Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1882-1958, 1882-1928 predominant (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2.7 m of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Douglas Fetherston was a violinist, born in London, Ontario. At age 16, he travelled across Canada to Vancouver, playing in concerts and recitals along the way. In Vancouver, he studied with Holroyd Paull. After his marriage to Katherine McHugh in 1915, he returned to London, where he became the musical director at both the Patricia Theatre and Loew's Theatre (later renamed the Century Theatre). He also performed in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for over thirty years, from 1931 to 1962.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Ralph Harrison was born in 1904 in London, Ontario and worked as a musician in London and Toronto until at least 1940. Starting in 1945, his occupation is listed as "manufacturer" on voter lists. He married Ruby Mae Goddard in 1932. Ralph spent most of his adult life in Toronto, where he passed away in 1987.
Repository
Archival history
Materials donated to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)'s Film Reference Library by John Harrison (September 1996). Boxes were subsequently transferred to the University of Toronto Music Library (October 2024), along with other silent film music. This portion of the transfer includes music previously used by both Douglas E. Fetherston and Ralph T. Harrison, the donor's father.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Series consists of silent film music, mostly stamped with one or both of the names "RALPH T. HARRISON" and "DOUGLAS E. FETHERSTON." Other ownership stamps and autographs include that of "J. W. [John William] Fetherston" (father of Douglas); "E. S. [Elmer Stuart?] Fetherston" (brother of Douglas); the "Jack Cortese Orchestra," a 7-piece orchestra active in London, Ontario, ca. 1919-1922; "W. J. Brown"; "C. A. Duncan"; "W. L. Gowie, Sarnia"; and the "PRINCESS THEATRE" in London, Ontario. The music was likely used at a number of theatre venues in London and Sarnia, Ontario, including the Patricia and Loew's Theatres, where Douglas Fetherston was the orchestra director.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
As with Series A, files of incidental orchestral arrangements are identified with a five-digit alphanumeric code derived from publication and series information, e.g., "BIS01" refers to the first piece in Berg's Incidental Series, published by S. M. Berg.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Many of the part sets in this series also have an alphanumeric indicator, e.g., "AI [1]," "BII [2]," "LW," "DA," etc., handwritten on the cover or at the top of the violin or piano part. These are captured in the Scope and content note of each file where present.