Louis Thurston Nicholas Papers
Series 7: Thor Johnson
Boxes 165 - 171

THOR JOHNSON, CONDUCTOR

Dr. Thor Johnson conducted the Nashville Symphony Orchestra from 1967 until his death in January 1975. He was an internationally known and respected conductor and in addition to leading the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Interlochen Music Camp he founded the Penisula Music Festival in Fish Creek, Wisconsin and was important in the rediscovery of American Moravian Music. He held degrees from the University of North Carolina and the University of Michigan, and was awarded a number of honorary degrees. Dr. Johnson lived from June 10, 1913 until January 16, 1975, and he and Louis Nicholas were friends and colleagues.
(See also oversize items in Scrapbooks, boxes 414 and 420 and Correspondence from Thor Johnson Box 20, file 4. )
* Other documents relating to Dr. Johnson are located in the archives of the Moravian Music Foundation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Box 165

1) Reviews of Thor Johnson at Ann Arbor May Festival, April 1968
2) Promotional materials on the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, including biographical information on Dr. Johnson
3) Short biography in The Nashville Symphony Its Future in Music City
4) Nashville Symphony Orchestra Information; Biography from The Nashville Symphony Celebrates 50 Seasons, 1946-1986
5) Biographical material
6) Press notices on Johnson's death in January 1975, including a "Tribute Paid to Dr. Thor Johnson" by Louis Nicholas in The Tennessean, Sunday Jan. 26, 1975 (original in Box 409 in the folder dated Jan. 1975)
7) Memorial Service January 26, 1975-Belle Meade United Methodist Church and Eulogy, Announcements relating to his death
8) "Shaking the Branches of the Reusswig - Sittic Family Tree" by Malcolm and Marian ( Johnson's sister) Johns
9) Tribute by Malcolm and Marian Johns
10) "Life Triumphant" Dedicated to the Memory of Thor Johnson, Nov. 2, 1980
11) 'An Account of the Last Days of My Brother-Thor Johnson, Mus.D." by Marian Johnson Johns
12) List of Premiers conducted by Thor Johnson
13) Correspondence-Incoming January 1942
14) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N.-Correspondence (Outgoing and Incoming) August 1, 1975 - April 24, 1978
15) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N.-Correspondence (Outgoing and Incoming) May 9, 1978 - August 25, 1978
16) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N.-Correspondence (Outgoing and Incoming) Sept. 3, 1978 - December 1978
17) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N.-Correspondence (Outgoing and Incoming) January 4, 1979 - July 31, 1979
18) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N.-Correspondence (Outgoing and Incoming) August 1, 1979 - December 18, 1979
19) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N.-Correspondence from John Blair, Publisher, Dec. 31, 1979
20) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N.-(Outgoing and Incoming) Jan. 16, 1980- May 17, 1980
21) Biography of Thor Johnson by L. N. -(Outgoing and Incoming) May 19, 1980 - Dec. 28, 1980
22) Biography of Thor Johnson by L.N. (Outgoing and Incoming) Jan. 14, 1981 - Dec. 3, 1981
23) Biography of Thor Johnson by L. N. (Outgoing and Incoming) Jan. 20, 1982 - Oct. 20, 1982
24) Biography of Thor Johnson by L. N. (Outgoing and Incoming) 1982-1983

Box 166

1) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N. --Draft (Chapters I, II)
2) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (Chapters III, IV, V)
3) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N. -Draft (Chapter IV)
4) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L. N. -Draft ( Chapters VI, VII, VIII)
5) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (Chapters VII)
6) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (Chapters IX, X)
7) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (Chapters XI, XII, XIII)
8) ThorJohnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (Chapter XI)
9) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N. -Draft (XI, XII)
10) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (Chapters XVI, XVII)
11) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (pages from Chapters I, II, III)
12) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N. -Draft (pages from Chapters V, VI, VII)
13) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (pages from chapters VIII, X, XI)
14) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Draft (pages from chapters XI, XII, XIV)
15) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.- Draft (pages from chapters XV)
16) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N. --Draft (pages from chapters XVI, XVII, XVIII)

Box 167

1) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft (largely carbons)( Chapters I, II, III )
2) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N. ---Intermediate Draft (chapters IV, V, VI)
3) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft (Chapters VII-VIII)
4) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft (Chapter IX)
5) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft (Chapters X, XI, XII)
6) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft (Chapters XIII, XIV)
7) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft (Chapter XV)
8) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft (Chapters XVII, XVIII)
9) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Intermediate Draft-Extra Pages
10) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Page Proof from the Publisher
11) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Notes
12) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Notes
13) Thor Johnson, American Conductor-Biography by L.N.-Alphabetical listing of Premieres conducted by Johnson-Appendix A-(missing 1st page)

