Arthur Russell Custer Papers


University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: Arthur Russell Custer Papers
Date range: 1940-1997
Creator: Custer, Arthur Russell, 1923-1998
Extent: 17 linear feet
29 box(es)
Abstract: This collections contains the records of noted composer Arthur Russell Custer. The bulk of the collection is made up of Custer's scores along with recordings and videos of performances of Custer's work.
Language of materials: English
Repository: University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number: Mss. Gr. 168

Scope & content

The Arthur Custer papers consist of records relating to Custer’s work as a composer, lecturer, performer, and educator from 1940 until the late 1990s.

The majority of the documentation in the collection consists of original scores written by Custer, including classical pieces, music for children, scores for stage productions and films, and commercial jingles. There are also scrapbooks of material on Custer’s career, recording logs, photographs and negatives, some correspondence, audio and videocassettes, slides, floppy disks, compact discs, 33 1/3 LP records of Custer's work, and scores by other composers.

The papers are divided into the following series:

Series one, Scores (1950-1994) contains scores written by Custer for performance, film, and television. The documents in the series consist of drafts, printed and bound scores, notes, recording logs, floppy disks, and slides.

Series two, Scores for Children (1975-1997) consists of scores for children’s television and films, and educational songs. The documents contain drafts, written scores, recording logs, notes, floppy disks, and cassette tapes.

Series three, Scrapbooks (1950-1983) contains press clippings, event programs, photographs, correspondence, press releases, and articles written by Custer relating to his career in academia and as a composer.

Series four, Media (1976-1997) consists of cassettes, videotapes, and 33 1/3 LP records of Custer’s works, performances, and film scores.

Series five, Scores by Other Composers (1953-1989), consists of printed scores, some annotated or autographed, and arrangements of scores by composers other than Custer.

Series six, Subject Files (1940-1995) contains photographs, photographic negatives and positives, slides, press clippings, press releases, publications, letters, notes, and educational materials relating to Custer’s work as a composer and educator.

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in six series:

  • 1. Scores
  • 2. Scores for children
  • 3. Scrapbooks
  • 4. Media
  • 5. Scores by other composers
  • 6. Subject files

Biographical note

Arthur Russell Custer was born in Manchester, Connecticut on April 21, 1923. Custer demonstrated an early interest in music, playing on a piano in the family home as a child. In fifth grade he joined the Manchester Green Grammar School Band as a drummer. At Manchester High School, Custer continued playing drums for the school band, as well as playing in jazz dance bands, an activity he continued throughout his high school and undergraduate years.

Custer graduated from Manchester High School in 1940, and began studying engineering at Hillyer Junior College in Hartford , Connecticut. Around that time he began spending time in Greenwich Village jazz clubs, listening to the music, and picking up several new instruments, including trombone, bass, and saxophone. He also began writing pop songs during this period. In 1942 he graduated Hillyer with an Associate’s degree in Science.

World War II temporarily interrupted Custer’s studies, and from 1942 until 1946 he served in the U.S. Navy as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade. After leaving the Navy, Custer returned to college, this time taking up the study of music. He graduated from the University of Connecticut at Storrs in 1949, with a major in music education. Custer worked his way through college by playing in a jazz band which, after he graduated, continued playing together once a year until the 1990s. In 1947, while still at Storrs, he married Marilyn Emmons.

After graduation, rather than pursuing a career in music education, Custer began studying composition at the University of Redlands in California. He studied under Paul Pisk at Redlands, and was instructed in the twelve-tone technique of composition. During this period he wrote the score for a University stage production of Moliere’s “The Doctor in Spite of Himself.” He graduated from Redlands in 1951 with a Master’s degree in Music.

In 1952, Custer took a position as Assistant Professor of Music at Kansas Wesleyan University, becoming the head of the Department of Fine Arts in 1954. He left Kansas Wesleyan in 1955 for a position as Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Omaha, where he acted as Director of Bands, and also taught a course on classical music and composers for the University's pioneer program, "The TV Classroom." This television series offered college credit through broadcast lectures. While at Omaha, he organized a small jazz band, and was a member of the Omaha Composers Group.

Custer began working on his PhD at the University of Iowa in 1956, studying under Philip Bezanson. While a PhD candidate Custer reevaluated his old works, discarding all of his early compositions. He began writing what he considered more serious works, completing several in that year. He finished his dissertation, “Concert Piece for Orchestra and Sextet for Woodwinds and Piano,” in 1959, and was granted his PhD in August of that year.

Upon receiving his PhD, Custer took a position as the Director of the Music Section of the American School in Seville, Spain. While in Spain, he became involved with the community of Spanish composers, becoming a member of the Sociedad General de Autores de Espana, and eventually having several of his compositions, including his “Symphony No. 1” and “Concert Piece for Orchestra,” performed by the Madrid Philharmonic. He also continued his study of composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and Fontainebleau. He moved to Madrid in 1960 when he was given the position of Supervisor of Music for the U.S. Air Force Dependent Schools in Spain.

