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Finding Aid for the Dena Bat-Yaacov Papers PASC-M.0057

Finding aid prepared by Kelly Kress, 2016, Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 14 August 2017

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: https://www.library.ucla.edu/special-collections

Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections

Title: Dena Bat-Yaacov papers

Creator: Bat-Yaacov, Dena

Identifier/Call Number: PASC-M.0057

Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet (2 boxes and 1 oversize box)

Date (inclusive): 1948-1981

Abstract: Dena Bat-Yaacov (1932-1981) was a concert pianist specializing in the work of Jewish composers,
particularly Charles Alkan. Born in Denver, Colorado, she relocated to Los Angeles in her twenties and spent the
rest of her life in that city. The collection includes biographical and promotional materials, including publicity
photos, some correspondence, and recital programs spanning her performance career.

Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance
using the request button located on this page.

Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request
button located on this page.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who
holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC
Regents do not hold the copyright.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Bequest of Dena Bat-Yaacov, 1985.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Dena Bat-Yaacov Papers (Collection PASC-M 57). UCLA Library Special Collections,
Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

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UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 9942303623606533

Biography/History

Dena Bat-Yaacov was born Dena Heller in Denver, Colorado, on September 9, 1932. She began piano lessons at
age seven, the same year she entered Hebrew school, and made her public debut at thirteen. After attending the
University of Colorado, where she studied under Howard Waltz, Bat-Yaacov transferred to the Music Academy of
the West in Montecito, California, where she studied with Sarah Compinsky. Later in her career, she studied with
Bernardo Segal, Alvin Davis, Edward Auer, and Earle Voorhies.

In 1952 she married Arnold Shevitz in Los Angeles, and the couple had two daughters before divorcing. In 1965
she married again, to Jerome Millman, a Los Angeles physician. The Millmans divorced in 1972.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Bat-Yaacov performed with various chamber music ensembles, as a soloist with
orchestras, and in solo recital. She also gave private lessons. After a trip to Israel in 1972, she adopted the name
Bat-Yaacov and focused primarily on the work of Jewish composers. Her commentary-recitals were popular with
Jewish community groups and at Temple services in Southern California, but she also performed for wider
audiences at UCLA and El Camino College. In 1976 she was introduced to the work of French-Jewish composer
Charles Alkan, and spent the remainder of her life devoted to mastering Alkan's compositions and raising his
public profile through concerts of his work. She began performing all-Alkan recitals in 1979, including concerts at
Steinway Hall in Los Angeles and California State University in Fullerton, among others. Dena Bat-Yaacov died in
Los Angeles in 1981, at the age of 49.

Scope and Content

Collection materials primarily pertain to Bat-Yaacov's performance career, including biographical and promotional
materials, publicity photos, and programs. Programs span three decades and include Bat-Yaacov's early student
performances, as well as adult ensemble and solo performances. There is a small amount of correspondence,
much of it devoted to arranging concert dates. Also included is Bat-Yaacov's research into Jewish heritage and
music, and the composer Charles Alkan, which she related as commentary during her recitals. There is a small
amount of personal material including high school yearbooks, a scrapbook, and a few family photographs.

Organization and Arrangement

Collection arranged alphabetically by subject.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Pianists -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives.

Bat-Yaacov, Dena -- Archives
Alkan, Charles-Valentin

box 1, folder 1 Biographical 1970s

box 1, folder 2 Brandeis-Bardin Institute badge ca. 1970s

box 1, folder 3 Clippings 1973-1980

box 1, folder 4 Composition for piano by A.J. Brulé 1980

box 1, folder 5 Correspondence - Burr, Patricia 1980

box 1, folder 6 Correspondence - Prager, Dennis 1978-1980

box 1, folder 7 Correspondence - miscellaneous incoming 1975-1981

box 1, folder 8 Correspondence - outgoing 1975

box 1, folder 9 Correspondence - performance related 1973-1980

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box 1, folder 11
10 Israel trip
Journal 1979
- itinerary and brochures 1972

box 1, folder 12 Photographs - family ca. 1960s-1970s

box 1, folder 13 Photographs - publicity (includes negatives) ca. 1960s-1970s

box 3, folder 1 Photographs - publicity ca. 1960s

box 3, folder 3 Portrait - drawing undated

box 1, folder 14 Programs 1950s

box 1, folder 15 Programs 1960s

box 1, folder 16 Programs 1970s

box 1, folder 17 Programs 1980

box 1, folder 18 Programs undated

box 1, folder 19 Programs - other performers 1965-1981

box 1, folder 20 Publicity ca. 1960s-1980

box 2, folder 1-3 Research - Jewish Heritage ca. 1970s

box 2, folder 4-6 Research - Charles Alkan ca. 1970s

box 3, folder 2 Scrapbook 1950s-1970s

box 2, folder 7 Stationery 1980

box 2, folder 8 Yearbook - East High School, Denver, Colorado 1948

box 2, folder 9 Yearbook - East High School, Denver, Colorado 1949

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