New Library Acquisition

I've just returned from Oakland, California and the historic Paramount Theatre. The Paramount's music library became the unlikely final resting place of the Loring Club Men's Chorus library. The collection, now in 68 boxes, was gathering dust and taking up space, but no one knew it was there.


The Paramount's librarian, Jean Cunningham, put out the word that the library was up for grabs, so I got in touch and arranged to transfer the music to the Camerata's National Library of Men's Choral Music (The Demetrius Project).



After a little research, I was able to learn more about the history of the Loring Club and its library. According to a memoir written by David Webster Loring himself, this is how the chorus came to be:

David Webster LORING came to California and established his residence in San Francisco in the latter part of the year 1876, and while he became actively identified with business interests here, he will best and longest be remembered and honored for the part which he played in the advancement of the musical interests of San Francisco.

Mr. LORING was born in Boston, Massachusetts, September 16, 1836, and was there reared and educated, entering business life at the age of nineteen. A man of exceptional musical talent and a cultivated musician, he was one of the founders of Chickering Club a musical organization, and later became one of the organizers and a charter member of the Apollo Club, which was and now is a leading musical organization for male chorus work in Boston.


In the latter part of 1876, Mr. LORING, moved from Boston to San Francisco, and entered the business life of this city, first with the Horace Davis Flour Mills, and later with the Bank of California. At the urgent request of friends, he organized the LORING Club along the lines of the Apollo Club. Under his direction the club achieved splendid service for the community in the development of the better knowledge of the best of male chorus work. He also organized the Schumann Club, a choral society of ladies, which in its turn, aimed to better the knowledge and appreciation of chorus work for female voices. In addition to these two clubs Mr. LORING was identified with the advancement of the best forms of music in San Francisco, and invariably sought out by visiting musicians, composers and producers. His interest in music was always from the point of view of the amateur. He was never a professional. While the SCHUMANN Club did not survive his death, the LORING Club has continued, and the work which Mr. LORING began is being carried forward with enthusiasm and success. His fine qualities of mind and heart endeared him to all who came within the sphere of his influence, and his musical interest brought him countless acquaintances both at home and abroad. He was a member of the Bohemian Club. The photo is of George B. Loring of Massachusetts. They were probably related.

So, the library is now packed and ready to come to DC, thanks to the assistance of Paramount Librarian Jean Cunningham. With any luck, it will soon reside in the Camerata's library, along with collections from Yale, Princeton, Temple, Colgate, Davidson and others.