During his time in Spain, 1960-61, he hosted a Sunday morning program, “Music for Music’s Sake,” on Armed Forces radio. Working with the United States Information Service as the music consultant to Casa Americana, he lectured, conducted, and helped to organize a series of concerts of American music, which included a visit by the composer Aaron Copland in June of 1961.

Custer returned to the United States in 1962, becoming the Assistant Dean for Fine Arts at the University of Rhode Island. While in this position, he helped organize the Festival of Contemporary Art at URI in 1963. Custer was also active in the arts community at the state level, holding positions as President of the Rhode Island Music Teacher Association, the Vice-President of the Rhode Island Fine Arts Council, and the Vice-President of the Eastern Division of the Music Teachers National Association. Custer left the University of Rhode Island in 1965 to become the Dean of the Philadelphia Musical Academy. While in Philadelphia, he also held the position of Vice-President of the Philadelphia Composers Forum.

In 1967, he married Delores Borgaard, and they moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Custer became the Director of a U.S. Office of Education project, the Metropolitan Educational Center in the Arts, that developed arts centers and programs for children in public schools. He also wrote the program notes for the St. Louis Symphony during his time there. He remained in St. Louis until 1970, when he returned to Rhode Island to become the Director of The Arts in Education Project for the Rhode Island Council of the Arts. In 1973 he was named Composer-in-residence for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

Custer gave frequent lectures, wrote many journal articles, and was the visiting composer and guest professor on many college campuses, including the Manhattan School of Music in 1973, Lesley College Graduate School in 1975, and the College of DuPage in 1976. He also developed an arts education workshop, “Explorations,” with pianist Dwight Peltzer.

Custer’s compositions were frequently abstract works that used the serially ordered 12-tone techniques he had learned at the University of Redlands, and also incorporated improvisation and humor. His pieces often used electronic sounds, particularly pre-recorded tape that was integrated into, and sometimes influenced, the performance of the pieces. Custer also incorporated other artistic media into the performance of his compositions. His works were sometimes performed in museums and galleries, and used paintings or sculptures as objects to be expressed as music. Audiences were sometimes asked to assist in his performances by creating artworks, such as Styrofoam forms or painted images on slides, which were then displayed and used as the basis for improvisation by the musicians. Custer had many of his scores published as sheet music, and a number of his compositions were released as LP records.

In the 1970s and 80s, Custer began contracting to publishing and video production companies, writing scores to accompany documentary and dramatic productions for both television and film. Most of these film scores were written for children’s productions, a number of which went on to win awards, including Parent's Choice Awards, Video Magazine Awards, several awards from film festivals, and nominations for Emmy Awards. He also composed music for advertisements and several commercial jingles during this time.

Custer wrote and performed educational songs for children in the 1990s. The songs, which he recorded under the name “Grandpa Art,” were generally about animals and nature, and presented factual information about their topics with an entertaining, jazzy rhythm for children. Custer performed as "Grandpa Art" several times, both in live performances and on television broadcasts.

Arthur Custer died on September 17, 1998 at the age of 75.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: Open for research.
Use of the materials: Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation: Arthur Russell Custer Papers, 1940-1997, MsG 168, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information: University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The papers were donated to the University of Rhode Island by Custer’s wife, Delores, in the summer and fall of 2003.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by David Sherman.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Hailie D. Posey 2009 June 03, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 9
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory


Inventory

Series 1. Scores
Box 1-11, Folder 1-140
The Scores series consists of scores written by Arthur Custer, dating from 1950 through 1994. The compositions include classical pieces, scores for stage productions, films and television, and commercial jingles.

The series contains drafts, printed and bound scores, notes, recording logs, floppy disks, and several slides. Unless otherwise noted, the scores are handwritten on loose sheets.

See also Series IV, Media, for recordings of some of the scores in this series on 33 1/3 LP records and compact discs.

