While a student at the University of British Columbia, H. Colin Slim's life was touched directly by the renowned composer, Igor Stravinsky. In 1952, as a young musician in the Department of Music at UBC (now its School), he took part in two Canadian premieres: the Concerto for Two Pianos and Les Noces (Cantata in Four Scenes), the latter of which he conducted. Six months later, he drove with Stravinsky to his final rehearsal with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Slim again spoke with the aged but still vibrant composer backstage in Los Angeles in 1966, upon participating in two choral works under Stravinsky's direction.

During the years since these memorable events, Dr. Slim went on to become a prominent musicologist and a knowledgeable and enthusiastic collector of Stravinsky's letters, scores, and memorabilia. In 1999, Dr. Slim initiated donation of more than 140 items from his collection to UBC Library including a signed edition of the composer’s ballet Petrushka with autograph markings for revisions, an inscribed book of Stravinsky’s Poetics of Music, and numerous period photographs, autographed items, and letters (some with extensive autograph marginalia).

Every period of Stravinsky's rich and varied life is represented in The H. Colin Slim Stravinsky Collection, the largest of its kind in Canada.

• ​Annotated Catalogue of the H. Colin Slim Stravinsky Collection
• Supplement to the Annotate Catalogue of the H. Colin Slim Stravinsky Collection

It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Dr. H. Colin Slim. We are very fortunate to have the legacy of his scholarship and the Stravinsky collection housed here at UBC. For more information and tributes please see In Memoriam: Remembering Dr. Colin Slim.