Papers of Augusta Bönten, 1882-1907, including two scrapbooks containing cuttings and printed ephemera relating to the musical activities and death of her father Sir August Manns, 1882-1907; her commonplace book, containing mainly late 19th century German poety; her Memoirs, proof copy published posthumously by her daughter Louise Bönten [1930]; Catalogue of the principal instrumental and vocal works performed at the Saturday concerts from 1855 to 1876 (Charles Dickens and Evans, Crystal Palace, 1876), with inscription by Manns, 1877; Catalogue of the principal instrumental and choral works performed at the Crystal Palace Saturday concerts from October 1855 to May 1895 (F M Evans, Crystal Palace, [1895]), two copies, one with numerous annotations [some by Manns]; The Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra, twenty-one years of municipal music, 1893-1914 by Hadley Watkins (Bournemouth, 1914). Letters (8) to Augusta Bönten, 1913-1914, mostly relating to her father's work: correspondents include Dr Frederick G Shinn, in regard to his lecture 'What the Crystal Palace has done for music in England' and Sophie Campbell, in regard to the recent death of her husband Sir Francis Joseph Campbell, former Principal of the Royal Normal College for the Blind.

Papers of Sir Adrian Boult, comprising letters (9), 1920-1954, including from Sir Hugh Allen, thanking for Boult's conducting of rehearsals; from Sir Edward Elgar, in regard to his arrival at Boult's rehearsal; from Ethel Smyth on the possible performance of her works; from Adam Carse, sending score of his latest composition. Typescript programme and repertoire lists, mainly 1920s-1930s.

Papers of Frederic Cliffe, comprising cuttings and correspondence, Feb 1908, regarding Cliffe's letter to The Daily Telegraph, advocating the performance of opera in the English language, and the establishment of a national opera house, 11 Feb 1908; Cliffe's reports as examiner on compositions of students at the Royal College of Music, 1907-1908; agreement with Novello & Co for publication of his 'Ode to the North East Wind', 1905; marriage certificate, 1897; Freemason's certificates, 1895 (MS 6870). Letters (c25) to Cliffe, 1889-1929, including from Sir George Grove and August Manns on performance of Cliffe's symphony for Crystal Palace, 1889; from C V Stanford, regarding submission of Cliffe's work for the Leeds Festival, 1901; from Hubert H Parry recommending Cliffe for appointment as Principal of the Guildhall School of Music, 1910; from Sir Hugh Allen, on Cliffe's retirement from the RCM, 1929 (MS 6871).

Letters (16) from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to Edith Carr, (one dated 1897, remainder undated) mainly relating to his musical activities, publication of his recent works, repertoire for violin and orchestral parts for Carr's performance, the Handel Society; photocopy of photograph of Coleridge-Taylor, with dedication to Carr, 1902; printed letter (signed by Coleridge-Taylor) to a Mrs Prince inviting subscriptions for the Coleridge-Taylor Orchestral Concerts, Croydon, 1903-1904, with receipt for same, and photocopy of handbill for Central Croydon Choral Society concert featuring Coleridge-Taylor's cantata Meg Blane, 28 Mar 1903.

Personal papers of Adrian Francis Cruft, 1933-1990, including diaries, 1936-1968 (missing 1938,1955, 1961); correspondence during his war service, 1945; notebooks on Associated Board trips to Africa, Prague and Malta, 1969-1986; typescript and manuscript notes by Cruft, giving biographical details, letters to the press, thoughts on composition and thoughts of Eugene Cruft (father) on the double bass; articles by others on Cruft; volume of published and typescript articles and talks by Cruft, 1958-1984, on music and other musicians, including Gordon Jacob, Edmund Rubbra, Bernard Stevens, the Royal Society of Musicians, the double bass, the British Music Information Centre; press and magazine cuttings on Cruft and his work; commission payments and contracts, 1948-1982; replies to Cruft from others on performance of his music, including Evelyn Rothwell, Peter Pears and Janet Baker; music certificates and diplomas, 1948-1981; programmes, 1947-1950s of concerts with Cruft as an orchestral player; obituaries on Cruft; mementos of early education, including school reports, certificates, cuttings, programmes and tickets, 1933-1937; reports on Cruft as student at Royal College of Music; letters from friends and colleagues, including Jacob, Rubbra, Adrian Boult and Malcom Arnold; papers relating to the Adrian Cruft Prize at the RCM, 1980s; files relating to particular institutions or subjects, including the World Association and British Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the British Broadcasting Corporation, Society for the Promotion of New Music, music in rural schools; correspondence of Cruft and Jocelyn Cruft with international contacts and institutions, 1980s-1990; personal and business correspondence, 1980s; copyright and commission statements, 1960s-1990.