The folders in the series are arranged alphabetically by the title of the piece, and include the date of composition, if known. Boxes 9 and 10 contain published versions of Custer's scores displayed in picture frames, arranged alphabetically by title. Oversized materials are housed in a separate box at the end of the series.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 All New Dr. Ruth Show (see also series IV folder 1)
1988
Box 1, Folder 2 All things
undated
Box 1, Folder 3 Bagatelle: Printed Score
1958
Box 1, Folder 4 Bedford Forrest
1970
Box 1, Folder 5 Blues for Julie
undated
Box 1, Folder 6 Brooklyn is my Paris
undated
Box 1, Folder 7 Cartagena Songs
1964
Box 1, Folder 8 Colloquy for String Quartet (see also series IV folder 23, 23A)
1965
Box 1, Folder 9 Comments on this World (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1967
Box 4, Folder x-ref Compositions and Lyrics: Miscellaneous (see folder 56)
undated
Box 1, Folder 10 Concert Piece for Orchestra
1959
Box 1, Folder 11 Concert Piece for Orchestra: Bound Score
1959
Box 1, Folder 12 Concert Piece for Orchestra: Spiral Bound
1959
Box 1, Folder 13 Concertino for Second Violin and Strings (see also series IV folder 23, 23A)
1969
Box 1, Folder 14 Concerto for Brass Quintet (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1968
Box 1, Folder 15 Concerto for Brass Quintet: Printed Score (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1971
Box 1, Folder 16 Cycle for Nine Instruments
1968
Box 1, Folder 17 Dirge in Woods for Mixed Chorus
1950
Box 1, Folder 18 Divertimento for Bassoon and Piano
1968
Box 2, Folder 19 Doubles for Violin and Small Orchestra
1972, 1975
Box 2, Folder 20 Doubles for Violin and Small Orchestra: Bound Score
1975
Box 2, Folder 21 Doubles for Violin and Small Orchestra: Spiral Bound
1972
Box 2, Folder 22 Drafts and Arrangements: Various Songs
undated
Box 2, Folder 23 Fall of the City
undated
Box 2, Folder 24 Fanfare for Fain
1973
Box 2, Folder 25 Flash Flood: Film Score
1978
Box 2, Folder 26 Found Objects II: Rhapsodality Brass! for Orchestra: Bound Score (see oversize: box 11)
1969
Box 2, Folder 27 Found Objects No. 3 for Contrabass and Tape: Printed Score
1975
Box 2, Folder 28 Found Objects IV for Cello and Tape
1972
Box 2, Folder 29 Found Objects V: A Little Sight Music, Spiral Bound
1973
Box 2, Folder 30 Found Objects V: A Little Sight Music, Spiral Bound
1973
Box 3, Folder 31 Found Objects No. 8 for Violin and Tape: Printed Score
1975
Box 3, Folder 32 Four Ideas for Piano: Printed Score
1960
Box 3, Folder 33 Free Fall (see also series IV folder 4)
undated
Box 3, Folder 34 Good Sex Theme: Dr. Ruth Show (see also series IV folder 1)
undated
Box 3, Folder 35 I Used to Play by Ear (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1971
Box 3, Folder 36 Ides of March: Bound Score
1969
Box 3, Folder 37 Interface I for String Quartet and Two Recording Engineers
1969
Box 3, Folder 38 Interface I for String Quartet and Two Recording Engineers: Bound Score
1969
Box 3, Folder 39 Interface I for String Quartet: Revised Score
1975
Box 3, Folder 40 Interface No. 2 for Instruments, Slide Projectors, and Audience: Score, Slides
1975
Box 3, Folder 41 Interface No. 2 for Instruments, Slide Projectors, and Audience: Parts
1975
Box 3, Folder 42 Jacob Have I Loved
1981
Box 3, Folder 43 Jingles: Various
undated
Box 3, Folder 44 Jonnycake: Bound Score
undated
Box 4, Folder 45 Keep It Shining
undated
Box 4, Folder 46 La Ci Darem La Mano: Arrangement by Arthur Custer
1976
Box 4, Folder 47 Like Jake and Me
1985
Box 4, Folder 48 Living and Growing: Stages of Human Development, Film Score
1978
Box 4, Folder 49 Longman, Inc.: Fast Forward Theme
undated
Box 4, Folder 50 Longman, Inc.: Face the Issues
undated
Box 4, Folder 51 Magic Dragon for Tuba and Tape
1975
Box 4, Folder 52 Mincom: Concord Royal Gold
1989
Box 4, Folder 53 Mincom: Diamond Sweets
1989
Box 4, Folder 54 Mincom: Diamond Symphonies
1989
Box 4, Folder 55 Mincom: Earthly Delights
1991
Box 4, Folder 56 Miscellaneous: Compositions and Lyrics
undated
Box 4, Folder 57 Miscellaneous: Songs
1950
Box 4, Folder 58 Missing Person: Film Score
undated
Box 4, Folder 59 Model City: Film Score
1970
Box 4, Folder 60 Model City: Film Score, Bound
1970
Box 4, Folder 61 Movie Pictures (see also series IV folders 21, 22)
1984
Box 4, Folder 62 Movie Pictures: Arrangements for Parts (see also series IV folders 21, 22)
1984
Box 5, Folder 63 Movie Pictures: Play Score (see also series IV folders 21, 22)
1984
Box 5, Folder 64 Movie Pictures: Song Scores (see also series IV folders 21, 22)
1984
Box 5, Folder 65 Muhammad Ali: Truth Victorious, Draft Score
1975
Box 5, Folder 66 Muhammad Ali: Truth Victorious, Film Score
1975
Box 5, Folder 67 Music of the Royal Court
undated
Box 5, Folder 68 Nightcap
undated
Box 5, Folder 69 Night Piece
1979
