1.   Historical note

2.   Scope and content

3.   Provenance

4.   Processing note

5.   Inventory

6.   Subjects


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 Chopin Club Records

 Providence music club

 Records, 1879-1984.

 Size: 3 ft.

 Catalog number: MSS 958

 Processed by: Rick Stattler, July 1995


©Rhode Island Historical Society

Manuscripts Division

 


Historical note:


            The Chopin Club was founded in 1879, and is one of the oldest women's music clubs in the United States. The Providence-based club was founded by Eben A. Kelly and twelve of his piano pupils; it grew to include over 250 members, including vocalists and other instrumentalists. The club's main activity has been several concerts each year of works by classical composers. Since 1951, many of these concerts have been held at the Music Mansion, a private residence on the east side of Providence. The club has also played a role in training many prominent local musicians.


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Scope and content:


            This collection contains records of the club from 1879 through 1984. A large run of "record books" is generally in scrapbook form; these contain a variety of minutes, reports, correspondence, programs and news clippings. There are also some minute books, treasurer's records, and historical notes. An interesting item is "Concert Pianist", a guide to the aspiring professional by Margaret Devoe written in 1948. There are also two undated compositions by club member Margaret A. Gardner.


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Provenance:


            The records are a gift of Mrs. Margaret Devoe Godley, apparently on behalf of the club. There are some papers relating to non-club musical activities, left by various members over the years.


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Processing note:


            The records were for the most part originally in the form of loose-leaf scrapbooks. They were removed from the binders, and placed in acid-free boxes and folders. Two oversized scrapbooks from 1969 through 1976 were dismantled, which mainly involved staple removal.


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Inventory:



Box 1


1. General records, 1880-1928

2.                                             1922-1928

3.                                             1928-1930

4.                                             1930-1932

5.                                             1932-1935

6.                                             1935-1936

7.                                             1937-1939

8.                                             1940-1942

9.                                             1942-1944

10.                                           1944-1945

11.                                           1945-1946

12.                                           1946-1947

13.                                           1947-1948

14.                                           1948-1949

15.                                           1951-1954

16.                                           1957-1959

17.                                           1959 (80th anniversary celebration)

18.                                           1960-1961



Box 2


1. General records, 1961-1976

2.                                             1961-1963

3.                                             1963-1965

4.                                             1965-1968

5.                                             1968-1969

6.                                             1969-1972

7.                                             1972-1976

8.                                             1969-1976 (news clippings)

9.                                             1973-1984

10. Minute book, 1885-1890

11.                                1906-1911

12.                                1911-1912

13.                                1912-1931



Box 3


1. Minute book, 1931-1935

2.                                  1935-1936

3.                                  1936-1939

4.                                  1938-1945

5.                                  1945-1952

6. Treasurer - Accounts, 1914-1927

7.                                                         1927-1940

8.                                                         1940-1950

9.                      - Bank books, 1942-1951 (4 vol.)

10.                                                        1958-1960

11.                    - Records, 1943-1954 (with membership dues, 1948-56)

12.                    - Memorial fund accounts, 1958-1960

13.                    - Loose reports, etc., 1950-1973

14. Historical notes, 1919-1979

15. Programs, 1880-1897

16. Refreshment notebook, 1965-1969

17. Library catalogs, n.d.

18. Scrapbook, ca. 1942

19. Miscellaneous clippings

20. Miscellaneous loose papers, 1917-1953

21.                                                                   1968-1980

22. Original music by Margaret A. Gardner, with letters, n.d.

23. "Concert Pianist" by Margaret A. Devoe, 1948

24. Margaret Devoe music theory notebook, n.d.

25. Other organizations: National Federation of Music Clubs, 1917

                                                            R.I. Federation of Music Clubs, 1973-1980

                                                            Providence Symphony Orchestra, 1980


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Subjects:


Gardner, Margaret Ann

Godley, Margaret Ann

Music - Rhode Island - Providence

Music Mansion

Providence, R.I. - Music


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RIHS1822