C Christeson, Robert P. (1911-1992), Collection, 1808-1995 3971 36 linear feet, 1387 audio discs, 135 audio tapes, 152 audio cassettes, 112 wire recordings, 3 film reels RESTRICTED This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri. If you would like more information, please contact us at
[email protected]. INTRODUCTION The Christeson Collection comprises sheet music, song books, and other publications related to square dancing and folk dances, publications on the history of violins and fiddlers, catalogs of instruments and musical recordings, correspondence, photographs and family papers, fiddle organization newsletters, fiddling contest flyers, folk festival information, and the working papers of volumes I and II of The Old-Time Fiddler's Repertory. In addition, this collection contains Christeson's original wire recordings, audio tapes, and audio discs of fiddle tunes, jam sessions, fiddle contests, and other folk genres. DONOR INFORMATION The Robert P. Christeson papers were donated to the University of Missouri by his wife, Joan, on May 12, 1998 (Accession No. 4767). She made seven subsequent donations from January 2002 to May 2007 (Accession No. 5778). RESTRICTIONS Consult the reference staff about the restrictions on this collection. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Robert P. Christeson was born September 5, 1911, to Ethel May and Frank C. Christeson in Dixon, Missouri. After graduating from Dixon High School in 1928, he attended Drury College in Springfield., Missouri. After one year he transferred to the University of Missouri where he obtained a degree in Agriculture in 1933. The Depression made it necessary for Christeson to move back to Pulaski County after graduation to help his father on the family farm.