AMBROSE FAMILY
MUS 45

Ambrose Family fonds.  - 1974-1981.  - 3 cm of textual records.  - 2 microfilm reels. 

Biographical sketches
Charles (1791-1856):  An organist and teacher born in England, he settled on a farm near Guelph, Ontario in the 1830s.  In 1845 he was appointed organist and choirmaster of Christ Church Cathedral in Hamilton, where he also taught organ and piano. 

Robert (1824-1908):  The son of Charles, he was organist and choirmaster at Ascension Church in Hamilton (1863-83) and a teacher at Wesleyan Ladies College from 1864 to 1888.  Interested in vocal music, he has left some 80 songs, 14 songs for several voices, and instrumental music. 

Paul (1868-1941):  The son of Robert, he studied orchestration and composition in New York, where he became an organist and choirmaster.  He taught the history of music in various institutions, and in 1904 was appointed principal of the New Jersey State Normal School in Trenton.  Four times president of the National Association of Organists in the United States, he finally became president of the Canadian College of Organists.  He composed over 200 songs, choral pieces, and music for organ and piano. 

Scope and content
The fonds consists of records illustrating the musical activities of the Ambrose family:  photocopy of a manuscript biography of the Ambrose family written by Ethel Stoneham Ambrose; other biographical material; copies of seven musical compositions; microfilms of compositions by Robert and Paul Ambrose. 

Immediate source of acquisition:  reproduction of records loaned by the Ambrose family to the Music Division of the National Library of Canada in 1974 and 1981; photocopies of manuscripts acquired from a private collector, Helen Livingston, in 1974. 

Restrictions:  none. 

Finding aids:  none. 

Associated material:  most of the records of Paul and Robert Ambrose are conserved in the Hamilton Public Library in Ontario.