Arnold Clair was hired by the University of Rhode Island in the Department of Music in 1946. He held degrees from Julliard (1932) and the University of Iowa (1934), specializing in violin and viola, and served as Chairman of the Department from 1949 to 1966. During his tenure, he oversaw development of the 4-year degree programs in music; administered the URI Summer Music Camp for high school students; directed the University Orchestra, Chorus, and Marching Band; and established both a Music Series and a Chamber Music Workshop. He also served at various times as President of the Rhode Island Music Educators' Association and as Vice President of the Rhode Island Federation of Music Clubs. He retired from the University in 1973.
When these papers were given to Special Collections is undetermined. Originally they contained additional material, consisting of loosely bound Department of Music programs from 1969 through 1986, which were removed and cataloged as a part of the Archives, correspondence files of Professor Clair's predecessor, Professor Lee McCauley (MSG#141), and records of the Kingstowne Music Club (MSG #140), a civic organization dedicated to music appreciation in Kingston, Rhode Island. Each of the latter two has been processed as a separate Manuscript Group. Both Professor Clair and his wife were active in the Kingstown Music Club as members, officers, and performers, and that is likely why the Club's records were found among his papers. This collection now consists entirely of one oversize scrapbook compiled by Professor Clair.
Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.
Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Arnold Clair papers, Mss. Gr. 135, University of Rhode Island.
This collection is comprised of one oversize scrapbook. The bulk dates for the material are from 1946 through 1972, when Professor Clair was a member of the Department of Music faculty at the University of Rhode Island. A large proportion of the material consists of newspaper clippings (mostly from the Providence Journal) and musical performance programs reflecting a lifetime of concert-going (some date from 1919). Constituting perhaps a third of the materials in the scrapbook are personal items such as wedding invitations, birthday cards, letters, train tickets, and a glasses prescription. A strong sense of the Clair family's life in the University and wider community, and their connection to the world of music, is conveyed by this collection.
Arrangement is generally chronological, though many programs and cards were never glued in and remain loose, sometimes out of order. Some clippings have also come loose. The scrapbook itself is sturdy and intact.
There is no known acquisition information.
This scrapbook contains professional and personal memorabilia, almost entirely from Arnold Clair's years as a member of the Department of Music. One folder within the scrapbook consists of programs of musical performances in Europe and New York from 1919 through the 1920's which Professor Clair must have attended as a young man. Otherwise, the material conveys his well-maintained connections to the University, the local community, and the world of music, as well as a sense of social and musical vitality in the Clair family's life.