Osie Hawkins Collection (MC 147)

Biographical Note Permission to Publish
Scope and Content Box and Folder List
Provenance

Biographical Note

Osie Hawkins was born on August 16, 1913 in Phenix City, Alabama. He received his education there and in schools of nearby Columbus, Georgia. He took active part in the “Dramatic Club” and “Glee Club” in school and decided to work towards a career on the stage. He began his early vocal study with Lila Methvin, Director of the Columbus High School Glee Club, and then began with the eminent teacher, Margaret Marie Hecht, of Atlanta, in 1937. After four years of intense study, Miss Hecht invited Erich Leinsdorf and Frank St. Leger to hear Mr. Hawkins, on the 1940-1941 Spring Tour of The Metropolitan Opera of New York to Atlanta.

Mr. St. Leger and Mr. Leinsdorf were so impressed with the potential qualities of Mr. Hawkins’ voice that they arranged, with Mr. Edward Johnson, to have an audition held on the great stage of the Metropolitan Opera House for him. Mr. Hawkins received a scholarship, the first of its kind ever given by the Metropolitan, to train him for the opera, particularly the Wagnerian operas. After a few months of preparation, Osie Hawkins debuted in the role of Donner in Das Rheingold, and the critics and public received him most cordially. The management immediately awarded him a contract. He had over fifty roles to his repertoire, including those in Italian, French, and English, in addition to the German roles.

In the course of his operatic career, Osie Hawkins appeared in 53 roles and in 39 works, staging 960 performances. Although most of his performances were in secondary roles, he also portrayed some major Wagnerian characters. Hawkins made his debut at The Metropolitan Opera on January 22, 1942. Some examples of his roles are Wotan in Die Walküre; Telramund in Lohengrin; Amfortas in Parsifal, and others. He also sang in the premiers of Mussorgsky’s Khovanschina in 1950 and Verdi’s Macbeth in 1959. His last singing roles in the house were during the 1964-65 season, although he returned to the stage in the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons in the speaking role of Mr. Archdale in Porgy and Bess.

Osie Hawkins became The Metropolitan Opera’s executive stage manager in 1963, shortly before the end of his singing career, and remained in that post until January 1978. After his retirement, he worked with The Metropolitan Opera in artist relations and other areas for many years. Very ill, Osie moved back to Columbus in the last year of his life. He offered to come to Columbus State University to coach the opera production Cosi that year, but died in Phenix City on July 13, 1993 at the age of 79.

Scope and Content

Materials in the Osie Hawkins Collection are in three series containing his biographical information, correspondence while working at the Metropolitan Opera House from staff, family and friends; photos of Hawkins, relatives and colleagues; and an impressive collection of operatic sheet music and songbooks. The sound recordings are on reel to reel and contain classical and operatic works, some are of the Met. >

Series I: Biographical Information, Personal Correspondence and Photos

The first series holds the biographical information and the personal correspondence of Hawkins.

Series II: Sheet Music and Song Books

This series holds sheet music and songbooks collected by Osie Hawkins throughout his life. This series contains two parts: the first part is sheet music and songbooks that have annotations by Hawkins and others. The second part consists of all other materials pertaining to the series title.

Series III: Sound Recordings

Arranged by artist, this series contains Osie Hawkins’ music collection of opera, classical music and audition recordings.

Permission to Publish

Permission to publish material from the Osie Hawkins Collection must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required:

Osie Hawkins Collection
Columbus State University Archives 
Columbus, Georgia

Provenance

Donated anonymously in 2001.

Box and Folder List

Series I: Biographical Information and Personal Correspondence

  • Box 1
    • Folder 1: Correspondence from August 25, 1941-January 11, 1947
    • Folder 2: Correspondence from January 11, 1947-January 13, 1952
    • Folder 3: Correspondence from January 13, 1952-August 6, 1962
    • Folder 4: Western Union Telegrams from December 13, 1946-April 23, 1952
    • Folder 5: Cleared bank drafts from January 20, 1945-April 11, 1945; Room statements from the Hotel Piccadilly January 22, 1945-March 8, 1951
    • Folder 6: Holiday greeting cards from family, December 12, 1946-April 10, 1963
    • Folder 7: Misc. photos
    • Folder 8: Misc. photos
    • Folder 9: Contractual agreements
    • Folder 10: Misc. newspaper clippings from the New York Times

