Grace Harriet Spofford Papers, 1795-1974
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-04-07
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Grace Harriet Spofford Papers
Creation of Grace Harriet Spofford Papers
Time of Creation of Grace Harriet Spofford Papers
Spofford, Grace Harriet, 1888-1974
Biographical History for: Grace Harriet Spofford Papers
Biographical Note Elizabeth Couler and Grace Spofford in Atlantic City, 1918 Grace Spofford was born in 1887 in Haverhill, MA. She studied piano from age seven and entered Mt. Holyoke College in 1905, transferring after one year to Smith College. After receiving an A.B. from Smith in 1909, Spofford taught piano at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, OH, and gave recitals in small towns in the midwest. In 1912, she went to Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD, where she studied piano and organ, taught piano, wrote music criticism for the Baltimore Evening Sun, and published A Guide for Beginners in Piano Playing (1916) with her lifelong friend Elizabeth Coulson. An injury combined with a love of administrative work led to jobs as Executive Secretary at Peabody (1917-24) and first Dean of the newly established Curtis Institute of Music (1924-31) in Philadelphia. After moving to NY in 1931, she worked as Associate Director of the NY College of Music, Executive Secretary of Layman's Music Courses, and manager of the Curtis String Quartet. In 1935 Spofford became Director of the Music School of the Henry Street Settlement where she worked to de-professionalize music and encourage widespread participation in music "shared as a common experience of life." After her retirement in 1954, Spofford represented the U.S. at many national and international music and music education conferences, was a delegate to the International Music Council of UNESCO, and served on the International and National Councils of Women. She died in 1974.
Scope and Contents of the Collection TThe Grace Spofford Papers consist of biographical material, correspondence, diaries, business papers (mostly financial), memorabilia, speeches, writings, sheet music, photographs, organization files, and subject files. The bulk of the material is the files on organizations (primarily music-related) for which and with which Spofford worked. There are also a large number of subject files on women in music including biographical files on individual women musicians. Though there is one item dated 1795, the bulk of the materials are dated from 1935 to 1954.
Female friendship--United States--History--20th century--Sources
lcsh
Social settlements--New York (State)--New York--History--Sources
Women musicians--United States--Biography--Sources
Women composers--United States--Biography--Sources
Women--Societies and clubs--United States--History--Sources
lcnaf
Henry Street Settlement (New York, N.Y.)
International Council of Women--History--Sources
National Council of Women of the United States--History--Sources
series
Biography
Sarah and Harry H. Spofford: clippings and obituaries, 1918-21
Elizabeth Coulson: articles, obituaries, photographs, ca. 1865-1972
Passports and birth certificate, 1887-1969
Genealogy
Biographical material, 1906-74
Clippings, 1928-69
Smith College: commencement book, 1909
Baby's journal, 1887 (Grace Spofford's)
Elizabeth Coulson scrapbook, 1895-1905
Photographs
Photograph album: Smith College
Grace Spofford
Alone, 1909, n.d.
With groups, 1918-66
Henry Street Settlement, 1936-37, n.d.
Director's Conference, 1953
Brussels, 1953
Miscellaneous, 1919-66
Unidentified, 1953, n.d.
Framed photographs: Harry and Sarah Spofford (3); Elizabeth Coulson (1)
Photo album: from Parent's Association of the Music School of Henry Street Settlement, 1954
2 photo albums, n.d.
Diaries
Business papers
Correspondence, 1933-49, 1970
Insurance and miscellaneous documents, 1932-67
Cancelled checks, 1947-53
Federal income tax returns, 1942-52, 1966
Correspondence
Letters of recommendation and introduction, 1912-60
Outgoing
Lillian Wald, 1936-40
Incoming
Dorothy S. Ainsworth, 1959
Marian Anderson, 1959
Derek Bok, 1970-71
Mary L.C. Bok, 1926-30
Styles Bridges, 1957
Grace Coolidge, n.d.
Aaron Copeland, 1954-67
Elizabeth Coulson, 1929-40, n.d.
Judith Dvorkin, 1958
Geraldine Farrar, 1937-38
Kirsten Flagstad, 1939
George Gershwin, 1937
Peggy Glanville-Hicks, n.d.
Morton Gould, 1946
Jacob Javits, 1970
Olga Koussevitzky (Mrs. Serge), 1955-73
Fiorello LaGuardia, 1934
Miscellaneous (unidentified), 1940-73
Newbold Morris, 1945
Robert Moses, 1955
George Murphy, 1970
Richard Neuberger, 1958
Lawrence O'Brien, 1963
Claiborne Pell, 1970
Fritz Reiner, 1954
Harold Schonberg, 1971
Leopold Stokowski, 1927-54
Eleanor Steber, 1955
Gladys Swarthout, 1955
Lillian D. Wald, 1935-39
Walter Bruno, 1948
Efrem and Mary Curtis Zimbalist, 1941-56
Memorabilia
Trips
Europe, 1964
Middle East, 1966
Memories of the Gripsolm Cruise to the Lands of the Vikings and Russia, 1943
Awards and Citations, 1951-69
Autograph book, 1927-31
Writings
Articles and clippings, 1934-69
"Thoughts of a Musicologist," 1969
Speeches
"On international understanding," 1954
Notes
Radio talks, 1937
New York Leisure Time Commission, n.d.
Pamphlets and blank postcards, 1921-72
Printed music scores, 1916-41, n.d.
