Robert A. Melcher Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-190

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of Robert A. Melcher, spanning the years 1891-1996, document Melcher's career as a student, teacher, and scholar. They also reflect in detail the nature of Melcher's research interest and his emphasis on the study of music theory. Material of a personal nature is virtually non-existent within the collection.

The Melcher papers are arranged into six record series: I. Book Manuscript, II. Course Material—Instructor, III. Course Material—Student, IV. Miscellaneous Teaching Texts, V. Miscellany, and VI. Writings of Robert Melcher. Within series, materials are arranged chronologically and therein alphabetically. The first series is a manuscript of a scholarly text that was apparently never published. The second series includes course material from Melcher's career as a teacher, and the third series consists of Melcher's course materials while a student.

The fourth and fifth series include items that Melcher used for teaching and research. The sixth series includes the writings of Robert Melcher. Melcher's writings focus on the study of music in areas such as score reading and keyboard harmony.

Dates

Creation: 1891-1996, undated
Creation: Majority of material found in 1930-76
Other: Date acquired: 1988 March 11

Creator

Melcher, Robert A. (Melcher, Robert Augustus) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Robert Augustus Melcher was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on March 5, 1910 to John Rudolph Melcher and Catherine Adelaide Melcher. He attended Oberlin College, where he graduated from the Conservatory of Music in 1932 with a B.M.E. degree. He received the M.M.E. degree from Oberlin in 1940, and also received training at Teacher’s College, Columbia University (Summer, 1940), Pius X School of Liturgical Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia (1962).

Melcher began his teaching career in 1932 at the School of Fine Arts in Ottumwa, where he instructed students in piano and violin. In 1933 he moved to Ohio Northern University where he taught school music and violin. He remained at Ohio Northern until 1936, when he returned to Oberlin as a graduate assistant. In 1937 he became a Professor of Music Theory at the Conservatory, and remained at Oberlin for thirty-nine years, retiring from the faculty in 1976.

He co-authored four books: Music for Study (with Howard Murphy, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1960), and Music for Advanced Study, Music for Keyboard Harmony, and Music for Score Reading (all with Willard Warch, who was also a member of the Conservatory of Music faculty, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1965, unknown, and 1971, respectively). Melcher was a member and past president of the Oberlin chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, and was also a member and past president of the Ohio Theory and Composition Teachers Association. He was involved in committee work at the College, serving as chairman of the educational policy committee of the Conservatory. His main areas of professional interest were music theory and the music of the Roman Catholic Church. Melcher also directed church choirs in Cleveland from 1941 until 1964.

On July 13, 1935, Robert Melcher married Anna Schmidt (Oberlin Conservatory, ’32) of Moorestown, N.J. They had three daughters: Katherine, Charlotte and Marian. After a long illness, Robert A. Melcher died on May 11, 1983 in Oberlin, Ohio.

Note written by Edward L. Lach, Jr.

Extent

2.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The initial lot of Robert Melcher papers was received in 1988 from his widow, Anna Melcher; subsequent lots were delivered in 1992 and 2002 from the same source.

Accruals and Additions

Accession Nos: 1988/13, 1992/41, 1992/69, 2002/118.

Related Materials

Additional material on Robert Melcher and his career may be found in the Oberlin College Library, as well as in the Former Student/Staff files (for both Robert and Anna Melcher) in the Oberlin College Archives.