The Papers are focused principally on Laderman’s prolific career as a composer. Virtually all of his compositions are held in the collection, including chamber music, orchestral works, operas and musicals, oratorios and cantatas, and scores for film and television. The collection contains many sketches and drafts, which give insight into Laderman’s compositional process. The collection also contains a significant number of reel-to-reel recordings of Laderman’s works.
The remainder of the collection consists of correspondence, writings, clippings, programs, documents and awards. The correspondence is divided into three subseries: Correspondence with significant figures; Correspondence by subject; and Correspondence by date. Researchers are advised to consult all three subseries when looking for material on a specific topic. The Writings, Professional Activities and Photographs series contains a range of material related to Laderman’s roles as President of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Chairman of Music Programs the National Endowment for the Arts, and Dean of the Yale School of Music. Researchers should also consult the Correspondence by Subject subseries for correspondence related to Laderman’s professional activities.
Clippings, publicity, and programs span the whole of Laderman’s career – from the 1940s through 2015. The Documents and awards series includes items such as degree certificates, school report cards, and award plaques.