Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived most of her life in Westport, Connecticut, and London. She attended The Thomas School, Vassar College, and became a trained pianist at the Julliard School of Music. During her career she was also a singer, editor, radio host, bibliophile, journalist, and activist for world peace.
In 1956, while serving as Eleanor Roosevelt's secretary to the World Federation of the United Nations Association, she became a life-long committed supporter of the United Nations. She received national and international praise for her work on behalf of the UNA, the private, non-profit group that supports the U.N.'s work.
Ruth also organized the UNA-CT and UNA of Southwestern CT and eventually became a national board member of UNA-USA and vice president of UNA-UK, Westminster. During her life, Ruth won numerous awards for her service to music and the United Nations. Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen died on May 26, 2002.
The collection is comprised of sheet music and photographs which span the years 1800 to the 1960s. The music scores are divided into seven series based on type of music. 1.Unbound Sheet Music, 2. Autographed Sheet Music, 3. Bound Scores, 4. Miscellaneous Music Scores, 5.Operas/Oratories/Vocal Music, 6. School Songs/Training Schools, and 7. Photographs.
Also included are publicity photographs and other images of Steinkraus in her career as a pianist.
The collection was a bequest from the estate of the late Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen. In 2002, her brother, Bill Steinkraus, arranged for the transfer of about 2,000 books, 2,500 performing editions and scores, and long runs of 18 international musical journals to the Haas Library.
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
Ruth A. Haas Library
Archives and Special Collections
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: 203-837-8992
E-mail: stevensb@wcsu.edu
Open for research without restrictions.
The collection is grouped into seven series:
1. Unbound sheet music 2. Autographed sheet music 3. Bound scores 4. Miscellaneous music scores 5. Operas/oratories/vocal music 6. School songs and training schools 7. Photographs
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); TITLE OF THE COLLECTION; COLLECTION NUMBER; CONTAINER INFO (for example: "Box 1, folder 3"); Western Connecticut State University Archives.
Bach, Johann; Edition Peters; Piano Score
Catoire, Georgy; Éditions Russes de Musique; Piano Score
Catoire, Georgy; Éditions Russes de Musique; Piano Score, Orchestral Reduction
A second sett of favorite airs and a march : arranged as rondos for the piano
Gershwin, George; Harms Inc. N.Y.; Piano Score, Orchestral Reduction
Herold, Ferdinand; Felix Mackar; Piano Score
Herold, Ferdinand; Felix Mackar; Piano Score
Herold, Ferdinand Felix Mackar Piano Score
Herold, Ferdinand; Felix Mackar; Piano Score
Hummel, Johann; Breitkopf and Härtel; Piano Score
Kalinnikov, Vasily; P. Jurgenson a Moscou; Piano Score
forehanded piano
Le Boucher, Maurice; Costallat; Piano Score
Quittard, Henri; Pierre Schneider; Piano Score
Piccioli, Giuseppe; F. Bongiovanni; Piano Score
Plovinkin, Leonid; Musiksektion des Staatsverlages; Piano Score
Poulenc, Francis; Heugel Au Menestrel; Piano Score
Schloesser, Adolphe; Edwin Ashdown; Piano Score
The Marriage Pretty 'tween John and Betty sung by Mr. Green and Sadlers Wells
Wieniawski, Joseph; Ed. Bote and G. Bock; Piano Score
autographed by composer
2 copies; autographed by composer
Finlandia I. Suomalaisia pianosävellyksiä = Pianostycken av finska tonsättare
Autographed by unknown. Item is shelved in Rare Books.
autographed by Rudolf Traxler
2 v.
3 v.
v.3
3 v.
Published separately, bound together
Published separately, bound together
2 v.
Published separately, bound together: A.B.Grondahl;O.Bull;C.Cappelen;C.Elling;E.Grieg;J.Haarklou;O..Winter-Hjelm;J.Holter;H.Kjerulf;G.Lange;B.Lasson;P.Lasson;L.M.Lindeman;E.Neupert;R.Nordraak;O.Olsen;J.Selmer;C.Sinding;J.Svendsen;C.Teilman;T.D.A.Tellefsen;P.Winge.