Papers of or relating to Fanny Davies, 1883-1914, comprising:
Draft of her article 'Some Personal Recollections of Brahms as Pianist and Interpreter' on Brahms for Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music London, 1929-1930 (MS 7499a).
Typescript drafts of articles on Schumann's Piano Trios and Chamber music (MS 7499b).
Manuscript of 'Joachim's Jubilee in Berlin' (MS 7500a).
Notes on St Elizabeth of Hungary (MS 7500b).
Letters (16) and postcards, cards and notes (16) from Clara Schumann, 1883-1892, also includes announcement of Clara Schumann's death, 1896 (MS 7501).
Letters (3) from Clara Schumann to Dr Richard Wilkinson and George Henschel (MS 7502).
Letters and other papers relating to the controversy with Eugenie Schumann, 1892-1893 (MS 7503).
Letters (4) from Alfredo Piatti to Davies, 1887-1894 (MS 7504).
Letters (15) and postcards (2) from Joseph Joachim, 1886-1904, includes projected programmes in Davies' hand and annotations by Joachim, and programme of recital by Davies and Joachim in the Singakademie, Berlin, 15 Nov 1887 (MS 7505).
Letters (5) from Mary Cowden-Clarke, George Henschel and Richard Mühlfeld, 1891-1914 (MS 7506).
Papers 'letters etc which may be interesting for writing memoirs', includes letter from Davies to Mrs Joachim and letters to Davies from Ethel Smyth, A J Hipkins, Frederick Corder and 4 letters from F C Burnand to Miss Grist (MS 7507).
Concert bills and German concert reviews (MS 7508).
Agreements between Davies and a) The New Queen's Hall Orchestra and b) Messrs Welte Soehne (MS 7509).
Correspondence relating to the Woodhill family (maternal branch of her family) (MS 7510).
Notes and correspondence relating to a proposed music college, 1901 (MS 7511).

Items from the Crystal Palace Handel-Mendelssohn Festival including admission ticket, to Orchestra, for Miss M. Bruin, 1909; admission ticket to South Area Stall, 1909; photograph of orchestra and choir, 1909 and label for instrument case, 1912.

Papers of Herbert Howells, 1899-1978, including notes, manuscript drafts and typescripts of BBC talks and broadcasts (box B), including 'Music and the ordinary listener' (1937), 'Music and everyday life' (1938), 'The Three Choirs Festival in Elgar's time' (1960), tributes to Malcom Sargent (1965) and Sir William Harris (1973); manuscript notes for Royal College of Music (RCM) and University of London lectures (boxes C and D), 1940s-1950s, including talks on his work Sine Nomine (1922), Ivor Gurney (c1939), Hubert Parry (1968), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1972); notes and transcripts for his speeches to various organisations including the Incorporated Society of Musicians (1953), Worshipful Company of Musicians (1957), Royal College of Organists (1959); book of poetry copied on first anniversary of the death of his son Michael Howells, 1936; cuttings of articles by Howells in newspapers and journals, and by others on Howells' music and performances (boxes E and H); papers relating to the Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarships, and notebooks containing Howell's adjudications with draft reports (box F); appointment diaries, 1955,1956 and 1973, address books of Herbert and Dorothy Howells, and printed concert programmes with notes written by Howells (box G), RCM student essays on Howells' music; letters received by Howells from over 260 correspondents, 1915-1978, with particular accumulations from Charles Bathurst Viscount Bledisloe, Sir Arthur and Trudy Bliss, Sir Adrian Boult, Robert Thurston Dart, Sybil Eaton, Gerald and Joy Finzi, Harry Plunket Greene, Walter de la Mare, Sir Hubert Parry, William Rothenstein, Marion Scott, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and others including Sir John Barbirolli, Arnold Bax, Nadia Boulanger, Benjamin Britten, Neville Cardus, Aaron Copland, Sir Henry Walford Davies, Thomas Frederick Dunhill, Keith Falkner, Guido Gatti, Edward Health, Gustav Holst, Joseph Horovitz, Zoltán Kodály, Cecil Day-Lewis, Yehudi Menuhin, Peter Pears, Edmund Rubbra, Harold Watkins Shaw, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, Sybil Thorndike and Michael Tippett; correspondence relating to his medical condition (1917), with Oxford colleges, with publishers and commissioning bodies, on his Cambridge Doctorate; photocopies of letters from Howells to 30 correspondents, including those already mentioned and to the Carnegie UK Trust; family correspondence (box A).

Correspondence of Constant Lambert (personal and business in relation to music), 1930-1950; papers relating to a proposed biography of Constant Lambert by Angus Morrison, comprising unfinished drafts for the book and related correspondence from Angus Morrison, Dora Foss, Edward Sackville-West, J McKay Martin, Maurice Lambert, Kit Lambert, George G Harrap & Co, 1953-1955; notes on Constant Lambert by Angus Morrison; letters from friends, acquaintances and musical organisations about Constant Lambert, principally to Angus Morrison in response to Morrison's requests in the national press for information on Lambert, 1954-1955; miscellaneous biographical notes, sketches and articles on Constant Lambert (articles etc), 1929-1951; Constant Lambert: various verses and poetry.

Papers of Valley Lasker, 1917-1981, mainly comprising correspondence and papers relating to the works of Gustav Holst, including note from Holst to Lasker on arrangement of his 'At the Boar's Head' for piano, 1924; letter from Holst, recommending Lasker as teacher of music, 1929; postcard from Adrian Cedric Boult [1922]; undated letter from John Masefield, replying to telegram from Bishop of Chichester; manuscript and typescript of talk by Lasker on Holst's 'The Planets' for the BBC Third Programme, 1951; correspondence relating to the Whitsun festivals established by Holst at Thaxted in 'Gustav Holst' by Revd Jack ,Putterill, Making Music, 1975; Chrissemas Day in the morning, piano solo by Holst (H165), autographed by Holst, 1927; correspondence relating to performance of the Holiday Singers for Lasker's 80th birthday, 1965; programmes of concerts featuring Lasker, including student concerts at Morley College, directed by Holst, 1917-1922, Society of Women Musicians, 1934, and Mrs F G Joseph's Orchestra, conducted by Lasker, 1930-1937, prizegiving at St Paul's Girls' School, 1932, tribute concert to Holst, 1951, with a few related reviews; correspondence on personal and musical matters to Lasker from Grace Hoskyns, 1929-1931;printed choral music, including works by Holst, most with signature of Holst.

Papers of Lina Prokofiev, [1920-1987], including personal material such as copies of letters written by Serge Prokofiev; copies of correspondence between Lina's family and Prokofiev, [1931-1938]; copies of financial material, 1929-1935; correspondence and official papers relating to Lina's attempts to leave the Soviet Union and later to remain in Europe, [1973-1978]; personal correspondence of Lina, 1974-1989, with correspondents including her children and grandchildren, authors writing books on Prokofiev and Lina, and musical societies and orchestras requesting permission to perform Prokofiev's works; business correspondence, [1977-1985], regarding the setting up of the Serge Prokofiev Foundation and the collection of archival material, as well as legal matters relating to the Prokofiev estate and Lina's autobiography; papers relating to Lina's visit to the USA in 1976-1977, including schedules, correspondence, press cuttings and programmes; material relating to Lina's performance as the narrator in Peter and the Wolf at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts, 1984-1985; family photographs. The collection also includes transcripts from taped interviews with Lina covering topics such as her family background, the early life and musical training of Serge Prokofiev, Prokofiev's composing methods, health, politics and relationship with his children, the public reception of Prokofiev's music, Lina and Prokofiev's courtship and marriage, and life in Soviet Russia; texts of articles and broadcasts by Lina, [1982-1984], on topics including Prokofiev's relationship with Stravinsky, and the writing of Romeo and Juliet and the Third Piano Concerto; articles by various authors relating to Prokofiev, [1976-1977, 1980-1982]; pamphlets, press cuttings and articles relating to Prokofiev's life and work, and to performances of his music, [1975-1987]; copies of the Moscow News, 1934-1935; and pamphlets, published works and cassettes concerning Christian Science.

Papers of Oleg Prokofiev, including material relating to the life and work of his father, Serge Prokofiev, notably copies of letters from Serge Prokofiev to various correspondents, 1920-1945, including Fatima Samoilenko, 1920-1936; extracts from articles and letters of Prokofiev; material relating to Prokofiev's Diary, comprising photocopies of the text, transcripts and a typescript article relating to it; copies of music manuscripts (scores) of Prokofiev; photographs of Prokofiev and his family; pamphlets, press cuttings and articles relating to Prokofiev's life and work, and to performances of his music, [1946-1996]; texts of interviews given by Oleg on his father's life and work, [1989-1991], and articles written by him about Prokofiev, [1993]; various published scores of Prokofiev's music, including Peter and the Wolf and the Fiery Angel; and published works relating to Russian culture and Prokofiev. Further material concerning performances of Serge Prokofiev's work include articles and scores of Vladimir Blok relating to Prokofiev, [1990-1995], as well as a tape of an interview at a concert at the Hungary Centre, Moscow, 1995; and correspondence with and cuttings from articles on Frederic Chiu, 1992-1996, relating to his recordings of Prokofiev's music. Personal papers of Oleg comprise material relating to his own literary work; photocopies of stories written by Prokofiev in 1917-1918, with Oleg's translation into English; a draft of an article on Shostakovich; a manuscript notebook entitled 'My father, his music and me'; and a draft by Oleg of a biography of Robert Falk (1886-1958). There is also family correspondence.

Papers of Serge Prokofiev, [1915]-1936, mainly comprising private and business correspondence relating to the performance and publication of Prokofiev's compositions. Much of the collection consists of personal correspondence concerning his working relationship with other artists including conductors Albert Coates, Sir Henry Wood, Sergei Koussevitsky, Hermann Scherchen, and Ernest Ansermet; soloists Joseph Szigeti, Pablo Casals, Robert Soëtans and Fyodor Shalyapin; composers Igor Stravinsky, Nikolai Miaskovsky, Maurice Ravel and practically all French composers of the 1920s and 30s; theatre directors Vsevolod Meyerhold and Alexander Tairov; the Director of the Ballets Russes, Serge Diaghilev; poets and writers such as Konstantin Balmont and Vladimir Maiakovsky; and chess grandmaster José Capablanca. The papers also include financial material such as bills and accounts, legal papers and correspondence concerning concerts in the USA, France, Italy, Spain, England, the Soviet Union and Germany; and the publication and copyright of Prokofiev's work. Individuals and companies with which Prokofiev dealt in these matters included musical societies such as the Aeolian Company in the USA, Concerts Populaires de Bruxelles, and Concerts Pasdeloup in Paris; music publishers such as Breitkopf and Härtel in Leipzig, Russicher Musikverlag in Berlin and Edition Russe de Musique in Paris; and Soviet music publishing and arts authorities including the State Publishing House, the Moscow and Leningrad conservatories, and the Direction of State Theatres. There is also correspondence regarding the composition of ballets and operas, notably The Love for Three Oranges, Chout, the Fiery Angel and Le Pas d'Acier. The remainder of the collection consists of diaries, personal notes and press cuttings relating to Prokofiev's work.

