Leon Ryder Maxwell papers, 1895-1967 | Louisiana Research Collection

By Eira Tansey

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Collection Overview

Title: Leon Ryder Maxwell papers, 1895-1967

Predominant Dates:1904-1941

ID: LaRC/Manuscripts Collection 62

Primary Creator: Maxwell, Leon Ryder.

Extent: 7.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: Boxes 1 through 3 contain Leon Ryder Maxwell's papers, Box 4 contains papers of his wife, Ruth Nottage Maxwell.

Date Acquired: 05/01/1957. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Europe -- Description and travel., Louisiana Music Teachers' Association., Maxwell, Leon Ryder., Music -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Newcomb College. Music Dept., New Orleans (La) -- Music., Opera -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Theater -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Tulane University. Dept. of Music.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Correspondence (professional and personal), photographs, scrapbooks, travel diaries and other papers of Leon Ryder Maxwell (1883-1956), professor and director of the Newcomb Department of Music from 1909 until 1953.

The correspondence includes letters that Leon wrote to his wife (much of it sent to their summer home in Maine), letters received from colleagues, and letters sent to Ruth Maxwell from friends. The travel diaries he kept provide an entertaining look at Europe and its music during the early part of the 20th century. Maxwell collected a considerable number of programs from operas and concerts from his travels and from productions in New Orleans. These can be found in the bound scrapbooks.

Biographical Note

Leon Ryder Maxwell was born Sept. 15, 1883, in Medford, Massachusetts. He graduated from Tufts College in 1904, studying music there and in Boston. In 1905-1908 he taught music in various towns near Boston, and then spent time studying music in Europe. He married Ruth Nottage in 1909, also of Medford. Maxwell was appointed professor of music and the first director of the Newcomb Department of Music in New Orleans in 1909. He was president of Tulane's Phi Beta Kappa chapter in 1934, and was named director of the division of Fine Arts in 1945. He was active in the Louisiana Music Teachers' Association. He retired in 1953, and the following year the music library at Tulane University was named after him. He was survived by his wife when he died in 1956.

Subject/Index Terms

Europe -- Description and travel.
Louisiana Music Teachers' Association.
Maxwell, Leon Ryder.
Music -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Newcomb College. Music Dept.
New Orleans (La) -- Music.
Opera -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Theater -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Tulane University. Dept. of Music.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Accruals: Additional papers donated in 1970

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Ruth Maxwell

Acquisition Method: Gift

Preferred Citation: Leon Ryder Maxwell papers, Manuscripts Collection 62, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid revised in 2008.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 274218448

Box and Folder Listing

Volume 4: Scrapbook of Ruth Nottage, 1903-1908