Series II: Sheet Music and Songbooks

  • A. Boxes 1-2 annotated by Hawkins
    • Box 1: Sheet Music + 3 Books (Wagner)
      • Folder 1: Misc.
      • Folder 2: Religious misc.
      • Folder 3: Religious misc.
      • Folder 4: Opera misc.
      • Folder 5: Richard Wagner
      • Folder 6: Bonita Crowe—2 scores
    • Box 2: Books
      • Folder 1: Mascagni, Pietro. Cavalleria Rusticana. New York: G. Schirmer, 1891.
      • Folder 2: Hawkins, Osie. The Standard Diary: Daily Reminder. Cambridge, Standard Diary, 1948.
      • Folder 3: Strauss, Johann. Die Fledermaus. Translated from the German by Paul
      • Kerby. New York: Boosey and Hawkes, 1943.
      • Folder 4: Wagner, Richard. Die Walküre. With original German text and English translation, edited by Henry T. Finck. Cincinnati: John Church Co., 1930.
      • Folder 5: Wagner, Richard. The Valkyrie (Die Walküre). Translated from the German by Frederick Jameson. New York: G. Schirmer, 1904. (plus 1 copy)
      • Folder 6: Wagner, Richard. Dusk of the Gods. Translated from the German by Frederick Jameson. New York: G.Schirmer, 1904.
      • Folder 7: Mendelssohn, Felix. Elijah. Philadelphia: Theodore Presser Co.
      • Folder 8: Verdi, Giuseppe. IL Trovatore. New York: G. Schirmer.
      • Folder 9: Offenbach, Jacques. La Perichole. Translated by Maurice Valeny.
      • Folder 10: Wagner, Richard. Lohengrin. Mainz: B. Schott’s Söhne, 1913.
      • Folder 11: Wagner, Richard. Lohengrin. Translated from the German by H. & F. Corder. Leipzig, Breitkopf and Härtel, 1914.
      • Folder 12: Wagner, Richard. Parsifal. New York: G. Schirmer, 1904.
      • Folder 13: Verdi, Giuseppe. Rigoletto. Translated to English by Natalia MacFarren. New York: G. Schirmer, 1902.
      • Folder 14: Richard Wagner. Tannhäuser. Berlin: Adolph Fürstner, 1909.
      • Folder 15: Hawkins, Osie. The Business Yearbook: 1942—used as daily planner and address book.
      • Folder 16: Hayden, Joseph. The Creation. Edited by Vincent Novello. Philadelphia: Oliver Ditson Co.
      • Folder 17: Wagner, Richard. The Flying Dutchman. Translated from the German by Rev. J. Troutbeck, D.D. and Dr.Theo Baker. New York: G. Schirmer, Inc., 1897.
      • Folder 18: Whelpton, George. Vocal Studies. Philadelphia: Theodore Presses Co., 1924.
      • Folder 19: Rossini, Stabat Mater. New York: G. Schirmer.
      • Folder 20: Newman, Earnest, ed. Modern Russian Songs. Boston, 1921.
  • B: Boxes 4-11 un-annotated sheet music and songbooks
    • Box 4: Misc. Opera Books
      • Folder 1: Album Ricordi—Baritono MCMXLVI
      • Folder 2: Arie Antiche—Parisotti—1947
      • Folder 3: Bitter Sweet Anne—Clark—MCMXXX—2 copies
      • Folder 4: Carmen—Bizet—1923
      • Folder 5: Der Rosenkavalier—Strauss
      • Folder 6: Don Carlo—Verdi—1944
      • Folder 7: Fidelio—Beethoven—1935
      • Folder 8: Gotterdam Merung—Wagner—German/English
      • Folder 9: Hansel and Gretel—1895
      • Folder 10: L’Africaine—Meyerbeer—1899
      • Folder 11: La Forza Del Destino—Verdi
