Isaacs, Lewis Montefiore, 1877-1944

Composer and lawyer, Lewis M. Isaacs (1877-1944) pursued his dual interests in music and the law.

Isaacs, who was the member of a prominent New York family, attended City College, New York University, and Columbia University, where he received his law degree in 1900. Although he joined the family law firm of M. S. and I. S. Isaacs in 1903 and had a distinguished career as a lawyer, Isaacs also maintained a lifelong passion for music. While at Columbia, he also had trained formally with the composer, Edward MacDowell. After MacDowell's death, his farm in Peterborough, New Hampshire was converted into a secluded work environment for artists, the MacDowell Colony, and Isaacs spent many summers there, composing music. Isaacs also first met the poet, Edward Arlington Robinson, while working at the MacDowell Colony. Robinson would write lyrics for much of Isaacs' music and he also came to rely on Isaacs as his friend and lawyer. After Robinson?s death in 1935, Isaacs collaborated with Herman Hagedorn on a biography of the poet that was published by Macmillan in 1938.

From the description of Lewis M. Isaacs papers, 1906-1942. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 59537334

Lewis M. Isaacs (c. 1877-1944) was born and raised in New York City, attending first City College (1891-1983) and then New York University where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1897. It was later at Columbia University where Isaacs received his law degree and subsequent music instruction from the composer and Columbia faculty member Edward MacDowell. After passing the bar in1903 Isaacs joined the firm M.S. and I. S. Isaacs where he eventually became a senior member. Throughout his life, Isaacs remained active in the law community. In 1932 Isaacs was appointed to the Washington Bicentennial Commission. Isaacs also served on the Bill of Rights Committee for the City of New York Association of the Bar from 1942 until his death in 1944.

Isaacs maintained a passion for music. Around 1908 MacDowell died and his farm in Peterborough, New Hampshire was converted into a secluded work environment for artists, the so-called MacDowell Colony. Isaacs and his wife Edith frequented those studios during the summer and it is here where much of the Isaacs music was composed. It was also on this 600-acre colony where Isaacs also met the poet E.A. Robinson. Not only did E.A. Robinson write lyrics for much of Isaacs’s music, but the poet also relied on Isaacs as a friend and as his lawyer. After Robinson’s death in 1935, Isaacs collaborated with Herman Hagedorn, a fellow Peterborough-er and lyricist for some of Isaac’s scores, on the poet’s biography, which was published by the MacMillan Company. In short, Isaacs had two lifelong involvements, one with the law and the other with music. He died at the age of 67.

From the guide to the Lewis M. Isaacs papers, 1906-1942, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)