Special Collections Department
American Academy of Music
Manuscript Collection Number: 308
Accessioned: Gift of the Moyerman Family, 1972
Extent: 1.6 linear ft.
Content: Correspondence, programs, and annual reports.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: October-November 1994 by J. Andrew Armacost.
-
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
Historical Note
Not long after its incorporation, the Academy came under the influence of the Baker family of Philadelphia. Two successive generations of the Baker family presided over the Academy from the 1880s to the 1920s. Alfred G. Baker (1831-1892) was active at the Academy as early as 1881 and was elected president in 1884; he was followed by his son George Fales Baker, M.D. (1863-1929) who succeeded him as president in 1892.
Under their tenure, the Academy became widely known for presentations of opera and classical music. This aspect of the Academy's performances forms a large part of John Marion's 1984 history of the Academy Within these walls: a history of the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Less well known, however, is that the Academy also offered many other kinds of attractions. It presented new technologies through phonograph concerts by the Girard Phonograph Company and early moving pictures by Lyman H. Howe. The Academy served as well as a hall for political and religious gatherings, educational lectures, and especially travel talks. Many of the great travel lecturers of the period were regulars at the Academy. Lecturers like Burton Holmes initially brought their hand-colored lantern slides to illustrate their "travelogues." Later speakers like the popular Edward M. Newman incorporated motion picture segments with their travel talks.
Sources:
Caldwell, Genoa ed. The Man who photographed the world: Burton Holmes travelogues 1886-1938. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1977.Kavanaugh, James V. Three American opera houses: the Boston Theater, the New York Academy of Music, the Philadelphia American Academy of Music. M. A. Thesis, University of Delaware, 1967.
Marion, John F. Within these walls: a history of the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Restoration Office, The Academy of Music, 1984.
Musser, Charles and Carol Nelson. High-class moving pictures: Lyman H. Howe and the forgotten era of the traveling exhibition, 1880-1920. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991.
Scope and Content Note
The majority of correspondence contained here is associated with Ferdinand V. Bonnafon (circa 1844-1920), who was appointed secretary in 1884 and treasurer in 1893, two posts which he held until his death in 1920. A limited amount of material is associated with other staff at the Academy--President George F. Baker, and G.D. Young, the Academy's treasurer after Bonnafon. Material from before 1910 consists solely of incoming correspondence, but afterwards the Academy's replies in the form of carbon copies are also preserved.
The collection has been divided into two separate series of papers. The first series includes material related to the Academy of Music as a corporation. This series presents a wide range of information, including a series of pamphlets from between 1852 and 1862 recording the act of incorporation and by-laws of the organization. Correspondence related to the stockholders as well as the board of directors of the Academy is included. The collection also preserves financial correspondence related to taxes, securities, licenses, and insurance.
This series also includes a large body of correspondence concerning maintenance and structural improvement to the building from 1896 and 1901 to 1925. This body of material not only demonstrates the daily expenses of maintaining a facility like the Academy, but further shows how a well-planned program of architectural improvements was considered vital to the Academy's continued existence.
A body of professional and non-Academy related correspondence is preserved from 1896-1926. Included is correspondence from other opera houses, various printers of programs, tickets and advertising, and personal correspondence of F.V. Bonnafon and G.F. Baker received at the Academy.
The second series of papers of the American Academy of Music contains material related to performances held at the Academy. A small body of programs and promotional flyers from 1873 to c. 1940, and a few property plots are preserved. These property plots record what the stage hands were responsible for during each performance and the specific properties required for each scene.
Also included in this series is a large body of leasing correspondence related to scheduling and booking of the events held at the Academy. Correspondence relating to leases of the Academy are preserved from 1895 to 1897 and 1901 to 1926. This collection indirectly documents the events held at the Academy. Much of the correspondence is from booking agents that do not explicitly state the nature of the attraction they are planning to show at the Academy. Correspondence with individuals who were, for some reason, unable to rent the Academy because of finances, scheduling, or subject restrictions is also contained within this series. These documents do, however, clearly represent the wide range of activities that took place at the Academy. This body of documents preserves correspondence with opera companies, several orchestras and choruses, and a variety of lecturers, comedians, charitable organizations, clubs, fraternal organizations, religious groups, and political parties.
Letters from patrons of the Academy are also included from 1896 to 1897 and 1901 to 1920. This correspondence includes inquiries concerning lost articles, requests for performance dates, and patron complaints.
Related collections:
Ms 311 Baker - Fales - Rush Family PapersMs 359 Collins and Autenrieth Architectural Works
Series Outline
I. Institutional material
1. Acts of incorporation
2. Stockholders and the board of directors correspondence
3. Insurance correspondence
4. Financial correspondence
5. Employee correspondence
6. Facility maintenance and improvement
7. Personal and professional correspondence
II. Performance related material
1. Performance programs and promotional sheets
2. Property plots
3. Events at the Academy, leasing correspondence
4. Patron correspondence
Contents List
1 Series I. Institutional material
This collection preserves the corporate
correspondence and publications of the Academy of
Music. Included are the original acts of
incorporation and by-laws of the corporation,
annual reports, correspondence with stockholders,
the Board of Directors, insurance companies, and a
large body of correspondence detailing upkeep and
maintenance of the Academy building.
