Walter Kendall Stanton Papers

DM 910 - the core of the collection - includes two volumes of clippings containing printed articles by W.K. Stanton and reviews of concerts conducted by him, as well as programmes and notices for said concerts. Also contained are leaflets on the Colston Hall and Bristol in the 1940s, as well as sheet music, both printed and manuscript - including Professor Stanton's own compositions and arrangements, and his written notes on the subject of music.

Walter Kendall Stanton was born on 29 September, 1891. He was educated at Choristers' School, Salisbury before undertaking an Organ Scholarship at Lancing College and was then at Merton College, Oxford, between 1909 and 1913. He was Director of Music at St. Edward's School, Oxford, from 1915-1924, and later at Wellington College, Berkshire from 1924-1937, and Reading University from 1927-1937. He was also Director of Music for the Midlands Region of the BBC from 1937-1945. He was Professor of Music at the University of Bristol from 1947 until 1958.From 1956 to 1958, he served as City Organist for the City of Bristol. From 1958 until 1960, he was Conductor of the Bristol Choral Society. Professor Stanton was active in a number of musical societies, and was President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians in 1953, as well as its treasurer from 1959 until 1971. He also served as President of the Union of Graduates in Music from 1953-1957. Professor Stanton was also examiner in Music for the Universities of Oxford, Durham and Edinburgh and the University of Wales. He was on the Management Board of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and served as its chairman from 1967-1968. As well as his numerous commitments to musical societies, he was Editor-in-Chief of the BBC Hymn Book. Professor Stanton married Edith Monica Leslie Wood in 1931 and died 30 June 1978.

Accessible to all bona fide readers.

Compiled by Martin Hall, Assistant Archivist, University of Bristol Information Services - Special Collections

Typescript catalogue available in Special Collections.

Permission must be obtained from Special Collections.

DMs 270, 508, 690, 625, 651 contain material pertaining to the granting of an honorary degree to Ralph Vaughan-Williams in 1951 by the University of Bristol, and Professor Stanton's role in the ceremony.

DM 433 - Professor Stanton is mentioned in Bristol Philharmonic Society programmes, 1949-1953.

DM 442 includes pictures of Professor Stanton in the staff record of Sir Phillip Morris' time as Vice-Chancellor, 1946-1966.

DM 566 contains papers of the Bristol Day Training College, 1962.

DM 1011 is the Log of the University of Bristol Orchestral Society, including mention of Professor Stanton, 1955-1964.

DM 1029 consists of diaries of the Music Society and Madrigal Society, of which Professor Stanton was Conductor, 1952-1954.