      • Folder 12: Robin Hood—De Koven—1891
      • Folder 13: Robin Hood—Smith—1919
      • Folder 14: Tannhauseer—Wagner
      • Folder 15: Tannhauser—Wagner (old)
      • Folder 16: The Abduction from the Seraglio—Mozart—MCMXXIV
      • Folder 17: The Abduction from the Seraglio—Mozart 1944
      • Folder 18: The Authentic Lireitos of Wagner Operas—1938
      • Folder 19: The Victor Book of Musical Fun—Cott—1945
    • Box 5: Misc. Opera Books
      • Folder 1: Aida—Verdi—1925
      • Folder 2: Alceste—C.W. Gluck
      • Folder 3: Carmen—Bizet—1923
      • Folder 4: Choral Finale to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony 1938
      • Folder 5: Faust—Gounod French/English—1930
      • Folder 6: Fidelio—Beethoven—1907
      • Folder 7: Mefistofele—Boito—1944
      • Folder 8: Met Opera Annals—Seltsam—1947
      • Folder 9: Opera—Arien fur Bariton—1931 (German)
      • Folder 10: Opera News –January 11, 1943
      • Folder 11: Operatic Anthology—1932
      • Folder 12: Parsifal—Wagner MCMXX
      • Folder 13: Requiem—Brahms
      • Folder 14: Samson and Delilah—Saint—Saens—1892
      • Folder 15: Schumann—Vocal Album—55 songs for low voice—1930
      • Folder 16: Tannhauser—Wagner
      • Folder 17: The Ballad of Baby Doe—1958
      • Folder 18: The Bartered Bride—Smetana—MCMXXXIV
      • Folder 19: The Flying Dutchman—Wagner—1925
      • Folder 20: The Met Opera Guide—Modern Library—1947
      • Folder 21: Die Walkure—Wagner—1910
    • Box 6: Misc. Opera Books
      • Folder 1: A Collection of Solos from Standard Works—Douty 1923
      • Folder 2: Le Coq d’Or—Korsakov 1907 (Russian/French)
      • Folder 3: Lohengrin—Wagner—1897
      • Folder 4: Met Opera 78th Season
      • Folder 5: Mignon—Ambroise Thomas—1929
      • Folder 6: Norma—Bellini (Italian/French)
      • Folder 7: O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me?—Handel—1932
      • Folder 8: Opera Songs in Bass—MCMI
      • Folder 9: Othello—Verdi—1887
      • Folder 10: Parsifal—Wagner (German)
      • Folder 11: Rhine Gold—G. Schirmer’s Collections of Operas—1942
      • Folder 12: Song Classics in Bass—Parker—German/English
      • Folder 13: Stabat Mater (Tribulation)—Rossini
      • Folder 14: Tristan and Isolda—Wagner—1934
      • Folder 15: Tristan und Isolde—Wagner—May 1913 (German)
    • Box 7
      • A: Foreign Language Sheet Music
        • Folder 1—A
        • Folder 2—B
        • Folder 3—C
        • Folder 4—D
        • Folder 5—E
        • Folder 6—F
        • Folder 7—H
        • Folder 8—I
        • Folder 9—K
        • Folder 10—L
        • Folder 11—P
        • Folder 12—S
        • Folder 13—T
        • Folder 14—V
        • Folder 15—W
        • Folder 16—Y
        • Folder 17—Z
      • B: Books
        • Folder 1: Album of Twenty-Four Songs—Faure—1946
        • Folder 2: Fidelio—Beethoven—1896
        • Folder 3: Fur Mittlere Stimme—Shubert Album
        • Folder 4: Loeive Album Ausgewahlte Balladen—German