Box 5, Folder 70 Off the Rack
1970
Box 5, Folder 71 On Market Street: Arrangement for Parts
undated
Box 5, Folder 72 On Market Street: Draft
undated
Box 5, Folder 73 Our Town - Hooray!
1973
Box 5, Folder 74 Over the Hill Shootout: Bound Film Score
undated
Box 5, Folder 75 Over the Hill Shootout: Drafts, Parts
undated
Box 5, Folder 76 Over the Hill Shootout: Film Score
undated
Box 5, Folder 77 Parabolas for Viola and Piano: Bound Score (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1970
Box 5, Folder 78 Parabolas for Viola and Piano: Printed Score (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1972
Box 5, Folder 79 Passacaglia for Small Orchestra
1963
Box 6, Folder 80 Pencil Sketches: Various Scores
1960-1968
Box 6, Folder 81 Permutations for Violin, Clarinet, and Cello: Bound Score (see also series IV folder 20, 20A)
1967
Box 6, Folder 82 Permutations for Violin, Clarinet, and Violoncello: Printed Score (see also series IV folder 20, 20A)
1969
Box 6, Folder 83 Quodlibetnam: Motet Ultima Ratio Regum, Bound Score
1968
Box 6, Folder 84 Rhapsodality Band! for Wind Ensemble: Bound Score (see oversize: box 11)
1972
Box 6, Folder 85 Rhapsodality Brown!: Bound Score
1968
Box 6, Folder 86 Rhapsodality Brown!: Printed Score
1969
Box 6, Folder 87 Rhapsody and Allegro for Violoncello and Piano: Printed Score (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1972
Box 6, Folder 88 Rondo for Trumpet and Piano: Printed Score
1970
Box 6, Folder 89 Sextet for Woodwinds and Piano: Bound Scores (see also series IV folder 14, 14A)
1964, 1969
Box 6, Folder 90 Sharps: Arrangements for Parts
undated
Box 6, Folder 91 Sharps: Drafts
undated
Box 6, Folder 92 Sing, Pierrot, Sing
1984
Box 4, Folder x-ref X-ref Songs: Miscellaneous (see folder 57)
1950
Box 6, Folder 93 Songs of Freedom, Love, and War
1970
Box 6, Folder 94 Songs of the Seasons: Bound Score
1965
Box 7, Folder 95 Stream: Film Score, Bound
1970
Box 7, Folder 96 Stressless Recliner Chairs
1994
Box 7, Folder 97 Strollin' with C.T.
1980
Box 7, Folder 98 Suite for Band: Arrangements for Parts
1965
Box 7, Folder 99 Suite for Band: Bound Score
1965
Box 7, Folder 100 Suite for Band: Score, Parts Arrangements
1965
Box 7, Folder 101 Sun Group Cues I: Guidance Associates
undated
Box 7, Folder 102 Sun Group Cues I and III
undated
Box 7, Folder 103 Sun Group Cues I, VI, and VII
undated
Box 7, Folder 104 Sun Group Cues IV
undated
Box 7, Folder 105 Sun Group Cues IV and Theme
undated
Box 7, Folder 106 Sun Group Cues V: Turning Point
undated
Box 7, Folder 107 Sun Group Cues VI
undated
Box 8, Folder 108 Sweet Sixteen: Bound Score
undated
Box 8, Folder 109 Sweet Sixteen: Drafts
undated
Box 8, Folder 110 Symphony No. 1: Sinfonia de Madrid, Bound Score (see also series IV folder 23, 23A)
1961
Box 8, Folder 111 Terrific Sex (see also series IV folder 1)
undated
Box 8, Folder 112 Three Canons: Printed Score
1959
Box 8, Folder 113 Three Songs of Death
1959
Box 8, Folder 114 Three Songs of Death
1959
Box 8, Folder 115 Touch the Earth: Bound Score
1976
Box 8, Folder 116 Traffic Jam
1988
Box 8, Folder 117 Travels on Next to Nothing
1981
Box 8, Folder 118 Truth About Alcohol
undated
Box 8, Folder 119 Turning Point: Arrangements for Parts
1976
Box 8, Folder 120 Turning Point: Bound Score
1976
Box 8, Folder 121 Turning Point: Score, Drafts
1976
Box 8, Folder 122 Two Movements for Woodwind Quintet: Bound Score (see also series IV folder 20, 20A)
1964
Box 8, Folder 123 Wind, Singing Madness
undated
Box 8, Folder 124 Your Vision, Your Life: Arrangements for Parts
1978
Box 8, Folder 125 Your Vision, Your Life: Bound Film Score
1978
Box 8, Folder 126 Your Vision, Your Life: Score, Drafts
1978
Box 9, Folder 127 Bagatelle: Framed Score
1957
Box 9, Folder 128 Colloquy for String Quartet: Framed Score (see also series IV folder 23, 23A)
1961
Box 9, Folder 129 Concerto for Brass Quintet: Framed Score (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1968
Box 9, Folder 130 Divertimento: Framed Score
1963
Box 9, Folder 131 Four Ideas for Piano: Framed Score
1965
Box 9, Folder 132 March for Trombone and Piano: Framed Score
1957
Box 9, Folder 133 Parabolas for Viola and Piano: Framed Score (see also series IV folder 18, 18A)
1968
Box 9, Folder 134 Pastorale and Hornpipe: Framed Score
1963
Box 9, Folder 135 Permutations for Violin, Clarinet, and Violoncello: Framed Score (see also series IV folder 20, 20A)
1967
Box 9, Folder 136 Rhapsodality Brown! for Piano: Framed Score
1969
Box 10, Folder 137 Rondo for Trumpet and Piano: Framed Score
1964
Box 10, Folder 138 Three Canons: Trumpet Duet with Piano, Framed Score
1958
Box 10, Folder 139 Three Pieces for Six Brass Instruments: Framed Score
1958
Box 10, Folder 140 Two Movements for Woodwind Quintet: Framed Score (see also series IV folder 20, 20A)
1964
Box 11, Folder n/a Oversize Box for Series
1950-1994

