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Portell Foundation: The Henderson American Music Archive is launching an online database of over 300 digital image collections of musical scores from Skitch Henderson’s personal library.
Skitch Henderson Museum at Hunt Hill Farm
The Henderson American Music Archive
The Henderson American Music Archive contains materials collected by Skitch Henderson during his very unique and meaningful career. His personal and professional collection of rare originals, first edition and student “mini” scores, and his list of research and performance scores create an impressive music library. The collection contains over 450 unique reel-to-reel magnetic and film tape recordings and approximately fifty other analog recordings of Skitch Henderson performing and rehearsing with such classical music icons as conductors Dmitri Mitropoulos and Maestro Arturo Toscanini, legendary pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, the universally acclaimed violinist Jascha Heifetz, Wagnerian soprano Lotte Lehmann, and “First Lady of Radio” Kate Smith. It also includes an extensive representation of popular radio, music, film and television legends such as Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Spike Jones, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dorothy Lamour, Jane Mansfield, and Tony Bennett.
The Henderson American Music Archive is unique in its scope and depth, but it does not stand alone. The Archive is now part of the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and includes items such as the Steinway grand piano from Skitch’s tenure at NBC, photos of Skitch with many of the artists he worked for and performed with, advertisements, publicity and other ephemera closely associated with this music collection. Many significant events in the history of American popular culture are documented by photographs, analog recordings, and scores. Together the music archive and the holdings of the Hunt Hill Farm Trust represent an incredible resource not only for scholars but for anyone interested in twentieth-century American cultural history.
Save America’s Treasures Initiative
The mission of the Henderson American Music Archive Project is to preserve these rare analog recordings and scores in climate-controlled storage and to create appropriate copies for use. The conservation as well as transcription of these materials to a searchable, working format will provide an exceptional resource for scholars of multiple aspects of twentieth-century American music culture. This mission will be accomplished by cleaning, restoring, rehousing and transcribing the materials to appropriate digital and tape formats and is being supported by a Save America’s Treasures preservation initiative funded in part by the National Parks Service, Department of the Interior.
“I have been privileged enough to work with Skitch on this conservation project from its inception. The stewardship of these intellectual and artistic materials was extremely important to him, and he made that clear not only in word, but in deed. It was Skitch who helped me clean the scores, inventory them, and carry them from building to building. At times while we were working he would be transported by the music in front him to another time, another place, and would hum me a few bars, or share anecdotes about the composers. He told me that it was a great comfort to him, knowing that this collection of his life’s work would be taken care of. I am honored to continue to work for him, and grateful to our supporters for helping to make that work possible.”
-Jessica Stewart, Gallery & Museum Director
A visitor to the Museum will see:
The only remaining three-sheet from the Steinway centenary concert, which was most recently borrowed for the 150th Anniversary Steinway concert. The three-sheet, printed in three separate parts, appears to give Skitch separate billing, but in reality he was just very fortunate. During this concert, every one of the musicians listed had a Steinway to play on stage at Carnegie Hall.
An Arthur Anderson Bear carousel figure c. 1912, most likely manufactured in Bristol, England. It is one of four carousel animals in the studio that the Hendersons collected.
A painting of Mickey Mantle, which was done by the famous sports artist Leroy Nieman in 1966. A gift to Skitch from Ruth, the painting was also autographed by Mickey Mantle himself, “To Skitch - My Best Wishes - Mickey Mantle 9.13.89.”
A marble soda fountain, which was purchased by the Hendersons in 1972 from the Marbledale General Store. Made by the Combination Soda Fountain Co. in Decatur, Illinois, this example dates to post-1908 because of the labeled pump faucets for the syrup. (Skitch had a soft spot for soda fountains because it brings to mind visits he made to Ginger Rogers’ house - which had in the ‘playroom’ a soda fountain instead of a wet bar. To be invited over for ice cream was a sign one met with the approval of Ginger’s protective mother.)
In addition, photos, correspondence and other ephemera from: Dmitri Mitropoulis, Director of the New York Philharmonic, Irving Berlin, Arturo Toscanini and more!
The Skitch Henderson Museum is open by appointment for individuals and groups during Gallery hours (Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 - 5:00 and Sunday noon - 5). Visitors should look for a Silo employee or Hunt Hill Farm Trust docent for admittance. For more information please call (860) 355-0300.
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Internships Available
Would you like to help us further the goals of The Henderson Cultural Center and gain invaluable experience while having fun? Join us as an intern and earn credits toward your education.
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