        • Folder 5: Shubert First Vocal Album for Low Voice—1939
        • Folder 6: Siegfried—Wagner
        • Folder 7: Siegfried—Wagner—1899
        • Folder 8: Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th
        • Centuries—1948
        • Folder 9: Wolf—Liederbuch
    • Box 8: Sheet Music/Love Songs
      • Folder 1: A
      • Folder 2: B
      • Folder 3: C
      • Folder 4: D
      • Folder 5: E
      • Folder 6: F
      • Folder 7: G
      • Folder 8: H
      • Folder 9: I
      • Folder 10: J
      • Folder 11: K
      • Folder 12: L
      • Folder 13: M
      • Folder 14: N
      • Folder 15: O
      • Folder 16: P
      • Folder 17: R
      • Folder 18: S
      • Folder 19: T
      • Folder 20: V
      • Folder 21: W
      • Folder 22: Y
      • Folder 23: Musical America, 64 (3), 1947.
    • Box 9: Miscellaneous Books
      • Folder 1: Beethoven—Neff—1954
      • Folder 2: Everybody’s Favorite Community Songs—1935
      • Folder 3: Famous Songs in Bass—Krehbiel—1902
      • Folder 4: Funk and Wagnell’s New College Standard Dictionary—1947
      • Folder 5: Gassels German Dictionary English to German/German to English—1909
      • Folder 6: Irish Country Songs—Hughs—1909
      • Folder 7: Madame Butterfly—John Luther Long—1903
      • Folder 8: Music as an Educational and Social Asset—Edwin N.C. Burnes—1927
      • Folder 9: Musical America—Journal—8 copies
      • Folder 10: Musical Courier—Journal—4 copies
      • Folder 11: Opera News—Journal—8 copies
      • Folder 12: Salome—Strauss—1943
      • Folder 13: The MacMillan Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians in One Volume—1938
      • Folder 14: The New Moon—Romberg—1928
      • Folder 15: Victory Song Book—1942
    • Box 10: Misc. Sheet Music
      • Folder 1—A
      • Folder 2—B
      • Folder 3—C
      • Folder 4—D
      • Folder 5—E
      • Folder 6—F
      • Folder 7—G
      • Folder 8—H
      • Folder 9—I
      • Folder 10—J
      • Folder 11—K
      • Folder 12—L
      • Folder 13—M
      • Folder 14—N
      • Folder 15—O
      • Folder 16—P
      • Folder 17—R
      • Folder 18—S
      • Folder 19—T
      • Folder 20—V
      • Folder 21—W
    • Box 11
      • A: Religious and Holiday Themed Sheet Music
        • Folder 1—A
        • Folder 2—B
        • Folder 3—C
        • Folder 4—D
        • Folder 5—F
        • Folder 6—G
        • Folder 7—H
        • Folder 8—I
        • Folder 9—L
        • Folder 10—M
        • Folder 11—O
        • Folder 12—P
        • Folder 13—S
        • Folder 14—T
        • Folder 15—U
        • Folder 16—W
      • B: Books
        • Folder 1: Anthology of Sacred Song—Max Spicker
        • Folder 2: Elijah—Mendelssohn
        • Folder 3: G. Shirmer’s Collection of Masses and Vespers
        • Folder 4: J.S. Bach Choral Works
        • Folder 5: Sacred Songs in Bass—Henderson—MCMII
        • Folder 6: The Messiah Oratories—Handel—2 copies
        • Folder 7: The Redemption—A Sacred Trilogy—Charles Gounod
        • Folder 8: The Revival Tidings