Series 2. Scores for children
Box 12-16, Folder 1-83
This series consists of scores written between 1975 and 1997 for children’s television, films, and video. The scores also contain Custer’s educational songs for children released under the name "Grandpa Art."

Folders in the series may contain drafts, written scores, recording logs, notes, floppy disks, and audiocassettes. Unless otherwise noted, the scores are handwritten on loose sheets.

See also Series IV, Media, for recordings of some of the scores in this series on audio and videocassettes, and Series VI, Subject Files, for documents on "Grandpa Art."

The series is arranged alphabetically by the title of the composition.

Container Description Date
Box 12, Folder 1 Arthur's Honey Bear: Sun Group No. 11
undated
Box 12, Folder 2 Ben's Trumpet: Bound Score (see also series IV folder 2)
1980
Box 12, Folder 3 Butter Battle Book
1984
Box 12, Folder 4 Cat in the Hat
undated
Box 12, Folder x-ref X-ref Children's Songs: Miscellaneous (see folder 48)
undated
Box 12, Folder 5 Curse of the Squirrel
1989
Box 12, Folder 6 Daring Rescue of Marlon the Swimming Pig
1989
Box 12, Folder 7 7 Days with Frog and Toad
undated
Box 12, Folder 8 Dear Mr. Henshaw
1986
Box 12, Folder 9 Diego
1992
Box 12, Folder 10 Eugene Griessman: Achievement Digest
1990
Box 12, Folder 11 Fables: Score, Drafts
1981
Box 12, Folder 12 Fables: Score, Parts Arrangements
undated
Box 12, Folder 13 First Thanksgiving
undated
Box 12, Folder 14 Follow the Drinking Gourd
1990
Box 12, Folder 15 Foolish Rabbit
undated
Box 12, Folder 16 Fox in Socks
undated
Box 12, Folder 17 Frog and Toad All Year
undated
Box 13, Folder 18 Frog and Toad Are Friends
undated
Box 13, Folder 19 Garden of Abdul Gasazi: Parts Arrangements
undated
Box 13, Folder 20 Garden of Abdul Gasazi: Score
undated
Box 13, Folder 21 Giant Readers
undated
Box 13, Folder 22 Golden Goose
undated
Box 13, Folder 23 Grandma and the Pirates
1991
Box 13, Folder 24 Grandpa Art: Songs About Birds, Recording Logs, Press Clippings (see also series IV folder 11, series VI folder 13)
1990-1992
Box 13, Folder 25 Grandpa Art: Songs About Birds, Recording Logs, Press Clippings (see also series IV folder 11, series VI folder 13)
1990-1992
Box 13, Folder 26 Grandpa Art: Songs About Birds, Scores, Recording Logs (see also series IV folder 11, series VI folder 13)
1992
Box 13, Folder 27 Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher
1981
Box 13, Folder 28 Hansel and Gretel
1988
Box 13, Folder 29 Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days
1989
Box 14, Folder 30 Here Comes the Strikeout
undated
Box 14, Folder 31 Hey Al
1989
Box 14, Folder 32 How the Hibernators Came to Bethlehem
1981
Box 14, Folder 33 Hill of Fire
undated
Box 14, Folder 34 Hunches in Bunches: Bound Score
undated
Box 14, Folder 35 Hunches in Bunches: Score, Parts
undated
Box 14, Folder 36 Hundred Penny Box
1976-1977
Box 14, Folder 37 I Go...
undated
Box 14, Folder 38 In Coal Country
1988
Box 14, Folder 39 Julian's Glorious Summer
1989
Box 14, Folder 40 Jumanji: Bound Score
undated
Box 14, Folder 41 Jumanji: Score, Parts
undated
Box 14, Folder 42 Little Band
1991
Box 14, Folder 43 Little Bear
undated
Box 14, Folder 44 Little Engine That Could
1988
Box 14, Folder 45 Little Red Riding Hood
1986
Box 14, Folder 46 Mama Don't Allow
1985
Box 14, Folder 47 Mirrette on the High Wire
1993
Box 14, Folder 48 Miscellaneous: Children's Songs
undated
Box 14, Folder 49 Monster Mama (see also series IV folders 15,16)
1994
Box 15, Folder 50 Mouse Soup
1983
Box 15, Folder 51 Night Before Christmas
1997
Box 15, Folder 52 Nightgown of the Sullen Moon
1984
Box 15, Folder 53 Once a Mouse
1977
Box 15, Folder 54 Outdoorsters
undated
Box 15, Folder 55 Owl at Home
undated
Box 15, Folder 56 Pepito's Dream (see also series IV folder 19)
undated
Box 15, Folder 57 Pilgrims of Plymouth
1989
Box 15, Folder 58 Principal's New Clothes
1991
Box 15, Folder 59 The Relatives Came
1986
Box 15, Folder 60 Sesame Street Songs
undated
Box 15, Folder 61 Scary ABC Video
1989
Box 15, Folder 62 Scary Bedtime Stories
undated
Box 16, Folder 63 Scary Counting Video
undated
Box 16, Folder 64 Silent Shout (see also series IV folder 24)
1997
Box 16, Folder 65 Spooky Halloween
1992
Box 16, Folder 66 Stone Soup
1986
Box 16, Folder 67 Talking Eggs
1991
Box 16, Folder 68 Ten, Nine, Eight
1984
Box 16, Folder 69 Thidwick the Big-Hearted Mouse
1993
Box 16, Folder 70 This Year's Garden
undated
Box 16, Folder 71 Three Billy Goats Gruff
1991
Box 16, Folder 72 Very Bad Bunny
undated
Box 16, Folder 73 Village of Round and Square Houses
1989
Box 16, Folder 74 Visit to William Blake's Inn
1982
Box 16, Folder 75 Wheel of Life
undated
Box 16, Folder 76 Where the River Begins
1985
Box 16, Folder 77 Whiffle Squeek
undated
Box 16, Folder 78 Whiskers and Rhymes
1986
Box 16, Folder 79 Who's Dr. Seuss
1981
Box 16, Folder 80 Who's Dr. Seuss: Score, Parts Arrangements
1981
Box 16, Folder 81 Will's Mammoth
undated
Box 16, Folder 82 Wings: A Tale of Two Chickens
1992
Box 16, Folder 83 Yellow Umbrella
undated

