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Frederick W. Schlieder Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Erin Carter
Date: 2014

Biography

Photograph of Frederick W. Schlieder

Frederick W. Schlieder was born in Foreston, Illinois on January 22, 1873. He received his bachelor's degree in music from Syracuse University in 1895 as a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Schlieder continued on to get both his master's degree (1911) and doctorate (1936) from the University. He specialized in the psychology of music and taught classes on musical theory and improvisation. An accomplished organist, he was a fellow of the American Guild of Organists and president of the National Association of Organists. In 1927, Schlieder published his book Lyric Composition through Improvisation which, along with his other instructional publications, "[aimed] to balance the emotional and intellectual appeal of music." Schlieder spent thirteen years as organist and director of music for the Collegiate Church of Saint Nicholas in New York City. He was also head of the Department of Musical Science and Composition at the Philadelphia Conservatory and the Composition Department of the School of Sacred Music at the Union Theological Seminary. As an educator, he traveled often, particularly to Paris, to teach his progressive method. In the little time he spent away from music, he and his wife Mabel were active members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a group dedicated to the study of the occult and paranormal.

Schlieder died in New York City on January 13, 1953.

Scope and Content Note

The Frederick W. Schlieder Papers contain materials related to his life as a student at Syracuse University, his career as an organist and composer, and his time as a music educator. The Schlieder Papers are divided into three series:

The Personal Life series contains correspondence, particularly between Schlieder and his wife Mabel, photographs, personal items, and materials relating to his time as a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

The Professional Life series includes business correspondence, lessons and lectures he gave, handwritten musical compositions, and a number of his published works, along with some of their original manuscripts.

The Student Life series contains Schlieder's coursework from his time at the University as well as his notes from various classes.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

More information on Frederick W. Schlieder can be found in the portrait and clippings files in the Syracuse University Archives.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Schlieder, Frederick William, 1873-1953.
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
Syracuse University -- Alumni and alumnae.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Composers -- 20th century.
Composition (music)
Music.
Organ music -- 20th century.
Organ music.
Composers.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Scores.
Sheet music.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Frederick W. Schlieder Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The Frederick W. Schlieder Papers were donated to the Syracuse University Archives by the Lorene McClintock Foundation in 2009.

Processing Information

The Frederick W. Schlieder Papers were rehoused in archival materials.

Arrangement

The items are arranged by series and in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Personal Life

Professional Life

Student Life

Inventory