Archives Catalogue

Series
1944-1946

Series contains magazines and journals that contain articles written about Ellen Ballon.

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 harmony

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 5, Item 2
Item
1911

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a music notebook kept by Ellen Ballon during her childhood. The notebook contains harmony exercises and notes handwritten in pencil with some corrections in pencil crayon. The first page of the notebook is dated March 23, 1911.

Letter from Heitor Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 6, Item 1
Item
December 17, 1946

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a typed letter from Heitor Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon written on December 17, 1946. The letter acknowledges a letter Ballon wrote on December 5, 1946 and asks if Ballon performed the world premier of Villa-Lobos's first piano concerto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Item is accompanied by the stamped air mail envelope in which Ballon received the letter. Two Brazilian postage stamps are affixed to the envelope.

Letter from Arminda Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 6, Item 2
Item
May 28, 1947

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a typed letter from Arminda Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon written on May 28, 1947. Arminda writes about her poor English and asks Ballon to write in Portuguese. She also asks if an October 1947 concert in Montreal will be broadcast. This concert was the Canadian premiere of Villa-Lobos' first piano concerto. Item is accompanied by the stamped air mail envelope in which Ballon received the letter. Two Brazilian postage stamps are affixed to the envelope.

Villa-Lobos, Arminda

Letter from Heitor Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 6, Item 3
Item
June 2, 1947

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a typed letter from Heitor Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon written on June 2, 1947. Villa-Lobos acknowledges a May 15, 1946 letter from Ballon and provides some information on his compositions, including Caixinha de Boas Festas, the 2nd Suite do Descobrimento do Brasil, and Danses Africaines. The letter refers to Marks Co. as "the true thieves of my musics." Item is accompanied by the stamped air mail envelope in which Ballon received the letter. Two Brazilian postage stamps are affixed to the envelope.

Letter from Heitor Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 6, Item 5
Item
September 9, 1947

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a typed letter from Heitor Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon written on September 9, 1947. The letter details some potential performances of Villa-Lobos' compositions and his desire to have Ballon perform his music. Item is accompanied by the stamped air mail envelope in which Ballon received the letter. Two Brazilian postage stamps are affixed to the envelope.

Telegram from Arminda Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 6, Item 6
Item
December 20, 1952

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a Western Union telegram sent from Arminda Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon on December 20, 1952.

Villa-Lobos, Arminda

Letter from Heitor and Arminda Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 6, Item 4
Item
July 26, 1947

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a handwritten letter from Heitor and Arminda Villa-Lobos to Ellen Ballon written on July 26, 1947. The letter details Villa-Lobos itinerary on a European tour and comments on Ballon's performances of Villa-Lobos' compositions. Item is accompanied by the stamped air mail envelope in which Ballon received the letter. One French postage stamp is affixed to the envelope.

Villa-Lobos, Heitor

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

Ellen Ballon's correspondence

Series
1839-1959

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Series contains incoming correspondence sent to Ellen Ballon as well as ephemeral correspondence of European composers and classical music performers that was collected by Ellen Ballon.

Postcard featuring Pietro Mascagni and signed by various musicians

MS-5-2, Box 1, Folder 27, Item 1
Item
[c. 1890 - 1920]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a postcard with a black and white photograph of Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945), an Italian opera composer. The postcard has various signatures on the front, including Francesco Marconi (1855-1916, operatic tenor from Rome) and four other illegible signatures. The postcard is addressed to Frau Dr. Lehnsern(?) of Berlin.

Mascagni, Pietro

Newspaper clippings

Series
1941-1965

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Series contains newspaper clippings about Ellen Ballon. Clippings include articles about a variety of subjects, including Ellen Ballon's life in general, concerts, and her hobbies.

Photograph of Ellen Ballon, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, and unidentified man in uniform

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 21
Item
[c. 1942 -1945]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a photograph of Fiorello H. Laguardia, the Mayor of New York (1934-1945) , signing a scroll of greetings from the "Men in New York at the Stage Door Canteen" to the "Men of Canada." The "Men of Canada" refers to the Canadian service-men's center that opened in Ellen Ballon's family home in Montreal.

Publicity photograph of Ellen Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 23
Item
[c. 1950 - 1969]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Photograph of R.A. Delahaye, Adhemar Raynault, Rosalie Phillips, Isidore Ballon, and David H. Ballon

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 22
Item
[c. 1942 - 1945]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a photograph of Ellen Ballon's brother, Dr. David H. Ballon, speaking at the Montreal ceremony where he turned over the Ballon family home to the Canadian Jewish Congress for the duration of World War II to be used as a servicemen's hostel. Also included in the photograph are Group Captain R.A. Delahaye of the Royal Canadian Air Force; Mayor Adhemar Raynault of Montreal; Mrs. Rosalie (Lazarus) Phillips, the head of the Canadian Jewish Contress Women's Division; and Isidore Ballon, K.C.

Photograph of Ellen Ballon helping with the American Red Cross Blood Donor Service

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 24
Item
[c. 1942 - 1945]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Photograph of Ellen Ballon with unidentified woman

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 30
Item
[c. 1940 - 1949]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

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.

Photograph of Ellen Ballon for her honorary Doctor of Music from McGill University

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 31
Item
1954

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Proofs from photo shoot of Ellen Ballon, Aaron Copland, and Antal Dorati

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 32
Item
[c. 1940 - 1959]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a series of proofs from G.D. Hacket's photoshoot with Ellen Ballon, Antal Dorati (conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra) and composer Aaron Copland.

Photograph of Ellen Ballon with Antal Dorati and Aaron Copland

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 27
Item
[c. 1940 - 1959]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a press photograph of Ellen Ballon at the piano with the American composer Aaron Copland and Antal Dorati, conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Photograph of Ellen Ballon with Antal Dorati

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 28
Item
[c. 1940 - 1959]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a press photograph of Ellen Ballon at the piano with Antal Dorati, conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Photograph of Ellen Ballon with Aaron Copland

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 29
Item
[c. 1940 - 1959]

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a press photograph of Ellen Ballon at the piano with the American composer Aaron Copland.

Programs and fliers

Series
1936-1972

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Series contains programs and fliers from Ellen Ballon's concert performances. Series also includes an exhibition program of some of the Ellen Ballon materials available at the Dalhousie University Archives as well as a short biography written by a Dalhousie staff member.

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

Photograph of Ellen Ballon with West Point Military Academy cadets

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 26
Item
January 26, 1941

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a press photograph of Ellen Ballon with three cadets from the West Point Military Academy, where she performed as a guest soloist with their symphonic band. Pictured with her are R.B. Dean, Jr. of Forest Hills, New York; Gordon Gould, Jr. of Mobile, Atlanta; and J.A. Martell of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Photograph of Ellen Ballon touring the West Point museum with cadets

MS-5-2, Box 5, Folder 8, Item 25
Item
January 26, 1941

Part of Ellen Ballon fonds

Item is a press photograph of Ellen Ballon touring the West Point Military Academy, where she performed as a guest soloist with their symphonic band. Pictured with her are cadets, R.B. Dean, Jr. of Forest Hills, New York; Gordon Gould, Jr. of Mobile, Atlanta; and J.A. Martell of Worcester, Massachusetts.

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.