Series 3. Scrapbooks
Box 17, Folder 1-6
The Scrapbooks series consists of material from 1950 to 1983 relating to Custer’s career in academia, and as a composer, lecturer, and educator. The series contains press clippings, event programs, photographs, correspondence, posters, press releases, and articles written by Custer.

Most of the material is stored in five chronologically arranged three-ring binders, with one folder containing loose documents.

Container Description Date
Box 17, Folder 1 Scrapbook: March 1950-July 1962
1950-1962
Box 17, Folder 2 Scrapbook: September 1962-May 1968
1962-1968
Box 17, Folder 3 Scrapbook: September 1970-September 1973
1970-1973
Box 17, Folder 4 Scrapbook: November 1973-December 1975
1973-1975
Box 17, Folder 5 Scrapbook: 1976
1976
Box 17, Folder 6 Scrapbook Material, Loose
1951-1983

Series 4. Media
Box 18-23, Folder 1-24
The Media series consists of recordings and videotapes of Custer’s compositions and performances of his music. The materials in the series relate to Custer’s classical compositions, his scores for children’s films and filmstrips, and his songs as "Grandpa Art." The series contains U-Matic videocassettes, VHS videocassettes, 33 1/3 LP records, compact discs, and cassette tapes with included booklets. The compact discs in the series were produced in August 2005 by the Special Collections Department in an effort to preserve the music on the LP records. Several of the LPs had degraded audio quality due to surface pitting.

See also Series I, Scores, and Series II, Scores for Children, for scores corresponding to these recordings, and Series VI, Subject Files, for information on the "Grandpa Art" recordings.

The media in this series is arranged alphabetically by title. Oversized materials are housed in a separate box at the end of the series.

