Geraldine Farrar. Portrait by Friedrich August von Kaulbach. About this image
|| About the Collection ||
Documents the stellar career of one of America's most celebrated sopranos. It contains music, including compositions by Farrar; correspondence; concert programs; Metropolitan Opera contracts; drafts of her autobiography, “Such Sweet Compulsion”; scripts for radio programs; photographs; and papers related to her work with the Red Cross and various government organizations during World War II. Of particular interest is Farrar’s life-long correspondence with Germany’s Crown Prince Wilhelm and Crown Princess Cecelie. There is also significant correspondence from American producer David Belasco and Farrar’s vocal coach, Lilli Lehmann.
|| Collection Details ||
General
- Span Dates
- 1895-1943
- Bulk Dates
- 20th century
- Major Language(s)
- English
- Repository
- Music Division, Library of Congress
Physical Collection
- Number of Items
- 25,000
- Number of Containers
- 58
- Linear Feet
- 17
- Contents
- Biographical materials, writings, music, correspondence, contracts, scripts, programs, scrapbooks, photographs, and sound recordings.
- Processing History
- Processed in 1996. Scrapbooks are extremely fragile and should be served/used with care.
- Transfers
- Fifty-five phonograph records that were included have been transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division.
- Provenance
- In 1954, the Library of Congress purchased 15 letters written by Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967) to her long-time friend Mrs. Daisy Humphries. Later in 1954, Farrar donated her personal papers to the Library. Together, these two acquisitions, containing numerous scrapbooks, correspondence, and photographs, formed the basis for the Geraldine Farrar Collection. Subsequent gifts by Farrar in 1958, 1959, and 1964 added additional materials to the collection. Other materials were added to the collection from time to time, including letters from Farrar to Ruth A. Businger, donated by Businger in 1967, and a photo of Farrar dating from 1967 and donated by Edwin A. McArthur in 1982. Additionally, several letters from Farrar to Florence Mosher were purchased in 1970.
Access/Copyright
- Access Permissions
- Permitted, subject to PARR policies and procedures
- Copyright Info
- http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html
- Preferred Citation
- Geraldine Farrar Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress
