Ivan Andreevich Kolchin papers, 1900-1967

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Summary

Creators:
Kolchin, Ivan Andreevich, 1893-1967
Abstract:
Correspondence, clippings, and photographs, relating to Russian choirs in China and the United States.
Extent:
1 microfilm reel (0.15 Linear Feet)
Language:
In Russian and English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ivan Andreevich Kolchin Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of clippings, correspondence, scrapbooks and other materials relating to the musical career of Ivan Andreevich Kolchin. Kolchin was a noted church choir director in Kazan', Russia, Harbin and Shanghai, China, and San Francisco, California, as well as director of a Russian male vocal ensemble and music instructor. His performances drew large audiences and he was considered one of the preeminent émigré conductors.

Detailed processing and preservation microfilming for these materials were made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and by matching funds from the Hoover Institution and the Museum of Russian Culture. The grant also provides depositing a microfilm copy in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. The original materials remain in the Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco, as its property. A transfer table indicating corresponding box and reel numbers is available at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

The Hoover Institution assumes all responsibility for notifying users that they must comply with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17 United States Code) and Hoover Rules for the Use and Reproduction of Archival Materials.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1893 August 1
Born, Kalinino, Viatskaia guberniia, Russia
1910
Choir director, St. Nicholas church, Slobodsk, Russia
1912-1917
Student, University of Kazan', Russia
1921-1936
Choir director, St. Aleksei church, Mojiagou, China
1935-1940
Choir director, St. Nicholas church, Shanghai, China
1940-1962
Choir director, Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, California
1967
Died, San Francisco, California

Ivan Andreevich Kolchin was born in Kalinino, Viatskaia guberniia, on 1 August 1893. He received an education in music (specializing in church singing), and by 1910 was already conducting a choir at the Church of St. Nicholas, in the town of Slobodskoi. From 1912 to 1917 he was a student at Kazan' University, managing to find time to conduct the university choir as well. The Civil War forced him into emigration in China, where he once again turned to conducting choirs as a profession, this time earning a worldwide reputation.

From 1921 to 1936, he was the choir director of the Church of St. Aleksei in Mojiagou, China (a suburb of Harbin), and from 1936 to 1940 he was the choir director of the Church of St. Nicholas in Shanghai. At the same time, he trained and conducted his own male choir that toured China, drawing large audiences, winning prizes and achieving some prominence there and abroad.

Kolchin became so well-known for the quality of his work that he was invited to conduct the choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco. He directed this choir from 1940 to 1962, also finding time to direct a Russian male choir that appeared in concert programs throughout California. Kolchin died in San Francisco in April 1967.

Acquisition information:
Acquired.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ivan Andreevich Kolchin Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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