Container Description Date
Box 18, Folder 1 All New Dr. Ruth Show Composite Reel: VHS Videocassette (see also series I folder 1, 34, 111)
1988 Apr 12
Box 18, Folder 2 Ben's Trumpet: Audiocassette (see also series II folder 2)
1980
Box 18, Folder 3 Contemporary Piano Project Vol. III: Serenus Records, LP 33 1/3 (see oversize: box 23)
undated
Box 18, Folder 3A Contemporary Piano Project Vol. III: CD Rerecorded by Special Collections Department, August 2005
undated
Box 18, Folder 4 Free Fall: McGraw Hill, VHS Videocassette (see also series I folder 33)
1989 Oct 18
Box 18, Folder 5 Grandpa Art Aquarium Segment: VHS Videocassette (see also series VI folder 13)
undated
Box 19, Folder 6 Grandpa Art Live at the New York Aquarium: VHS Videocassette (see also series VI folder 13)
undated
Box 19, Folder 7 Grandpa Art Live on the FOX-FX Network: VHS Videocassette (see also series VI folder 13)
undated
Box 19, Folder 8 Grandpa Art: Metamorphosis Digitize Test, VHS Videocassette (see also series VI folder 13)
undated
Box 19, Folder 9 Grandpa Art Music Videos: VHS Videocassette (see also series VI folder 13)
undated
Box 19, Folder 10 Grandpa Art Pet Songs: Audiocassette (see also series VI folder 13)
1993
Box 20, Folder 11 Grandpa Art Sings About Birds: Audiocassette (see also series II folders 24-26, series VI folder 13)
1992
Box 20, Folder 12 Grandpa Art Sings About Sea Creatures: Audiocassettes (see also series VI folder 13)
1993
Box 20, Folder 13 Grandpa Art Zoo Songs: Audiocassettes (see also series VI folder 13)
1993
Box 20, Folder 14 Group Show: Serenus Records, LP 33 1/3 (see oversize: box 23) (see also series I folder 89)
1972
Box 20, Folder 14A Group Show: CD Rerecorded by Special Collections Department, August 2005 (see also series I folder 89)
undated
Box 20, Folder 15 Monster Mama Dub w/TC Offset: U-Matic Videocassette (see also series II folder 49)
1995?
Box 20, Folder 16 Monster Mama Final Edit: U-Matic Videocassette (see also series II folder 49)
1995 Feb 17
Box 21, Folder 17 Monumenta Plus: U-Matic Videocassette (see also series VI folder 14)
1976
Box 21, Folder 18 Music of Arthur Custer, Vol. II: Serenus Records, LP 33 1/3 (see oversize: box 23) (see also series I folders 9,14,15, 35, 77, 78, 87, 129, 133)
1973
Box 21, Folder 18A Music of Arthur Custer, Vol. II: CD Rerecorded by Special Collections Department, August 2005 (see also series I folders 9,14,15, 35, 77, 78, 87, 129, 133)
undated
Box 21, Folder 19 Pepito's Dream: A.J. Shalleck Productions, VHS Videocassette (see also series II folder 56)
undated
Box 21, Folder 20 Permutations and Two Movements for Wind Quintet: Composers Recordings, LP 33 1/3 (see oversize: box 23) (see also series I folders 81, 82, 122, 135, 140)
1970
Box 21, Folder 20A Permutations and Two Movements for Wind Quintet: CD Rerecorded by Special Collections Department, August 2005 (see also series I folders 81, 82, 122, 135, 140)
undated
Box 21, Folder 21 Real Movies: Stage Production, VHS Videocassettes (see also series I folders 61-64)
undated
Box 22, Folder 22 Real Movies: Stage Production, Incomplete, VHS Videocassette (see also series I folders 61-64)
undated
Box 22, Folder 23 Symphony No. 1, Colloquy, Concertino: Helffrich Recording Labs, LP 33 1/3 (see oversize: box 23) (see also series I folders 8, 13, 110, 128)
undated
Box 22, Folder 23A Symphony No. 1, Colloquy, Concertino: CD Rerecorded by Special Collections Department, August 2005 (see also series I folders 8, 13, 110, 128)
undated
Box 22, Folder 24 Unicef: Land Mines Rough Animatic, VHS Videocassette (see also series II folder 64)
1977 Mar 21
Box 23, Folder n/a Oversize Box for Series
1976-1995

Series 5. Scores by other composers
Box 24-26, Folder 1-22
This series contains scores written by composers other than Arthur Custer. The series consists of published scores, some of which have been annotated or autographed, as well as handwritten scores. The material includes classical and children’s music, as well as some jazz, folk, and popular music scores, and several published books of Spanish music.

The scores are arranged alphabetically by title. Oversized materials are housed in a separate box at the end of the series.

