Archives Catalogue

Correspondence and certificate from the Secretary of the Board of Governors of McGill University

MS-5-2, Box 4, Folder 6
File
1960

File contains correspondence and a certificate from the Secretary of the Board of Governors of McGill University regarding the proceeds from the Martlet Concert and Ball as well as Ellen Ballon's general support of the McGill music program.

A selection of items from the Ellen Ballon music collection at Dalhousie University Library

MS-5-2, Box 4, Folder 4
File
1972

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains an exhibition program that includes a biography of Ellen Ballon, press tributes, lists of musical scores, correspondence, photographs, and autographed books. Also includes a short biography of Ellen Ballon written in 1972 by Grace Tratt, former Head of Special Collections at Dalhousie University.

Greeting and business cards

MS-5-2, Box 4, Folder 13
File
[1959?]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File includes a personal calling card and an illustrated card sent by an unknown person.

Canadian review of music and art : volume 2, numbers 9 and 10

MS-5-2, Box 4, Folder 18
File
1944

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File includes an issue of Canadian Review of Music and Art published in 1944 (Volume 2, Numbers 9 and 10). The issue includes an article by John Bauer titled "Ellen Ballon - Canada's Outstanding (Woman) Pianist." Canadian Review of Music and Art was published in Toronto, Ontario by Canadian Review Publishing.

Programs and posters for concerts by Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 3
File
1942-1944

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a program for The Town Hall concert series in New York where Ellen Ballon performed February 13, 1943; a program from the Columbus Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Izler Solomon, with whom Ballon performed March 20, 1944; and a poster advertising Ellen Ballon, by her personal representative, Andrew Schulhof.

Ellen Ballon : Canada's outstanding pianist : press book

MS-5-2, Box 3, Folder 17
File
[194-?]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a loose leaf press book prepared by Andrew Schulhof, Ellen Ballon's personal representative in New York, New York. The press book contains multiple biographical compositions of Ellen Ballon for various types of press releases.

Pianoscript book : an invaluable aid to teacher and student in preserving important advice and lesson notes in permanent form

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 21
File
1918

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a piano technique book used by Ellen Ballon while she was studying with Alberto Jonas in New York. Each page includes printed technical excercises and blank staff lines with some additions handwritten in pencil, presumably by Jonas or Ballon. The book includes a repertoire list of pieces Ballon performed in 1918-1919.

Jonàs, Alberto

School of octave-playing for the pianoforte : book three

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 23
File
1917

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a piano technique book used and annotated by Ellen Ballon. It is the third book in a set of three, dedicated to Rafael Joseffy. It includes studies by composers from Ludwig van Beethoven until the book's publication.

Philipp, Isidor

School of advanced piano playing : exercises

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 22
File
1902

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a piano technique book used and annotated by Ellen Ballon, presumably while studying with Rafael Joseffy.

Joseffy, Rafael

Song hits of the 30's : a collection of familiar hits

MS-5-2, Box 3, Folder 35
File
[1953]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a book of popular songs from the 1930's arranged for piano and voice with guitar chords indicated.

Letter from Walter de Mouilpied Scriver to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 7
File
September 30, 1952

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a letter from Walter de Mouilpied to Ellen Ballon, written on September 30, 1952. The letter thanks Ballon for a performance she gave at an honorary dinner. Item is accompanied by the stamped envelope in which Ballon received the letter. The postage stamp has been removed from the envelope.

Scriver, Walter de Mouilpied

Letter from Yehudi Menuhin to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 9
File
December 2, 1957

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a letter from Yehudi Menuhin to Ellon Ballon written on December 2, 1957. The letter concerns a performance by Ellen Ballon in Montreal. Item is accompanied by the Ritz Carlton Montreal envelope in which Ballon received the letter.

Menuhin, Yehudi, 1916-1999

Correspondence and certificate from the Dean of the Faculty of Music at McGill University

MS-5-2, Box 4, Folder 5
File
1954

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains correspondence and a certificate regarding the honorary Doctor of Music awarded to Ellen Ballon in 1954.

Letters from Charles -Francois Gounod

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 22
File
1847, 1885

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains two letters written by the composer Charles Francois Gounod. Both letters are numbered (322 and 327) in pencil for an auction.

Gounod, Charles-Francois

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt's response to invitation from Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 8
File
1944

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a printed letter from the White House sent in response to an invitation from Ellen Ballon for Mrs. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt to attend an event in New York on November 28, 1944.