Archives of the Royal Opera House (ROH), comprising:
some business records of the ROH and associated companies including Board minutes and papers of various opera companies using the ROH, 1919-1939; box office returns and payment slips for artists and theatre staff, 1919-1939; individual artist files, containing biographical information, prints and photographs 18thc to present]; production files 1946-present; minutes of the Board of the Royal Opera House Ltd, sub-committees, and management groups, 1946-present; files of the General Administrator/Chief Executive Office, and Assistants to the General Administrator, 1946-present; files of the Chairman of the Board 1946-1997; files of the Company Secretary's office, 1948-1996; files of the Personnel Office -2002 (closed); Contract files 1946-1980s (closed);
Opera Company files 1970s - 1999; Ballet Company files 1947-1996; Birmingham Royal Ballet files 1970s-1991; some early performing company files are found with the General Administrator's files; Finance Department records, 1946-present;

19th century correspondence, including letters of Frederick Gye (1809-1878), opera manager; Giovanni Matteo Mario (1810-1883) Italian tenor; Giulia Grisi (1811-1869), and Michael Costa (1810-1884) conductor;

Press, Publication, Community Relations, Marketing and Box Office departmental files, 1980-2000; House Management files, 1948-1999; Orchestra Office files, 1948-present; Friends of Covent Garden files, 1964-1999;

Ballet for All - education initiative files, 1964-1970s; London Opera Centre records, 1963-1970s; Production Office files, 1946-1980; Fly Department files, 1947-1977; Technical Department files, 1952-present;

audiovisual collection comprising:
audio recordings of oral history interviews relating to the Royal Opera House Development Project, 1997-2000; Verdi Centenary, 2001-2002; recordings of interviews and events at the Royal Opera House, 1964-2003;

photographic collection comprising:
photographs by Donald Southern, including black and white negatives and colour transparencies of performances, events and personnel at the ROH, 1959-1991; photographs by John Graham, including negatives of ballet and opera performances at the ROH, 1940s-1950s; photographs by Felix Fonteyn, including negatives of ballet productions from 1950s; photographs by Richard Holttum, including black and white negatives and colour transparencies of the ROH interior and exterior prior to development 1988-1991; photographs by Rob Moore including contact prints and colour transparencies of the ROH development, 1997-2001; Schal time-lapse photography of the development of the ROH, 1996-1999; Historic Monuments Commission photographic survey of the ROH interior and exterior prior to site development 1990-1996; two albums of photographs compiled by Edwin Sachs of the redevelopment of the ROH stage, 1899-1900, and the workshops; glass plate negatives used to create ballet post cards, 1950s-1960s;

collection of music and choreographic scores comprising:
printed songs, 18th -early 19th century; operas scores (vocal and orchestral) and stage managers scores, 1840s-1939; annotated opera stage managers scores 1946- present; annotated ballet stage managers scores, 1946-present; Staff Director's annotated scores for opera productions, 1946-present; Ninette de Valois' printed and manuscript music for ballet, 1920s -1930s; printed and manuscript ballet music, 1840s-1950s;
choreographic scores for ballets performed by The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet;

design and costume and collections comprising:
Yolanda Sonnabend design collection including notebooks, reference files, and related material, 1973-1995;
Ian Spurling collection of designs, photographs and press cuttings, 1975-1994; Toby Ward collection of drawings of the ROH prior to and during development 1996-1999;
Glynne Boyd Hart collection of watercolours of the ROH development, 1998-1999;
Ruth Hurle collection of drawings of back state, craft workrooms, opera and ballet rehearsals, 1930s-1940s;

costumes and accessories, such as headdresses, jewellery, shoes and wigs, worn by artist appearing at he ROH, 1920s-2003;
Comelli costume design collection including artwork by Attilio Comelli and others for costumes of operas performed at the ROH 1880s-1920s;
Costume design artwork, 1946-present; design artwork for sets and props, 1946-present; models of sets for productions, 1946-present; Model Room files relating to ground plans, and technical drawing or set and prop construction 1946 to present; stage and ground plans, 1939; Production Wardrobe files relating to costume and accessories design 1946-present;

miscellaneous large prints and drawings of performers and performances 19th and 20th century;

collection of advertising posters, 19th century-present;

programme collection including programmes for Gala and Special performances, and decorative programmes 1750s-present;

press cuttings of announcements, reviews, interviews, 18th century, 1847-1939; Harold Rosenthal collection of press puttings, relating mainly to the ROH performances, 1847-1950s; press cuttings of reviews and articles about performers and performances, 1946-present;
miscellaneous albums and scrap books relating to Anna Pavlova, and Nellie Melba, amongst others 1920s;

library collection comprising books, periodicals and specialist publication relating to ballet, dance, opera, music and theatre; libretti, 1840-present; playtexts 1776-[1850]; reports commissioned by the ROH and general arts reports 1946-present; ROH publications and souvenir year books 1956-2002;

special collections comprising:
Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund collection of material relating to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Royal Ballet (RB), including papers, photographs, press cuttings, programmes concerning the RB and its predecessors - Vic Wells and Sadler's Wells Ballet companies 1931- 1950s;

