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John Owen Ward Papers Description
Scope and Content | Biography | Chronology | Series Description
Introduction
Collection Name: John Owen Ward Papers
Repository Name: Special Collections in Performing Arts, Performing Arts Library, University of Maryland
Type: Papers, photographs, sound recordings, and musical scores
Collection Dates: 1920s-2000
Extent: 60 linear feet
Statement of provenance: Gift of the Ward family (including Roger Ward, Arnold and Betty June Huxtable, John and Nikki Huxtable, and Susan Reeder). The executrix of Ward's estate, Jody Shields, arranged the transfer of documents to the University of Maryland in November 2001.
Finding Aid: A finding aid is under preparation and will be made available in the repository. The processing, preservation, and describing of the Ward Papers were made possible by a generous gift from the heirs of John Owen Ward named above. A detailed inventory and initial processing were done by Project Assistant Megan Kane Glowacki under the direction of musicologist Patrick Warfield, Ph.D., who arranged the collection, wrote this page, and created the accompanying online exhibition.
Description: Written, recorded, and photographic material created or consulted by John Owen Ward.
Organization: The materials have been arranged in series and subseries as described here. As much as possible, materials have been kept in the organizational scheme used by Ward.
Scope and Content Note
The professional and personal papers of John Owen Ward (1919-2000), noted music editor, fill approximately 150 boxes (the collection remains in process, but may be consulted). The collection documents all aspects of Ward's professional life, and contains significant materials concerning his private life. Major components of the collection include subject files on a variety of musicians and musical topics, correspondence and other papers documenting Ward’s tenure as Manager of the Music Department at Oxford University Press in New York, published and unpublished articles by Ward, and some musical scores and sound recordings of interest to Ward. An important part of the collection documents Ward’s service in the Second World War through letters and photographs.
Biography
The English editor John Owen Ward (1919-2000) is best known for his work at New York’s Oxford University Press and his oversight of The Oxford Companion to Music. Before and after World War II, Ward worked as an antiquarian book and music dealer. During the war he was attached to the Royal Artillery, but his language skills soon enabled him to work in intelligence services in France, Italy, and Great Britain. In 1941 he was active with the French Foreign Legion (Free French) as a teacher of English. Later that year he was at Tobruk and during later stages of the siege was attached to the Intelligence Unit for interrogation. In 1943 Ward saw the invasion of Italy and served as a liaison between British and collaborating Italian forces, using his language skills to locate and purchase equipment. In 1945 he was involved in the interrogation of prisoners in Rome, and on his return to England Ward was in charges of all intelligence, internal administration, and welfare of the large Italian and German prisoner of war camp at Holsworthy, Devon.
After the war, Ward resumed his activities as a book dealer and became assistant to Percy Scholes (1877-1958), author of The Oxford Companion to Music as well as other books on music for the general reader. Ward earned his BA (1952) and MA (1956) at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, specializing in French and German. In 1957 he was appointed Manager of the Music Department for Oxford University Press in New York, a position he would hold until 1972. During that time he was the sole editor of The Oxford Companion to Music, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music, and The Oxford Junior Companion to Music. He also wrote Careers in Music (1968) along with a number of articles and reviews. In 1972 Ward was made director of serious music for Boosey & Hawkes in New York, a position he would hold until 1979. Also in 1972, Ward was elected first Vice-President of the Music Publishers’ Association of the United States, an organization of which he would become President in 1974. In addition to his work as an editor, Ward was active as a translator.
Ward was married to Maya Riviere (d. 1989), a graduate of Agnes Scott College who earned her doctorate at Oxford as one of the first group of Fulbright scholars. She was Executive Director of the National Council on Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Codes.
Chronology
1919, Born, Sydenham, 20 September
1933-1937, Higher School Certificate, Dulwich College
1938-1939, Work as antiquarian book dealer
1940-1946, Service in Royal Artillery (Staff Sgt.)
1940-1941, Attached to French Foreign Legion (Free French) as English teacher
1941, In Tobruk, attached to the Intelligence Unit
1943, At invasion of Italy as liaison between British and collaborating Italian forces
1945, Involved in the interrogation of prisoners in Rome
1945, In charge of intelligence and administration of camp at Holsworthy, Devon
1946-1949, Antiquarian book dealer
1949, Italian interpreter at the Olympic Games
1949-1956, Assistant to Percy Scholes
1951-1956, Principal cellist of the Oxford University Orchestra
1952, BA from St. Edmund Hall, Oxford in Modern Languages
1954, Married Maya Riviere
1956, MA from St. Edmund Hall, Oxford in Modern Languages
1957-1972, Manager of the Music Department at Oxford University Press,
New York
1968, Author, Careers in Music
1972-1979, Director of Serious Music, Boosey & Hawkes, New York
1972, Vice-President, Music Publishers’ Association of the United
States
1974-1976, President, Music Publishers’ Association of the United
States
1989, Wife, Maya Riviere dies, 7 November
2000, Died, 31 December
Series Description
Series I: Professional Documents
This series contains documents relating to Ward’s professional activities,
mostly at Oxford University Press. It includes published copies and page
proofs for various editions of Oxford’s dictionaries, bills for
his translations, and information on and copies of Ward’s own publications.
Series II: Correspondence
This series is made up of correspondence files arranged by correspondent
and then date. It includes both professional correspondence and personal
letters. Of particular interest are the letters Ward wrote to his aunt
during his World War II service. Researchers should also consult Ward’s
subject files as some correspondence was filed there.
Series III: Subject Files
This series contains subject files created by Ward. Files include newspaper
clippings, photos, programs, and correspondence.
Series IV: Programs
This series contains both programs and playbills collected by Ward. Concert
programs are arranged by performing organization, theatrical programs
by show title.
Series V: Published Materials
This series contains books, magazines, scores, and libretti that remained
in Ward’s library after other materials were dispersed in accordance with his will.
Series VI: Photographs
This series contains Ward’s photographic materials and negatives.
Most are unlabeled and arranged in groups as they were found in the original
donation.
Series VII: Recordings
This series contains sound recordings collected by Ward. They are arranged
by title and composer.
Series VIII: Biographical
This series contains a variety of Ward’s personal items, including
a scrapbook, medals, student papers, medical bills, and datebooks. They
are arranged by material type.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Performing Arts Library's
Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Room for Special Collections, 10 to 5, Monday
through Friday. Please make an appointment with the curator.
Or for a specific question about the collection feel free to ask
the curator.
