archives.nypl.org -- Dean Dixon papers

The Dean Dixon Papers reflect Dixon's career as a conductor of philharmonic orchestras; the majority of the material covers his time in Europe (1950s - 1960s) and his American tours in the early 1970s.

The collection consists of personal papers including biographical articles, resumes, college diplomas, certificates and awards, medical records, date books, and passports. Of special interest are a series of interviews conducted by journalist Kaj Kristoffersen for an article he wrote in 1967. There are also Dixon's general impressions of Japan, written during a tour in which he guest conducted the NHK Orchestra in Tokyo. The correspondence files (personal and professional) discuss primarily music-related topics with such individuals as Kaj Kristoffersen, friends, and associates from the United States and Europe. Correspondence also concerns Dixon's recordings, invitations to guest conduct university and other orchestras, and honorary awards (1960s - 1970s). There are no correspondence files for the 1940s and 1950s. Other files pertain to Dixon's positions as an orchestra conductor. His founding and the operation of the American Youth Orchestra in New York in 1944 are described in a lengthy report that he wrote. His concert itinerary, including his touring schedule for 1964 - 1975 when he was head conductor of the Radio Symphony Orchestra (Hessischer Rundfunk Sinfonie) in Frankfurt, Germany, is in the collection. In the files for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) are news clippings and other documents concerning labor grievances Dixon and other orchestra members shared against the manager ABC from 1964 - 1967. Dixon maintained detailed files of his repertoire including works he had performed and wanted to perform; these are categorized by composers, conductors, music editors, and festivals from 1961 - 1973. To handle his extensive touring schedule during which he guest conducted in Europe, Israel, and Latin America, Dixon hired Martin Taubman as his worldwide general manager and Sherman Pitluck as his manager for the American tour in the 1970s. The collection includes extensive correspondence with these managers, and for the 1950s - 1970s, there are detailed itineraries, typed programs, and contracts. His tour to the United States included conducting the Young People's Concert for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and his verbatim script for this teaching experience forms an interesting portion of the series. The Dixon Papers also encompass hundreds of printed programs featuring concerts Dixon conducted both as head and guest conductor. The programs cover performances in Europe, the United States, Japan, Israel and Australia from 1939 - 1976. Although the files pertaining to Dixon's career prior to his leaving the United States for Europe in 1949 are sparse, the programs for the early time period in New York are especially interesting and include concerts for the American Youth Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, the Juilliard Orchestra, and others. The recordings made while conducting in Europe are documented via agreements, interviews, and correspondence. A vast number of reviews and feature articles (including obituaries and other posthumous articles) about Dixon offer a comprehensive understanding of the man as a musician from 1939 - 1979. Scrapbooks of news clippings and photographs document Dixon's tours conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in 1962 and 1966, and as musical director of the SSO in 1967. Publicity files primarily concern the planning of Dixon's American tour from 1968 - 1972. Dixon remained committed to music education from the time of his youth when he was awarded a Master of Arts degree in education from Columbia University. The collection contains his evaluations of numerous international students he taught for the Stichting Nederlandsche Radio Unie in Holland in 1963 and again in 1971. Additional papers discuss Dixon's teaching philosophy for music courses taught in Sweden, Germany, and Australia. While the Dean Dixon Papers do contain some information from the 1950s (programs, news clippings, and itineraries), there is very little correspondence. Additionally, only scattered personal information can be found in the personal papers and correspondence. More information can be found in articles where Dixon discussed his experiences as a black student aspiring to become a conductor and the discrimination which prevented him from receiving more conducting offers in the United States. He also referred to the more tolerant and less prejudicial attitudes he encountered in Europe and Australia, which allowed him to conduct professionally.

The Dean Dixon papers are arranged in eleven series: