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3. Provenance 5. Inventory 6. Subjects |
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.
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.
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.
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.
Inventory:
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
Subjects:
Godley, Margaret Ann
Music - Rhode Island - Providence
Music Mansion
Providence, R.I. - Music
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RIHS1822