Published separately, bound together
Composers: N.H.Allen, H.N.Bartlett; Francis Boott; G.F.Bristow; G.A.Burdett; G.W. Chadwick; H.A.Clarke; H.A.Clarke; J.H. Cornell, L.Damrosch;J.R.Fairlamb;A.E.Fisher;A.Foote;W.W.Gilchrist;F.J.Hatton;W.J.Henderson; R.hoffman; F.G.Ilsley; G.Ingraham; E.Marzo; H. Millard; J.L.Molloy; J.Mosenthal;J.W.Palmer; W.S.Pratt; S.B.Schlesinger;W.G.Smith; A.A.Stanley; G.J. Stoeckel; E.B.Story; G.F.Suck; S.P.Warren.
Published separately, bound together
Jones, Robert, active 1597-1615: "Excellent Good Songs of Mr. Jones" ; Transcribed from the original editions of 1601 and 1608
Heseltine, Philip Arnold (1894-1930) -- transcriber; Warlock, Peter, 1894-1930-- transcriber
Theater program
2 copies
Theater program
Published separately, bound together
Published separately, bound together
(Ivme acte, scene 1re, pour grand orchestre, op.12
Published separately, bound together: Wolf, Hugo; Felix Weingartner; W. F. G. Nicolai; Frank La Forge; Arthur Foote; Magdalen S. Worden; H. W. Loomis; Hermann Lohr; Ethelbert Nevin; H. T. Burleigh; Arthur Whiting; B. O. Klein; Victor Herbert; Homer N. Bartlett; Wilson G. Smith; Carl A. Preyer
2 copies
A Vademecum: For the Employees of G. Schirmer
2 v.
Autographed by Deems Taylor
Published separately, bound together (Beethoven, Herold, Planquette)
Text.No.1, Paulus
Werk 345
Vol. 1: La Traviata, Tannhauser, Mignon, Faust, Cavalleria Rusticana, The Rhinegold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried, Gotterdammerung, Stradella. Vol.2: Martha, Semiramide, Manon, Norma, Marriage of Figaro, Aida, Der Freischutz, La Dame Blanche, Sapho, Lucia di Lammermoor. Vol.3: Orpheus and Eurydice, The Huguenots, Il Trovatore, Carmen, The Jewess, The Flying Dutchman, Fidelio, Lohengrin, Hansel and Gretel, Don Giovanni. Vol. 4: Nero, I Puritani, The Master Singers, Lakme, Samson and Delilah, Tristan and Isolde, The Magic Flue, The Bohemian Gril, La Boheme, Queen of Sheba. Vol.5: The Prophet, Lucretia Borgia, William Tell, Robert the Devil, Fra Diabolo, The Barber of Seville, L'Africaine, La Favorita, La Sonnambula, Rigoletto.
Series: Payne's kleine Partitur-Ausgabe.
Series: Eulenburg's kleine Orchester-Partitur-Ausgabe
Volume 1 and 2, bound together
Vol. I: Sonates et Airs Varies. Vol. II: Concertos et compositions a 2 et 4 mains.
Vol. V Orlando Gibbons; Vols. VI-VII John Wilbye; Vol. VIII John Farmer; Vols. IX to XIII Thomas Weelkes
Vols. I-IV Thomas Morley
Staff Notation Edition
School Edition
Ecole de Piano du Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles Series
Ecole de Piano du Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles Series
2 8x 10
4 8x10
1 8x10; includes clipping
2 8x10 color; 9 8x10; 1 3x5 (childhood photo w/ brother + sister?); 1 2.5x3.5 (in nurse uniform 1940's)
3 8x10; 1 letter
4 8x10;w/ Leopold Godowsky, Odgen Nash, Vernon Pike
6 8x10; w/ Vernon Duke, Ward French
1 8x10
2 8x10; Westport, CT
1 8x10
4 8x10
2 greeting cards, 1 telegram
2 8x10, 1 4x6
2 8x10
5 8x10
3 x 5" cards, typed and handwritten that lists books and scores in the collection. Half the cards are in their original order.
Contains notes regarding opinions on composers perhaps used as notes for interviews. In pencil on 3 x 5" sheets of paper.
Contains Excel file of inventory made perhaps upon Steinkraus' death.