Archives
Houston Symphony Archives
What is the Houston Symphony Archives?
The Houston Symphony Archives maintains organizational records and makes available for scholarly use materials which document the Houston Symphony since its founding in 1913. The Archives manages a comprehensive program of archives and records management for the Houston Symphony. Staffed by part-time volunteers, the Houston Symphony Archives is primarily an institutional repository.
Good Will Tour of the Houston Symphony Orchestra
Laredo, Texas. November 1943
The Collection
The Archives include concert programs, organizational minutes, press clippings and releases, departmental records, photographs, audiovisual materials, and manuscript collections—featuring records from volunteer organizations. Click below to explore each collection in the Houston Symphony Archives.
Materials
Materials found in the Archives are concert programs, organizational minutes, press clippings and releases, departmental records, photographs and audiovisual materials, and manuscript collections, including volunteer organization records. Among the highlights of the manuscript collections are the papers of Houston Symphony historian Hubert Roussel, a copy collection reflecting the early 20th century career of concertmaster Josephine Boudreaux, and the papers of Principal Timpanist David Wuliger, featuring correspondence with leading American percussionists.
Recordings
The minutes of the Houston Symphony Society document meetings of the full board as well as the various committees actively engaged in Symphony management. Minutes and other extensive committee records of the principal volunteer group, the Houston Symphony League, date from its inception in 1937. Their activities parallel and document those of the Symphony, with a focus on educational activities, ticket sales and fundraising.
Concert Programs
A prime resource in the collection is the series of original concert programs dating from 1914, with bulk dates from 1931 to present. Tour programs date from 1938 to the present day. Concert programs of Houston Symphony performances with Houston Grand Opera and other contracted performances are also maintained.
Press Releases and Newsletters
Public relations files contain news clippings, press releases and newsletters. The Houston Metropolitan Research Center now houses some older news clippings which are preserved in scrapbooks assembled by the Women's Committee of the Houston Symphony Society.
Our Orchestra
Of particular note in the photography collection are class photos of the orchestra (1915 and 1930s to present); photos of individual musicians, string quartets, and orchestra sections; portraits of music directors, associate conductors, and guest artists. The collection also includes images of founders, staff and board members, chorus personnel, event photography, music competitions, and orchestra tours.
Touring
A prime resource in the collection is the series of original concert programs dating from 1914, with bulk dates from 1931 to present. Tour programs date from 1938 to the present day. Concert programs of Houston Symphony performances with Houston Grand Opera and other contracted performances are also maintained.
Audio and Media
Audiovisual records provide a rich source of information about the orchestra, reflecting television and radio publicity dating from 1976. The archives also house a collection of Houston Symphony commercial and private-release recordings and various commercial recordings of individual Symphony musicians. The Houston Symphony's Recorded Sound Archives have been maintained by the Fine Arts Library at the University of Texas at Austin since 1985. Over 1600 concerts are preserved on radio broadcast tapes from 1945 to 1953 and concert recordings from 1975 to the present. Formats include reel-to-reel tapes, audiocassettes, DATs, compact discs and DVDs.
Department Files
Other files of note from various departments include guest artist files containing photographs, correspondence and contracts. Marketing files preserve subscription sales brochures from 1937 to present. Education material documents school concerts, summer outreach concerts, music competition, adult education programs, docent programs, concert lectures, speakers bureau and community outreach programs.
Origins and Legacy of the Archives
Founded in 1913 through the efforts of Miss Ima Hogg and other civic leaders, the Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas and the Southwest. The orchestra’s first concert, conducted by Julien Paul Blitz, took place on June 21, 1913, followed by the formation of the Houston Symphony Association that fall. Early leadership included Mrs. Edwin B. Parker as president and Miss Ima Hogg as first vice president.
The Houston Symphony Archives preserves and provides access to materials documenting the organization’s history since its founding. Holdings include concert programs, organizational records, press clippings, photographs, audiovisual materials, and manuscript collections, including those from volunteer organizations.
Highlights include original concert programs dating from 1914, tour programs from 1938 onward, and extensive photographic collections of orchestra members, conductors, and guest artists. The archives also contain audiovisual materials—radio and television recordings dating back to 1976—and commercial and private Houston Symphony recordings.
Notable manuscript collections feature the papers of historian Hubert Roussel, concertmaster Josephine Boudreaux, and principal timpanist David Wuliger, alongside departmental files documenting artists, marketing, and education initiatives.
Since 1985, the Recorded Sound Archives, maintained by the University of Texas at Austin’s Fine Arts Library, have preserved over 1,600 concert recordings, including broadcasts from 1945–1953 and live performances from 1975 to the present, in multiple audio formats.
How To Use The Archives
Click below to open our Database Finding Aid, where you can search and explore the Houston Symphony Archives.
Explore the Database Finding Aid
Use the search bar to enter keywords related to the file you’re seeking, or apply filters by category (keyword, author, piece, etc.) and date range.
You can also browse predefined collections and classifications through the top menu.
Once you locate a record, click its title to open the individual item page. From the upper-left menu, you can:
Cite the asset
Download a PDF with its technical details
Request access to view the item (availability varies by record)
To view an item in person, select Request Access. This will notify our volunteer team, who will contact you to arrange an appointment. Research visits are by appointment only.
Location:
Houston Symphony Archives
808 Travis Street, Suite 501, Houston, TX 77002-2715
For general inquiries, call (832) 531-6702 or email archives@houstonsymphony.org.
(Please do not send access requests directly to this email)