Ellen Ballon with unknown woman at the opening of the Metropolitan Opera

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 20
File
1942

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Dimitri Mitropoulos : [autographed photograph]

MS-5-2, Box 9, Folder 7
File
1955

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

William Howard Taft : [photograph]

MS-5-2, Box 10, Folder 14
File
1917

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a copy of a portrait of President Taft of the United States (1909-1913) with an inscription below to D.H. Ballon (Dr. David H. Ballon) of Montreal and his sister, Ellen Ballon.

Letters from William Somerset Maugham to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 10
File
1944-1954

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains letters to Ellen Ballon from William Somerset Maugham concerning gifts, performances, visits, friends, and books. Some of the letters are also addressed to Sally "Tammie" Ryan and Ralph Gustafson.

Somerset Maugham, William

Letter from Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 24
File
1898

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a letter and a cropped postcard depicting a churchyard with a musical excerpt written in pen over top of the picture.

Massenet, Jules Émile Frédéric

Letters from Frank Cyril James to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 15
File
1952-1954

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains three letters from Frank Cyril James to Ellen Ballon concerning her performances and the conferral of an honorary degree by McGill to her.

James, Frank Cyril

Letters from Sir William Stewart and Phyllis Duke-Elder to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 17
File
1955

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains two short notes, one from Sir William Stewart Duke-Elder, and the other from his wife, Phyllis, thanking Ellen Ballon for lunch.

Duke-Elder, William Stewart, Sir

Letters from Alice Mary, Princess of Albany, to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 21
File
1954-1955

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains letters concerning Ellen Ballon's performance of music by Heitor Villa-Lobos and the receipt of flowers. File also contains a letter to Ballon from Mary Goldie, Private Secretary to Princess Alice, concerning a letter from the latter and Lord Athlone to Dr. James (presumably Frank Cyril James) at the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the McGill Conservatorium of Music.

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone

Letters from Camille Saint-Saens

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 26
File
1901, 1905

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains two letters written by Camille Saint-Saens to unidentified people.

Saint-Saens, Camille

Letters from Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 25
File
1834, 1839-1840

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains two letters from Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (dated 1839) accompanied by one transcription and one translation of other original letters not in the collection (dated 1840).

Mendelssohn, Felix

Letter from Wilhelm Backhaus to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 20
File
1926

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a letter from Wilhelm Backhaus concerning his and Ellen Ballon's performances, written while Backhaus was performing in New Zealand.

Backhaus, Wilhelm

Letter from Major John White Hughes Bassett to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 18
File
1953

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a citation of a poem by Robbie Burns, signed by John Bassett, the president and managing director of the Montreal Gazette.

Bassett, John White Hughes

Letter from Edna Ferber to Ellen Ballon, Sally Ryan, and Ralph Gustafson

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 16
File
1947

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a letter from Edna Ferber in response to a birthday telegram sent by Ellen Ballon, Sally Ryan, and Ralph Gustafson of High Perch Farm, Georgetown, Connecticut.

Ferber, Edna

Letter from Josef Hofmann to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 13
File
1953

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a letter from Josef Hoffman granting Ellen Ballon permission to use his name in a scholarship. Hofmann was Ballon's teacher from 1914-1916 in Switzerland.

Hofmann, Josef

Letter from Lotte Lehmann to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 11
File
1958

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a brief thank-you note for flowers received.

Lehmann, Charlotte

Ellen Ballon as a child : [photographs]

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 19
File
1899 - 1906

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Lotte Lehmann, Dr. Ross Flemington, and Ellen Ballon at Mount Allison University : [photograph]

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 13
File
1962

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a photograph of Lotte Lehmann and Ellen Ballon with Dr. Ross Flemington, president of Mount Allison University, following a concert in 1962.

Wilhelm Backhaus : [autographed photograph]

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 10
File
1926

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Rubin Goldmark : [autographed photograph]

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 9
File
1907

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

The McGill News : Ellen Ballon and Pauline Donalda receiving honorary doctorates from McGill University

MS-5-2, Box 8, Folder 7
File
1954

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

File contains a framed reproduction of the front cover of The McGill News (Winter 1954), featuring Ellen Ballon and the Canadian operatic soprano Pauline Donalda receiving their honorary doctorates. The photograph is in black and white but the banner for the magazine is in colour.