Spellman Song Sheet Covers containing illustrations of operas, and ballets late 19th-early 20th century;

albums of Lady de Grey albums containing photographs of singers, composers, conductors, mostly autographed, dedicated to (Constance) Gladys De Grey, (1859-1917) Marchioness of Ripon, and opera patron, 1870-1920;

collection of Dame Margot Fonteyn De Arias (1918-1991) ballet dancer, including costumes, accessories, photographs, correspondence and books, 1920s-1980s;

collection of Dame Ninette de Valois (1898-2001) founder of The Royal Ballet, including awards, honours and correspondence, 1947-1993;

collection of Leslie Edwards (1916-2001), principal dancer The Royal Ballet, including photographs 1920s-1980s;

collection of Eva Turner (1892-1990) English soprano, relating to her singing career, including costumes, accessories, photographs, press cuttings, music and books 1920s-1940s;

diaries of Frederick Gye (1809-1878), Royal Italian Opera General manager, 1847-1878, his daughter Clara Gye, and son Ernest Gye, ROH Manager, 1847-1877;

collection of Olive Grime, dancer with the Beecham Opera Company, including press cuttings, contracts, correspondence, photographs, books and costumes, 1920s-1930s;

collection of Reginald Goodall (1901-1990) English conductor, including correspondence and personal papers, 1900-1958.

Papers of the Society of Women Musicians (SWM), 1911-1972, including annual reports, 1914-1972; minutes, 1967-1973; book of members elected and resigning, 1920-1960; fixture cards, 1915-1971; memorandum and articles of association, 1930; programmes and handbills of concerts, recitals and lectures organised by the SWM, 1912-1972; notices to members, 1911-1972; programmes of Ivimey Concerts, 1966-1971; papers relating to the foundation of the society in 1911, its constitution and initial membership, comprising correspondence, minutes, notes; correspondence on engagement of women with professional orchestras, 1920, 1928-1929; correspondence with speakers for lectures, 1933-1971; correspondence relating to BBC women's conference, 1936; correspondence with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music regarding the appointment of women examiners,1937-1956; various correspondence relating to the SWM presidency, membership, SWM library accessions, celebrations of SWM golden jubilee, 1961 and diamond jubilee 1971; news cuttings on the deaths of K Dorothy Fox, 1934, Marion Margaret Scott, 1953, and Katharine Emily Eggar, 1961, with related correspondence; printed material including The Music Student: special number devoted to the subject of women's work in music, May 1918; pamphlet of meeting in commemoration of Marion Margaret Scott, Jun 1954; press cuttings books relating to women musicians and the SWM, 1892-1964; correspondence relating to the dissolution of the SWM and donation of its records to the Royal College of Music, 1973-1974.

Programmes and ephemera for the Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra which belonged to cellist Mollie Simmonds. Also includes some miscellaneous material for the West Hill Orchestra and the Putney Orchestra.

Papers of or relating to the Wessex Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor Reginald Goodall, mainly comprising correspondence with composers, singers, musicians, orchestral managers, agents and artists, relating to the foundation of the orchestra, performances of the orchestra during World War Two, the hiring and dismissal of musicians, the arranging of concerts, discussion of programmes (including music by Britten, Elgar, Poulenc, Rubbra, Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, Walton and many others), payments and disbursements made, arrangements for accommodating visiting soloists and conductors etc, mainly addressed to Maisie Aldrich, with a large number of letters from Goodall, and others including Adrian Boult, Harriet Cohen, H C Colles, George Dyson, Anatol Fistoulari (about Anna Mahler), Beatrice Harrison, Arnold Haskell, Julius Isserlis, Gordon Jacob, Eileen Joyce, Kathleen Long, Reginald Morley, Albert Sammons, Malcolm Sargent, Kendall Taylor, Ralph Vaughan Williams.