Collection inventory

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William C. Fleming Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Kelli Kanvin
Date: 2003

Revision history:
2011	Converted to EAD

Biography

William Coleman Fleming was born in Pomona, California on August 3, 1909 to William Thomas and Theodora Loney Fleming. A musical prodigy, of sorts, Fleming studied piano under Olga Steeb during his adolescent years before continuing his musical studies at Pomona Junior College from 1927 to 1928. Leaving college early, Fleming moved to New York City where he studied piano, music literature, counterpoint, and composition under such notable figures as Paolo Gallico and Leopold Mannes. In 1930 Fleming traveled to Europe where he studied under Tobias Mathay and the noted pianist Artur Schnabel. Between the years of 1932 and 1940, Fleming performed as a concert pianist throughout Europe and America, and made his American debut at Carnegie Hall in 1937.

Upon his return to the United States, Fleming received his masters degree (1939) and his Ph.D. (1942) from Claremont Graduate School in California. He became an instructor in Music and Philosophy at Pomona Junior College for five years before taking a position as an associate professor of Fine Arts at Syracuse University in 1945. A year later Fleming founded the Department of Fine Arts and became its first chair. He held this position until 1969. It was during this time that Fleming accomplished perhaps his most notable feat - a book entitled Arts and Ideas. First published in 1955, this work served as the synthesis of music and art that he had been so desperately seeking. With at least eight subsequent revised editions, and translations into the Spanish and Romanian, Arts and Ideas is used as a text by over 800 colleges and universities worldwide. In 1970, Fleming was named Centennial Professor of Fine Arts, for his outstanding leadership and contributions to his field, by Chancellor John Corbally. Upon his retirement from Syracuse University in 1975 he was named Centennial Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts by Chancellor Melvin Eggers.

Fleming went on to be named a Colum Scholar at Augusta College and an honorary member of the Kappa chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1975. He later received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Baker University, an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Syracuse University, and an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Westminster College. In 1989, Fleming was awarded the Chancellor's Medal for Distinguished Achievement by Syracuse University Chancellor Melvin Eggers.

A recognized and well-respected scholar, William Fleming held memberships in a number of organizations such as the American Musicological Society, Royal Society of the Arts, and the English Speaking Union. Additionally, Fleming's biography has appeared in publications, including Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, and the Directory of American Scholars. He has contributed to and written articles for Encyclopaedia Britannica, World Book Encyclopedia, and other renowned academic reference works. In addition to Arts and Ideas, Fleming authored several other books: Understanding Music (1958); Art, Music and Ideas (1970); Concerts of the Arts (1990); and Musical Arts and Styles (1990). Fleming was also a noted music critic and columnist for the Syracuse Post-Standard for over 30 years.

While not a native to the area, William Fleming continuously supported Syracuse University and made a number of contributions and donations to the library as well as to the Department of Fine Arts. He set up an educational fund to aid students in their studies, both at home and abroad. Fleming maintained his permanent residence in Syracuse and died there on May 4, 2001 at the age of 91.

Scope and Content Note

The William C. Fleming Papers document essentially every aspect of his professional life, and detail much of his personal life. Correspondence, manuscripts, degrees/awards, photographs (both personal and academic in nature), postcards, biographical and autobiographical information, family papers, program notes, clippings, lectures and course exams, college papers, and a complete set of his weekly Post-Standard column are included in the collection.

The Fleming Papers consist of the following series: Family and Personal Papers, Correspondence, Professional Papers, Syracuse University, Writings, and Subject Files. Photographs, clippings, postcards, and other materials make up the Family and Personal Papers series. The Correspondence series is mostly arranged by family, personal, general, and professional. The Professional Papers series consists of articles, lectures and talks by Fleming, and materials on professional associations. The Syracuse University series includes files on undergraduate and graduate courses, the Study Abroad program, lecture transcripts, the Fine Arts department, and other activities. The Writings series contains materials for Arts and Ideas, Concerts of the Arts, Understanding Music, Art, Music and Ideas, Musical Arts and Styles, and articles from the Syracuse Post-Standard. The Subject Files contain information on various topics, such as Fleming's autobiography, composers, Baroque architecture, and Renaissance, Medieval, and Modern art.

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 fromUniversity Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

A number of books authored by Fleming, some annotated, were removed from the papers and given to the Syracuse University Library Special Collections Research Center.

Upon his death William C. Fleming bequeathed materials to the Syracuse University Libraries as well. These items, primarily books and music recordings, may be found in the library general collections, the Special Collections Research Center, and the Belfer Audio Archive.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Fleming family.
Fleming, William, 1909-2001.
Syracuse University.

Associated Titles

Arts & ideas.

Subjects

Art -- History.
Music -- History and criticism.
Syracuse (N.Y.) -- History.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Correspondence.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

William C. Fleming Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Upon his death, William C. Fleming donated all of his personal and professional papers, documents, manuscripts, photographs, clippings, and any old records of the Department of Fine Arts that were still in his possession at the time of his death to Syracuse University Archives.

Processing Information

All the materials in the Fleming Papers were placed in acid-free housing, and original folder headings were kept when provided and legible. Fragile items were encapsulated in Mylar, and photographs and a number of illustrative prints were placed in polyethylene sleeves. Paper clips, straight pins and rubber bands were removed.

Items permanently removed from the Fleming Papers were: duplicates of his doctoral dissertation, a set of road maps with no relation to Syracuse University or Fleming other than the fact that he owned them (destroyed), grade books, a doctoral dissertation of a student whom Fleming advised (already present in Archives collection), and a number of boxes containing personal information such as tax returns, etc. Newspapers and other acidic clippings were photocopied and the originals destroyed. Clippings that had been kept in binders were left "as is" and will need to be photocopied onto acid-free paper at a later date. Binder contents were removed and the binders were destroyed.

Arrangement

Original order was maintained, with some modifications to aid researchers in navigating the collection.

Table of Contents

Family and Personal Papers

Correspondence

Professional Papers

Syracuse University

Writings

Subject Files

Inventory