|
The Catgut Acoustical Society Library |
| File #: | F9488 |
| Name: | Fryxell, Robert Edward |
| Dates: | 1924-1986 |
| See also: |
| General Information: |
| A chemist, primarily involved in high temperature research for General Electric, first in Pittsfield, Mass. |
| and then in Cincinnati, Ohio. Many of his developments were a basic part of the nuclear submarine and |
| aircraft. Bob was an expert cellist whose first love was chamber music, and while living in Pittsfield, |
| was cellist in many quartet and other chamber music sessions in Stockbridge at the home of Helen Rice. |
| It was here that Fryxell met up with Saunders and those of us who were researching the acoustics of |
| violins and violas and developing the instruments of the Violin Octet. He became a part of the original |
| Saunders' research group (Hutchins, Fryxell, Saunders and Schelleng, some of whose early |
| correspondance interchanges are in a large notebook in the CAS file) which eventually became the |
| Catgut Acoustical Society (a name suggested jokingly by Schelleng). After the CAS was officially |
| formed in 1963 and Hutchins had started a small Newsletter to keep in touch with the 25 or so members, |
| Fryxell offered to be the Editor, a position which he fulfilled with great interest and expertise until his |
| sudden death in 1988. He was a great reader and collected a fine library on all subjects relating to violins |
| and violin making. He also did research on wood, especially the effects of moisture (see papers in the |
| CASJ). Fryxell and his family often visited with the Hutchins in Montclair and New Hampshire where |
| we discussed violin acoustics far into the night. Bob was wonderful friend and staunch supporter of the |
| CAS. |
| File Contents: |
| F9488 | -- | 101 |
| Correspondence: REF Memorial fund correspondence between CMH & Marjorie K. Fryxell and |
| various donors to the fund. |
| Key Words: |
| F9488 | -- | 102 |
| Correspondence: (1959-1969) mainly involving Fryxell and CMH. Other correspondents include: |
| Virginia Apgar, A.H. Benade, Yehudi Menuhin, & J.C. Schelleng. Also, articles and data on items for |
| the Newsletter |
| Key Words: |
| F9488 | -- | 103 |
| Correspondence: (cont. 1970-1986) REF & CMH regarding CASNL |
| Key Words: |
| F9488 | -- | 104 |
| Miscellaneous: Family correspondence from Marjorie and Eric Fryxell; birth announcements; Xmas |
| cards |
| Key Words: |
| F9488 | -- | 105 |
| Miscellaneous: Obit. & biog. material; musical memoirs of REF; description of Elastomat eqiuipment [2.84 MB, PDF] |
| & sample output (graphs); news clippings on Janos Starker & Regina Fryxell (mother); notes on violin |
| construction; bibliography on violin making, etc.; notice of CAS meeting |
| Key Words: |
| F9488 | -- | 106 |
| Technical Papers: (15 from 1949-1982 - 12 in chemistry - 3 on instruments: weather effects, bow hair, |
| & varnish. |
| Key Words: | bow hair | varnish |