Container Description Date
Box 24, Folder 1 Annotated Published Scores: Various Composers
1962, undated
Box 24, Folder 2 Atmospheres: Gyorgy Ligeti, Published Score
1961
Box 24, Folder 3 Autographed Scores: Various Composers
1961
Box 24, Folder 4 Baren, Irene: Piano Arrangements, Bound
1976
Box 24, Folder 5 Concert for Piano and Orchestra: John Cage, published score (see oversize: box 26)
1960
Box 24, Folder 6 Eidesis II (1967-III) for Thirteen Instruments: Published Score (see oversize: box 26)
1972
Box 24, Folder 7 Good King Wenceslaus: Arthur Custer Arrangement
1989
Box 24, Folder 8 Grafische Notationen: Anestis Logothetis, Published Score
1967
Box 24, Folder 9 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
undated
Box 24, Folder 10 Manestar: Peter Tod Lewis, Published Score
1970
Box 24, Folder 11 Movie Theme Songs: Miscellaneous, Written and Published Scores
1972, undated
Box 24, Folder 12 Movie Theme Songs: Miscellaneous, Written Scores
undated
Box 24, Folder 13 Musica Hispana III, Serie B: Polifonia I, Published Scores
1953
Box 24, Folder 14 Sacre du Printemps: Igor Stravinsky, Published Score
1921?
Box 24, Folder 15 Signs & Circuits: Peter Tod Lewis, Bound Score (see oversize: box 26)
1969
Box 24, Folder 16 Spanish Songs and Folk Dances, 10th ed.: Publication
1957?
Box 25, Folder 17 Successif-Simultane: Jean-Pierre Guezec, Published Score
1968
Box 25, Folder 18 Theme from 'A Summer Place'
1959, 1960, undated
Box 25, Folder 19 Veintidos Canciones: Published Scores
1958
Box 25, Folder 20 We Shall Overcome and Other Civil Rights Songs: Printed and Written Scores
1968?, 1969?, undated
Box 25, Folder 21 We Shall Overcome and Other Civil Rights Songs: Written Scores
undated
Box 25, Folder 22 You're the Only One I Need: Darlene Keith, Score, Lyrics, Note
1984
Box 26, Folder n/a Oversize Box for Series
1953-1989

Series 6. Subject files
Box 27-29, Folder 1-23
The Subject Files series contains photographs, press clippings, press releases, letters, slides, photographic negatives and positives, notes, audiocassettes, and books. The series contains records from 1940 to 1995 relating to Custer’s work as a composer and educator. Topics in the series include art education, Custer’s personal educational history, articles written by Custer, and the compositions of "Grandpa Art."

See also Series IV, Media, for recordings of "Grandpa Art" and a videotape of the "Monumenta Plus!" composition.

The folders in the series are arranged alphabetically by topic. Oversized materials are housed in a separate box at the end of the series.

Container Description Date
Box 27, Folder 1 Articles by Arthur Custer
1868-1979
Box 27, Folder 2 Arts in Education: Antonyms Flash Cards (see oversize: box 29)
undated
Box 27, Folder 3 Arts in Education: Environmental Exploration Sculptures, Slides
1971 Apr-1972 Jun
Box 27, Folder 4 Arts in Education: Environmental Exploration Sculptures, Slides
1972 Jun-1972 Dec
Box 27, Folder 5 Arts in Education: Improvisation Lecture and Demonstration
undated
Box 27, Folder 6 Arts in Education: Score Transparencies, Flash Cards (see oversize: box 29)
undated
Box 27, Folder 7 Arts in Education: Word and Design Flash Cards (see oversize: box 29)
undated
Box 27, Folder 8 Biographies of Arthur Custer: Photocopies
1967, 1982
Box 27, Folder 9 Children's Audio, Filmstrip, and Video Awards: Original Music by Arthur Custer, Listing
1975-1992
Box 27, Folder 10 Custer, Marilyn: Correspondence
1961
Box 27, Folder 11 Da Capo: Philadelphia Music Academy Yearbook
1966
Box 27, Folder 12 Educational Records: Arthur Custer
1940-1970
Box 28, Folder 13 Grandpa Art's Songs for Children: Promotional Material (see also series II folders 24-26, series IV folders 5-13)
1995
Box 28, Folder 14 Monumenta: Publication, News Clippings (see oversize: box 29) (see also series IV folder 17)
1975
Box 28, Folder 15 Photographs: "Catalytic Celebration", St. Louis, MO
1970
Box 28, Folder 16 Photographs: Color Negatives and Positives
undated
Box 28, Folder 17 Photographs: Newport, R.I., Chateau
undated
Box 28, Folder 18 Photographs: Performance Photographed by Tom Ebenhoh, St. Louis, MO
undated
Box 28, Folder 19 Photographs: Portraits of Arthur Custer
1950-1999
Box 28, Folder 20 "Six Decades of Songwriters": Photocopy of Book, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984
1984
Box 28, Folder 21 "Sticky Shoes": Art Collaboration with Richard Fraenkel March
1977
Box 28, Folder 22 Zounds!: Music Education Material
1977
Box 28, Folder 23 Zounds!: Music Education Material
1977
Box 29, Folder n/a Oversize Box for Series
1940-1995