Wisdom in Miniature or the Young Gentleman and Lady's Pleasing Instructor, 1795
Organizations
American International Music Fund, Inc., 1958
Asian Music Circle, 1959
Beekman Hill Neighbors, 1930-35
Cleveland Music School Settlement, 1956-72
Committee of Correspondence, 1954
Federal Music Project, 1936-46
Folk Festival Council of New York, 1933-34
Foreign Service Institute, 1955-57
Fortnightly Music Club of Cleveland, n.d.
Curtis Institute of Music
Articles and clippings, 1928-39
Forms, 1924-30
Concert programs, invitations and miscellaneous, 1924-31
Catalogs, 1924-49
Recital and concert programs, 1925-31
Overtones, 1929-37 (monthly publication)
Henry Street Settlement
Music School
Memorabilia and printed material, 1939-54
Clippings, 1935-53
Calendars, 1945-53
Commencement, 1943-53
Publicity, 1938-50
Twenty-fifth anniversary, 1925
Annual reports, 1935-52
"Bulletin," 1954
Programs, 1931-62
Retirement, 1952
School of Drama, Playhouse, 1937-50
Unfinished Business, a firsthand account of the former director of the Henry Street Settlement by Helen Hall, New York, 1971 [on shelf]
International Conference on The Role of Music in the Education of Youth and Adults, 1953
International Congress for Professional Education of Musicians, 1953
International Council of Women
Music competitions for women musicians, 1958-66
Standing Committee on the Arts and Letters
Reports, 1955-69
Questionnaires, 1958-64
International Music Conference, 1953-68
International Music Council, 1951-68
International Society for Music Education, 1957-58
Julliard School, 1942-69
Katherine Gibbs School, 1949-59
Koussevitzky Music Foundation, n.d.
Layman's Music Course, Inc., 1934-35
Mu Phi Epsilon, 1958-74
Municipal Art Committee, City of New York, 1932-39
Municipal Broadcasting Station Subcommittee, 1935-36
Music Education Conference, 1931
Music Educators National Conference, 1953
Music for Youth, Japan, 1958, n.d.
Musicians Club of New York, 1972
Musicians Emergency Aid of New York, 1932
National Advisory Council on Radio in Education, 1930-35
National Arts Club, 1962-72
National Arts Guild, 1967
National Council of Women
Printed material, 1953-64
Music Committee
Concerts and lectures, 1957-64
Radio broadcasts, 1951-65
Reports and minutes, 1953-64
Miscellaneous, 1956-62
National Federation of Music Clubs, 1958-69
National Federation of Settlements
General, 1940, n.d.
Music Division, 1926-48
National Guild of Community Music Schools, 1946-72
National Music Council, 1954-72
National Recreation Association, 1941, n.d.
National Youth Administration, 1939-41
Neighborhood Music Schools, Inc., 1949
New York Association of Music School Settlements, 1931-43
New York City Music Council, 1945
New York College of Music, 1934-52
New York Federation of Music Clubs, 1968-72
New York State Board of Education, 1950, n.d.
Peabody Institute
Miscellaneous, 1912-71
Publications, 1938-71
People to People, Music Committee, 1957-58
Philharmonic Symphony Sociey of New York, 1933-57
Philippine Women's University, 1963-65
Pipers Guild of America, 1941
Radio Institute of the Audible Arts, 1934-35
Rural Music Schools Association, 1949-53
Smith College
Club of New York, Class of 1909, 1954-70
Board of Counselors, Music Committee, 1950-58
Society of Women Musicians, 1954
Turtle Bay Music School, 1945
Unitarian Church of All Souls, N.Y., 1969-73
United Nations, 1951, n.d.
UNESCO, 1956-57
United Nations Conference (International House), 1956-57
United Neighborhood Houses, 1942-43, n.d.
Women United for the United Nations, 1967
Women's Alliance, 1968
Works Progress Administration, 1934-43
World Association for Adult Education, 1931
Young Audiences, n.d.
YWCA, 1934, n.d.
Subjects
Kennedy Center, 1967
Music
Asia, 1952-58, n.d.
Clippings, 1915-58
Veterans/War effort, 1942-45
Youth, 1944-51, n.d.
Music Education, Philippines, 1955-63
Music, USA, 1964
Radio, 1930-51
Recreation, 1942-58
Women, 1928-61
Young People's Concert, 1964
Women in music, 1914-57
Composers, 1959-69
Esther Ballou, n.d.
Joyce Barthelson, 1963-68
Gena Branscome, 1962
Mabel Wheeler Daniels, 1961, n.d.
Emma Lou Diemer, 1964-68
Judith Dvorkin, n.d.
Vivian Fine,1963, n.d.
Elizabeth Gest, n.d.
Peggy Glanville-Hicks, 1954-64, n.d.
Elizabeth Gould, n.d.
Mary Howe, 1955-64
Wanda Landowska, 1960
Frances McCollin, n.d.
Elizabeth Lutyens and Elizabeth Maconchy, 1963
Florence Jepperson Madeson, n.d.
Ursula Mamlok, 1965
Dorothy Mayner, 1969
Bernice Morrison Morris, n.d.
Carolyn Allen Perera, 1963
Julia Perry, n.d.
Jean Reti-Forbes, 1967, n.d.
Philippa Schulyer, 1960
Netty Simons, n.d.
Julia Smith, 1968
Louise Talma, 1963
Ninon Vallin, 1972
Mme. Vengerova, n.d.
Elinor Remick Warren, n.d.
Mary Weaver, n.d.
Vally Weigl, 1949-58
OVERSIZED MATERIALS
Scrapbooks, 1909-31, 1922-24
Santayana, George, tr.: "The Music Of The Spheres"