, the Davidson Baritone Trio, Commencement and summer band camp. The 1937-38 scrapbook documents Davidson musical groups and summer camp, Pfohl's work outside of Davidson and local concerts. There is also a copy of the College Band's Souvenir Program for the 1937-38 season. The 1939 photo album contains images of the football band and summer camp students. The 1940-41 scrapbook includes clippings on Davidson musical groups and visiting artists, Queens College musical activities and Charlotte area music events. The 1941 scrapbook focuses primarily on visiting artists and a production of the Messiah. The 1945 scrapbook, contains clippings and correspondence and includes programs and publicity for the Watergate Concert conducted by Phofl in July 1945 and correspondence from the Charlotte Musicians Protective Union. The 1944-1947 scrapbook contains clippings from the Davidsonian about musical events. The 1954 scrapbook contains clippings, letters and telegrams related to Pfohl's receiving an honorary degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. The 1980-1981 scrapbook has clippings primarily related to the York Symphonic Orchestra (PA) but also certificates related to fishing and Rotary Club. The Certificates folder has diplomas and awards including ones from North Carolina governors (Holtshouser, Moore and Sandford) and U. S. President Gerald Ford. The correspondence folders contains letters from faculty at the University of Michigan and from the Moravian Music Foundation. The pamphlet folder contains a program from the1932 Phi Kappa Phi Initiation, the 1952 Davidson College Concert Band Press Book, a program for A Canticle of Christmas conducted by Pfohl and performed at Myers Park Presbyterian Church and a Proposed Music Program for Young People prepared for the Junior League of Charlotte. The Harris TV show folder has program lists featuring groups directed by Pfohl including the Transylvania Little Symphony, Orchestra, and theCharlotte Little Symphony Orchestra. The Davidson Male Chorus often appeared on the show as well. It was part of WBTV's Carolina Hour. The Music notes folder contains typed lists of Charlotte orchestra and choir members and hand written notes on work to do and people to contact for Brevard. The Reston Music Center folder contains programs and promotional materials for the music center summer festival and the Reston Chorale and Chamber Orchestra from 1967 to 1971. It also contains photographs of the chorale and orchestra and the summer orchestra. Also included in the Oversize materials are LPs and cds of concerts directed by Pfohl: Mrs. Kennedy's First Young's People Concert (1961), Verdi Requiem Mass(1950) and Seven Last Words of Christ. There is also an oversize photograph of the University of Michigan ROTC Band with Pfohl as a member.

Dates

  • Creation: 1929

Biographical / Historical

A graduate of the University of Michigan, James Christian Pfohl joined the Davidson faculty in 1933. Only 20 years old, Pfohl was hired to establish a music department. He wasted no time in organizing new choral and instrumental groups and reshaping exsiting ones. In 1936, he began a summer music camp. The camp soon moved from Davidson to the North Carolina mountains an din 1955 became the Brevard Music Center. Pfohl taught at Davidson until 1952. His wife Louise Nelson Pfohl served as an adjunct instructor for many years as well. While teaching at Davidson, Pfohl also served as a conductor for local symphonies and music director for churches, activities he continued after his retirement from the college.

Extent

2 boxes (2 boxes + oversize)

Language

English

Physical Location

A1.4

D3.7

Mapstand C-4

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. J. C. Phofl|2014-50|2015-002

Processing Information

Processed on July 2014|January 2015

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository