Scope and Content Note
Herbert L. Kirk is best known in the field of musicology as the author of Pablo Casals, a Biography (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1974), the authorized biography of Pablo Casals. The bulk of the material in the collection is related to this book and includes various drafts of the work and material gathered in researching the subject.
The Correspondence series includes correspondence between Kirk and Casals, letters to and from Pablo and Marta Casals, business correspondence to and from Kirk regarding his research for the book and other projects, and a selection of acknowledgments from persons who received presentation copies of the book. It also contains photocopies of letters from Casals to Sir Donald Tovey.
The Photographs series contains pictures, both candid and posed, of Pablo Casals that Kirk gathered in researching his book. It also inlcudes photographs of Casals' wife Marta, relatives, associates, houses, and awards. There are also pictures of Kirk and his family, some with Casals. Many photographs show Casals in performance, and with notable individuals. In addition, there is a complete set of illustrations that was used in the book. The Programs series contains an extensive set of programs documenting Casals' performances.
The Pablo Casals Papers series contains materials directly related to Pablo Casals, including legal and business papers, transcripts of interviews that Kirk had with Casals, Casals' music lessons, chronologies of Casals' career, photocopies of some of his musical compositions, and scripts. The collection includes numerous drafts and proofs of Kirk's book--both of the main text and of the front and back matter--which can be found in the Pablo Casals Book Material series. Many of the versions contain corrections and annotations. The Research Material and Research Notes series contain respectively the files of research material that Kirk amassed and notes made in the course of researching and writing his book. These files were kept intact upon receipt and Kirk's original order of these materials has been retained. Additional research materials include newspaper and magazine clippings, whole magazines, and books about Casals and related subjects.
The Realia series contains souvenir medals from Casals festivals and a pipe that Casals gave to Kirk. The Scrapbook contains clippings related to Kirk's book on Casals, and the Posters series contains two posters.
The Kirk Business Papers series contains materials, including permissions, receipts, and promotional items, relating to Kirk's book and other activities.