Series I.1. Acts of incorporation
F1 Charter and prospectus of the Opera House or American
Academy of Music. Philadelphia: Crissy & Markley,
1852. (Cataloged with printed material in Special
Collections).
Act of incorporation of the American Academy of Music,
and the supplements thereto; with the by-laws of
the corporation. Philadelphia: Crissy & Markley,
1857. (One copy is preserved here and a duplicate
copy was cataloged with printed material in
Special Collections).
Act of incorporation of the American Academy of Music,
and the supplements thereto; with the by-laws of
the corporation. Philadelphia: Maas & Vogdes,
1862. (Cataloged with printed material in Special
Collections).
Series I.2. Stockholders and the Board of Directors correspondence
F2 1882-1884, 1896, 1902-1915
Material related to the 1884 Pennsylvania Supreme court
case of Alfred G. Baker et al. vs. the American Academy
of Music et al. Included as well is an annual report
from 1905.
F3 1916-1928, n.d.
Includes a statement read by the president to the Board
of Directors commemorating the death of Ferdinand V.
Bonnafon, November 11, 1920. Annual reports are
preserved from 1923 and 1928.
1 Series I. Institutional correspondence (cont'd)
Series I.3. Insurance correspondence
Primarily with the Franklin Fire Insurance Co.,
Philadelphia, and insurance agent J. Craig Shields
F4 1903, 1907-1920
Series I.4. Financial correspondence
Correspondence related to taxes, licenses,
securities and other financial matters.
F5 1896, 1901, 1904, 1908-1919
F6 1920-1923
Series I.5. Employee correspondence
Recommendations to and from other institutions,
illnesses, and injuries.
F7 1895, 1903-1915
A large group of payroll stubs from March 31, 1914 are
included.
F8 1916-1928.
A large collection of payroll sheets from September
1916, and sheets documenting employee duties at
individual performances from 1928 are preserved.
Series I.6. Facility maintenance and improvement
F9 1896, 1901-1906.
Contains material concerning the purchase of new seats,
ornamental iron work, and letters from the Philadelphia
department of Public Safety concerning fire escapes.
F10 1907
Includes a letter accompanying a "new portrait of Mr.
Holmes" to be placed in the Art Gallery.
F11 1908
Includes proposals from Strawbridge & Clothier,
Karcherand and Rehn, and other companies for the
renovation of the foyer.
1 Series I. Institutional correspondence (cont'd)
Series I.6. Facility maintenance (cont'd)
F12 1909-1913
Includes a letter from the Philadelphia Fire
Underwriters' Association recommending fire safety
improvements.
F13 1914
Includes proposals for new curtains in the boxes and
for the cleaning and repair of chandeliers in the
foyer.
F14 1915
Includes a proposal for a new chandelier with an
architectural sketch (removed to oversize). Preserved
as well is a proposal and drawing for a "moving picture
booth."
F15 1916 Jan-Aug
Includes proposals for replacing the steps at the main
entrance on Broad and Locust Streets.
F16 1916 Sep-Dec, and 1917 Jan-Apr
Preserved is a solicitation to install a score board
that was to carry the World Series scores.
F17 1917 May-Dec
Included is correspondence with the Universal Electric
Stage Lighting Co., manufacturers of special effects.
Preserved as well are several proposals to replace the
steps on Broad street.
F18 1918 Jan-Jun
Includes correspondence relative to a property dispute,
which contains an architectural sketch produced by the
F.T. Mercer Company.
F19 1918 Jul-Dec
Includes a draft of a long letter to Mr. Blumberg
complaining about a property dispute.
F20 1919
Includes correspondence related to the repair of an
awning pole after someone drove into it.
F21 1920-1921, 1923, 1925, n.d.
Includes correspondence relative to the sale of
property at 246 W. Walnut Lane, the Art Alliance's plan
to replace the paintings in the "corridor" with "modern
works of art," and documents concerning the erection of
the Fritz Scheel Memorial Tablet designed by the
architect Edgar V. Seeler.
1 Series I. Institutional correspondence (cont'd)
Series I.7. Personal and professional correspondence
F22 1896, 1902-1908
Includes correspondence with the Hibernian Publishing
Co., and personal correspondence with Fred R. Comee of
the Boston Symphony Hall.
F23 1909-1917
Includes correspondence from the Carnegie Music Hall in
Pittsburgh, and several publishing companies.
F24 1918, 1919 Jan-May
Includes correspondence relating Liberty Loans, and the
ordering of new stage sets from Lee Lash Studios, New
York.
F25 1919 Jul-Dec, 1920-1926, and n.d.
Included is correspondence with Geo. W. H. Moore,
publisher of theater programs, and correspondence
addressed to George F. Baker from G. D. Young.
1 Series II. Performance related material, mid 1800s-circa 1940
This series describes events that took place at
the Academy. Included are programs of
performances, property plots, material related to
leasing the Academy for events, and the reaction
of the patrons who attended those events.