Box 168

1) Thor Johnson--Chicago Little Symphony and Newspaper Clippings (1959-1965)
2) Thor Johnson-Programs-Penisula Music Festival, Thor Johnson Music Director-1953, 1955, 1959, 1960
3) Thor Johnson-Programs-Penisula Music Festival, Thor Johnson, Music Director-1961, 1962, 1965, 1967
4) Thor Johnson-Penisula Music Festival (1968-1972)-with photos of Johnson
5) Thor Johnson-Programs-Penisula Music Festival, Thor Johnson, Music Director, --1969, 1970, 1971
6) Thor Johnson-Programs-Penisula Music Festival, Fish Creek, Wisconsin-1971- 1974
7) Thor Johnson-- Programs-Penisula Music Festival, Thor Johnson, Music Dir.-1973, 1974, 1977
8) Thor Johnson-Programs-Ojai Festival Chamber Orchestra, June 15, 1947; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 1949-50; 1952-55; 1956-57; 1958
9) Thor Johnson-Programs-Early American Moravian Music Festival and Seminar-Dr. Thor Johnson Music Director-June 1950, 1955, 1957, 1959
10) Thor Johnson-Programs-Early American Moravian Music Festival-Thor Johnson Music Director, Bethlehem, PA-June 1964, 1966, 1972, 1974

Box 169

1) Thor Johnson-Programs-Young People's Concerts, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
2) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Youth Symphony-1967-Fall 1970
3) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Youth Symphony 1970; 1972
4) Thor Johnson-Programs-Little Symphony of Nashville-1968-1972
5) Thor Johnson-Programs-University Center Orchestra-March 1,22, 1973
6) Thor Johnson-Programs-Special Concerts-1973, 1974
7) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-1967-1968 Season, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Concert Pair
8) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-1967-1968 Season, 4th, 5th Concert pair
9) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-1967-68 Season, 6th, 7th Concert pair
10) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra Pop Concerts, Fall 1967, Spring 1968, Fall 1969; Spring 1970;Spring 1974; Kinder Koncerts
11) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-October 28, 1968-Dec. 2, 1968
12) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-January 13, 1969 - May 9, 1969
13) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-October 1969- May 1970
14) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-"Messiah" Dec. 14, 1969; Dec. 12, 1970
15) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-Sept. 25, 1970-May 14, 1971
16) Thor Johnson---Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-September 24, 1971 - April 17, 1972
17) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-Sept. 19, 1972 - April 2, 1973
18) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-Oct. 1, 1973 - Feb. 1974
19) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-Oct. 7, 1974 - March 3, 1975
20) Thor Johnson-Programs-Nashville Symphony Orchestra--1974
21) Thor Johnson-Programs- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik-Concert to celebrate Dr. Johnson's birthday June 10, 1975

Box 170

1) Thor Johnson-Nashville Symphony Orchestra-Promotional Information-Tupper Saussy, Samuel Terranova, Thor Johnson, Music Director
2) Thor Johnson-Programs-Conducted by Thor Johnson
3) Thor Johnson-Tennessean Reviews by L.N. (Oct. 24, 1967; Oct. 30, 1973)
4) Thor Johnson-Review of Italian Street Fair Concert by Louis Nicholas
5) Thor Johnson-Photographs-At the Penisula Music Festival Aug. 25, 1973; Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Dr. Johnson with Marc and Claude Jacoby;Thor Johnson with Mrs. L.L. Gamble, Secretary, Nashville Community Concerts, Assoc. and William Strickland, Music Director of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra
6) Thor Johnson-Citation of Merit from Manila Symphony Society, June 10, 1955
7) Thor Johnson-Promotional Materials-1967 - 1975
8) Thor Johnson-Press Releases and Tennessean article May 25, 1967
9) Thor Johnson-The Nashville Symphony Orchestra during Dr. Johnson's Direction
10) Thor Johnson-Sheet Music from his collection-Charles Ives Symphony No. 3
11) Thor Johnson-Sheet Music from his collection-Murray Gross Collation
12) Thor Johnson-Sheet Music from his collection-Jean Sibelius-Symphony No. 6; Mozart German Dance, et. al.
13) Thor Johnson-Sheet Music from his collection-Brahms, Mendelssohn
14) Thor Johnson-Sheet Music from his collection-Haydn, Handel
15) Thor Johnson-Newspaper Articles on L.N.'s biography, July, August 1983
16) Thor Johnson-23rd Annual Penisula Music Festival August 23, 1975 celebrating the life and work of Thor Johnson; Penisula Festival Brochure, 1978
17) Thor Johnson-Reference to Correspondence in Box 20, Folder 4-John Krell letter Feb. 12, 1975
18) Thor Johnson-Penisula Music Festival promotional materials

Box 171 - Thor Johnson Memorabilia

Olive Pell Bible
High School Diploma J. Reynolds High School
Other Certificates
Anre-Francois Marescotti
English-Icelandic Pocket Dictionary
Daily Light on the Daily Path-A Devotional Text
2 Bow Ties
1 Graduation Cap
5 Ceremonial Robes
Framed Photograph of Thor Johnson
Photograph Album from his Pupils
Cariacatures of Conductors
Moravian Daily Texts-1956, 1965, 1966, 1974

Scope and Content | Biography | Series I: Correspondence | Series II: NATS | Series III: Personal and Biographical
Series IV: Academic and Musical Career | Series V: George Peabody College Material | Series VI: Tennessean Career
Series VII: Thor Johnson | Series VIII: Church Related Materials | Series IX: Programs | Series X: Publications
Series XI: Sheet Music, Songs and Catalogs | Series XII: Promotional Materials | Series XIII: Photographs | Series XIV: Addenda

Special Collections | Heard Library | Vanderbilt University

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