Maynard Klein Photos, 1946, 1959

Sub-Series

Staff Only

Scope and Contents note

From the Fonds:

Photography has always been important to the National Music Camp, and photos exist from the earliest years of the Camp. Beginning in circa 1944, a concerted effort was made each year to fully document camp life. A professional photographer was on site throughout the season, taking high quality, usually staged, photographs. These consisted of group shots of each of the camper cabins, and numerous individual shots of campers and instructors. These photos were developed on-site in the campus darkroom.

The campers at NMC were divided into age groups called Junior, Intermediate and High School. There was also a University contingent from the University of Michigan for many years. The sequence of negatives reflects these divisions. Two other typical divisions are General camp photos and Post-camp photos. General photos are often simply of the High Schoolers who constituted the majority of the campers at NMC, but also include more generic and candid shots of camp life. Post-camp indicates that camp had concluded, and these photos document the routines associated with closing down the camp for the summer.

When the Arts Academy began in the 1962-63 school year, the tradition of photography was continued, and similar high-quality shots were taken of the students. Theses are generally all numbered sequentially, and not divided into the four classes of Freshman, Sophomore, etc. It was around this time that the 4 x 5 large format was supplemented, and then supplanted, by the 120 film medium format, approximately 2.25" x 2.25".

Dates

1946
1959

Biographical / Historical

Maynard Klein, Professor of Music, retired from active faculty status as of May 31, 1977, after an extraordinarily successful career as conductor, teacher, and editor. Born in Metamora, Ohio, where he received his primary and secondary education, Prof. Klein subsequently attended Michigan State Normal University where he received the Bachelor of Science degree in 1933. He received the Master of Music degree from The University of Michigan in 1934. After serving for 13 years as Professor of Choral Music at Tulane University, Prof. Klein joined the faculty of the School of Music in 1948. For the next 28 years he was chiefly responsible for the extensive program offered by the School of Music, founding and conducting such organizations as the University Choir, the Arts Chorale, the Tudor Singers, and the Rackham Symphony Choir, which later became the official choir of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He was known as Uncle Maynard to generations of students at University of Michigan, as well as at Interlochen, where he served for 30 years as director of the vocal music program of the National Music Camp. The making of music under his direction was an experience never to be forgotten, characterized as it always was by the highest artistic ideals and enthusiasm. He was named Professor Emeritus of Music and Director Emeritus of University Choirs at University of Michigan.

Extent

13 Photographic Prints : 1 - 4" x 5" - b&w print of Klein posing with Bach Bicentenary book 2 - 8" x 10" - b&w print of Klein posing with Bach Bicentenary book 1 - 3.5" x 4.5" - b&w print of Klein sitting on bench 1 - 8" x 10" - b&w copy of above print of Klein sitting on bench 1 - 8" x 10 - b&w print of Klein sitting on bench with music book 2 - 8" x 10" - b&w prints of Klein sitting on tree stump with baton and music book 1 - 8" x 10" - b&w print of Klein (standing in front of kids, who are sitting) and campers around bonfire 2 - 8" x 10" - b&w close up print of Klein conducting 1 - 8" x 10" - b&w far away print of Klein conducting Festical Choir and National HS Orch. at Bowl (matted) 1 - 8" x 10" - b&w print of Klein conducting Choir