Series III: Sound Recordings

  • Box 12: Miscellaneous Recordings
    • Folder 1: “I can Hear it Now” 1945-1949
    • Folder 2: 1966 Piano Recital
    • Folder 3: Brubeck
    • Folder 4: Chet Atkins—Solid Gold
    • Folder 5: Columbus Symphony Orchestra—Spring Concert 1964
    • Folder 6: Dave Brubeck Quartet
    • Folder 7: Ferrante
    • Folder 8: Formal Opening—Columbus College
    • Folder 9: Hardaway high School Band
    • Folder 10: Herb Albert’s Ninth
    • Folder 11: London Sampler Series
    • Folder 12: Marches
    • Folder 13: Mrs. Loretto Chappell—1969
    • Folder 14: Music of the Confederacy 1861-1865
    • Folder 15: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra—Jordan High School
    • Folder 16: RCA Vintage Series
    • Folder 17: Salles shows
    • Folder 18: Schubert—Bradley Library Recordings
    • Folder 19: T.S. Elliot
    • Folder 20: T.S. Elliot
    • Folder 21: The Art of Kirsten Flagstad
    • Folder 22: The Art of Maria Callas—Angel
    • Folder 23: Vaughn Meader
  • Box 13: Recordings in Metal Containers
    • Folder 1: Bruckner Symphony
    • Folder 2: Cavalieria Rusticana & Pagliacci—2-8-70
    • Folder 3: Der Rosenkavalier-Strauss—Radio—2-28-70
    • Folder 4: Die Zauberfloete—Mozart (Met)
    • Folder 5: Girl of the Golden West—Puccini—3-14-70
    • Folder 6: La Gioconda—Ponchielli
    • Folder 7:  Norma-Bellini (Met) —4-4-70
    • Folder 8 : Opera Selections—L. Price/Richard Strauss
    • Folder 9: Othello—Marlowe
    • Folder 10: Turandot
    • Folder 11: Turandot—Puccini (Met)—2-21-70
  • Box 14: Misc. Opera Recordings of Classical Composers
    • Folder 1: An Andres Segovia 10-27-63
    • Folder 2: Angel #35171 Chopin
    • Folder 3: Beethoven Piano
    • Folder 4: Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C-Minor 7-7-63
    • Folder 5: Beethoven Piano Sonatas
    • Folder 6: Beethoven Sonatas
    • Folder 7: Beethoven Sonatas 1-7, 12
    • Folder 8: Beethoven Sonatas No. 30-32
    • Folder 9: Beethoven Sonatas Vol. 4-6:8, 22, 9,10,14,11,23,16,17 and 27
    • Folder 10: Beethoven Symphonies 1-6
    • Folder 11: Beethoven Symphonies 7-9
    • Folder 12: Beethoven Symphony 2
    • Folder 13: Beethoven Violin Concerto 6 “emperor”
    • Folder 14: Berlioz—Symphony Fantastique
    • Folder 15: Blood and Thunder Classics
    • Folder 16: Brahms Piano Concerto
    • Folder 17: Brahms Piano Concerto No.1 in D-Minor
    • Folder 18: Brahms Piano Orchestra
    • Folder 19: Brahms Symphony No. 4
    • Folder 20: Chopin Concerto No. 1 & 2—2-1-55
    • Folder 21: Chopin Waltz
    • Folder 22: Crista Ludwig—song recital
    • Folder 23: Famous overtures—Beethoven
    • Folder 24: Miss Ann Schien—Piano Solo 1960
    • Folder 25: Mozart Cossi Fan Totte
    • Folder 26: Mozart Sonatas
    • Folder 27: Mozart Symphony No. 40
    • Folder 28: Mozart Symphony No. 41
    • Folder 29: Prokofiev
    • Folder 30: Prokofiev, Shostakovich
    • Folder 31: Sibelius
    • Folder 32: Sibelius—Symphony No. 2
    • Folder 33: Various selections
    • Folder 34: Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano Sonatas
    • Folder 35: Walter Weissinger 1957
  • Box 15: Opera
    • Folder 1: Callas Arias
    • Folder 2: Callas Carmen 2
    • Folder 3: Callas Carmen 3
    • Folder 4: Callas Tosca 1
    • Folder 5: Callas Tosca 2
    • Folder 6: Callas Tosca 3
    • Folder 7: Cappriccio Italian en Español
    • Folder 8: Carmen 1
    • Folder 9: Carmen 2
    • Folder 10: Carmen 3
    • Folder 11: Carmen Callas 1
    • Folder 12: Carmen Callas 3
    • Folder 13: Don Carlos
    • Folder 14: Funny Girl
    • Folder 15: Great Moments in Grand Opera
    • Folder 16: IL Trovatore 1
    • Folder 17: IL Trovatore 2
    • Folder 18: IL Trovatore 3
    • Folder 19: Masked Ball 1958
    • Folder 20: Met 3-30-63 Sleep Walker
    • Folder 21: Opera Selections from Puccini
    • Folder 22: Perlman
    • Folder 23: The Art of Maria Callas 1
    • Folder 24: The Masked Ball
  • Box 16: Playbills from seasons 1944-1949
  • Box 17: Misc. Large Sheet Music—Annotated
  • Box 18: Misc. Newspapers and Journals

Processed by Reagan Grimsley and Luke Donohue, 2001

Updated and Revised by Giselle Rémy, 2006

©2009 Columbus State University
Last Updated: 9/15/09