Series II.1. Performance programs and promotional
sheets
F26 1873-1893
Il Trovatore, November 10, 11, 1873
Philadelphia Chorus, May 10, 11, 1886
Philadelphia Chorus, April 26, 1888
Philadelphia Chorus, January 16, 1890
Paderewski's Third Piano Recital,
February 4, 1893
F27 1908-circa 1940.
German-American Charity Ball, February 3, 1908
Philadelphia Orchestra, March 20, 21, 1908
Burton Holmes Travelogues, November 18, 19, 1910
G. E. Marchand lecture, September 16, 17 n.y.
Metropolitan Opera Company, March 19, 1929
Metropolitan Opera Company, January 29, 1929
Marion Anderson, October 17, [circa 1940]
Series II.2. Property plots
F28 "Magic Pills"
"Game of Speculation"
"The Garroters Farce" by William Dean Howells.
"Bandanna Land" produced by the Williams and Walker Co.
(see associated correspondence May 4, 1908, F34)
And other unidentified titles
Series II.3. Events at the Academy, leasing
correspondence
F29 1895-1897
Included is correspondence related to the Democratic
City Executive Committee, the University of
Pennsylvania commencement, and the vocalist Yvette
Guilbert.
F30 1901-1903
Includes correspondence related to the violinist Jan
Kubelik, Burton Holmes, and a complaint about the
Academy from the vocalist Lillian Nordica.
F31 1904-1906, 1907 Jan-Sep
Includes correspondence from the Belasco theater, the
Mendelssohn Club of the Academy of Fine Arts, the
Garrick Theater, and Mme. Schumann-Heink.
F32 1907 Oct-Dec
Includes correspondence regarding the Elmendorf
Lectures, the Philadelphia Car Show, and Burton Holmes
Travelogues.
F33 1908 Jan-Apr
Includes correspondence related to Lyman H. Howe's
Moving Pictures, S. H. Chapman's travel lectures, the
Elmendorf Lectures, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
F34 1908 May-Dec
Includes correspondence related to the Philadelphia
Orchestra, Burton Holmes Travelogues, S. H. Chapman's
travel lectures, George Nox McCain's lectures, and L.
Frank Baum's Fairylogue and Radio Plays.
F35 1909-1911
Includes correspondence related to the Pennsylvania
Anti-Saloon League, ballet dancers Anna Pavlova and
Michael Mordkin, and the Philharmonic Society of New
York.
F36 1912, 1914
Includes correspondence regarding Jules Layolle's
French Grand Opera Company of New Orleans, the
Elmendorf Lectures, and the Woman Suffrage Parade
Committee.
F37 1915 Jan-Nov
Includes correspondence regarding the Newman
Traveltalks, the Elmendorf Lectures, the Woman Suffrage
Parade Committee, and the Whitney Fashion Show.
1 Series II. Performance Related Material (cont'd)
Series II.3. Leasing correspondence (cont'd)
F38 1915 Dec, 1916
Includes correspondence related to the Chicago Opera
Company, Temple University, and the concert director
Helen Pulaski Innes.
F39 1917 Jan-Jul
Includes material regarding the Newman Traveltalks, the
lecture tour of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and the Symphony
Society of New York.
2 F40 1917 Aug-Oct
Includes correspondence regarding the Newman
Traveltalks, the Girard Phonograph Company, the
comedian Harry Lauder, and the Pennsylvania Anti-Saloon
League.
F41 1917 Nov-Dec
Includes correspondence regarding the National League
for Woman's Service, the Newman Traveltalks, and
William Howard Taft's League to Enforce Peace.
F42 1918 Jan-Mar
Includes correspondence regarding the University of
Pennsylvania commencement, the Philadelphia Orchestra,
Newman Traveltalks, and the San Carlo Grand Opera
Company.
F43 1918 Apr-Jul
Includes correspondence related to William H. Taft's
League to Enforce Peace, The Metropolitan Music Bureau,
and the Newman Traveltalks.
F44 1918 Aug-Dec
Included is correspondence related to the Newman
Traveltalks, and the Pennsylvania Council of National
Defense and committee of Public Safety.
3 F45 1919 Jan-Apr
Included is correspondence related to the Newman
Traveltalks, and the National War Savings Committee.
F46 1919 May-Aug
Includes correspondence related to the Newman
Traveltalks, the J. B. Pond Lyceum Bureau, and the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.
F47 1919 Sept-Dec
Includes correspondence related to the Colored Masonic
Hall Association, the Solo Harpist Francis J. Lapitina,
and the Newman Traveltalks.
F48 1920, 1925-1926, n.d.
Includes correspondence related to the World Conference
on Christian Fundamentals, the Boy Scouts, and the
World Conference on Narcotic Education.
Series II.4. Patron correspondence
This correspondence preserves inquiries concerning
lost articles, requests for performance dates and
complaints.
F49 1896-1897, 1901-1907
F50 1908-1910
F51 1911-1920, n.d.
Back to the UD Special Collections Home Page
Return to List of Manuscript Finding Aids by Title
