Stanford University Archives receives Richard Purvis library and papers

On February 2, 2012, Stanford University Archives received the bequest of the library and personal papers of Richard Purvis.



The collection was donated by organists Donna Parker and Jonas Nordwall of Portland, Oregon. Parker and Nordwall were students of Purvis and had maintained close ties with him through his later years.



A few months following Purvis’s death on Christmas Day in 1994, the home in San Francisco that he had shared with his partner John Shields was sold. When Donald Braff, trustee of the estate, learned that Purvis’s papers were about to be discarded, he contacted Parker, who immediately drove down to San Francisco with Nordwall. They were able to rescue most of the collection, which was then stored at Parker’s home.



James Welch, who is in the process of writing a biography of Purvis, visited Parker on several occasions at her home, gathering valuable information for the book. When the question arose concerning the eventual disposition of the collection, Welch suggested that Stanford University, with its extensive archival collection of music, might be interested. Jerry McBride, head librarian at the Stanford Music Library, traveled to Portland to inspect the collection and eagerly accepted the gift.



Among the collection are many of Purvis’s organ scores, complete with his registrations and performance annotations; photos autographed by the likes of Karg-Elert, Flor Peeters, Leo Sowerby, and G. Donald Harrison; and programs, reviews, correspondence, and other items of memorabilia.



The biography is expected to be published in advance of Purvis’s 100th birthday, which will be on August 25, 2013.



Those wishing to share anecdotes, correspondence, or other information about Purvis are welcome to contact James Welch: james@welch.net, 650/856-9700.



Those who have scores, correspondence, photos, or other memorabilia relevant to Richard Purvis may consider donating to the Stanford collection. For further information, contact Jerry McBride: jlmcbrid@stanford.edu, 650/725-1146, or contact James Welch.