The Sutherland collection include correspondence, subject files, organizational files, and other materials relating to his professional career and University of Michigan teaching and other responsibilities. The papers have been divided into the following series: Biographical/Personal; Correspondence; Lecture Notes; Manuscripts of writings and speeches; Professional Organizations; University of Michigan Committee Work; University of Michigan School of Music; and Miscellaneous.
Gordon Alexander Sutherland was born in Sacramento, California, on February 4, 1906. He took his early musical training at the American Conservatory in Chicago, receiving there the degrees of Bachelor of Music and Master of Music. He taught at the American Conservatory, at Grinnell College, and, returning to his home state, for eight years at Pomona College.
He continued his higher education in musicology at Harvard University, earning his MA and then in 1942, his Ph.D. During his studies he was honored by a Naumberg Fellowship, a John K. Paine Traveling Fellowship, and a Bawdoin Essay Prize. His dissertation dealt with an important phase in the history of instrumental music, "The Ricercare from Willaert to Frescobaldi."
During World War II, he served as personnel director of the Radio Research Laboratory established by the U.S. Government Office of Scientific Research and Development at Harvard University. From 1946 on, he was Dean of the School of Fine Arts, Head of the Department of Music, and Professor of Music at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He also conducted the Miami University Symphony Orchestra.
Gordon Sutherland came to the University of Michigan first as a lecturing guest in December, 1951. He was appointed Lecturer the following year and Professor of Music in February, 1953. He was specifically charged with the coordination of graduate studies in music and was appointed to the chairmanship of the advisory and administrative committees on graduate studies established at that time. As liaison officer, he tightened the relations between the School of Music and the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. During his tenure as Coordinator, he worked toward the establishment of programs leading to the degree Doctor of Musical Arts. The degree was formally established by the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan in November, 1953.
Gordon Sutherland was also instrumental in the acquisition of the Stellfeld Music Library by the University of Michigan. His interest in books led to his appointment to the Library Council of the University in February, 1954. Active in other university committees, Sutherland received appointment to the Fine Arts Divisional Research Committee of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
Gordon Sutherland died in 1957.
