Baltimore Evening Sun

mnsss301 Grace Harriet Spofford Papers, 1795-1974 Finding Aid Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-04-07 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Grace Harriet Spofford Papers, 1795-1974 (bulk dates 1935-1954) Finding Aid MS 150 2005 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Spofford, Grace Harriet, 1888-1974 Grace Harriet Spofford Papers1795-1974 1935-1954 MS 150 23 boxes (12.25 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Teacher; Musician; Music administrator. Papers include correspondence, diaries, memorabilia, speeches, writings, sheet music, photographs, and subject files on women in music. There are also a large number of files on organizations and conferences (primarily music-related), including the Music School of the Henry Street Settlement, the International Music Council of UNESCO, and the International Council of Women and National Council of Women. 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.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.

This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Grace Harriet Spofford Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Search Terms Spofford, Grace Harriet, 1888-1974 Henry Street Settlement (New York, N.Y.) International Council of Women--History--Sources National Council of Women of the United States--History--Sources Female friendship--United States--History--20th century--Sources 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 Additional Information Container List Biography 1 1 Sarah and Harry H. Spofford: clippings and obituaries, 1918-21 1 2 Elizabeth Coulson: articles, obituaries, photographs, ca. 1865-1972 1 3 Passports and birth certificate, 1887-1969 1 4 Genealogy 1 5 Biographical material, 1906-74 1 6 Clippings, 1928-69 1 7 Smith College: commencement book, 1909 1 Baby's journal, 1887 (Grace Spofford's) 1 Elizabeth Coulson scrapbook, 1895-1905 Photographs 1 Photograph album: Smith College 1 Grace Spofford 2 1 Alone, 1909, n.d. 2 2 With groups, 1918-66 2 3 Henry Street Settlement, 1936-37, n.d. 2 4 Director's Conference, 1953 2 5 Brussels, 1953 2 6 Miscellaneous, 1919-66 2 7 Unidentified, 1953, n.d. 2 Framed photographs: Harry and Sarah Spofford (3); Elizabeth Coulson (1) 2 Photo album: from Parent's Association of the Music School of Henry Street Settlement, 1954 2 2 photo albums, n.d. Diaries 3 1898-1939 3a 1941-72 Business papers 4 1 Correspondence, 1933-49, 1970 4 2-3 Insurance and miscellaneous documents, 1932-67 4 4-5 Cancelled checks, 1947-53 4 6 Federal income tax returns, 1942-52, 1966 Correspondence 5 1 Letters of recommendation and introduction, 1912-60 5 Outgoing 5 2-3 1924-71 5 Lillian Wald, 1936-40 Incoming 5 5 A-B, 1931-68, n.d. 5 6 Dorothy S. Ainsworth, 1959 5 7 Marian Anderson, 1959 5 8 Derek Bok, 1970-71 5 9 Mary L.C. Bok, 1926-30 5 10 Styles Bridges, 1957 5 11 C, 1931-72 5 12 Grace Coolidge, n.d. 5 13 Aaron Copeland, 1954-67 5 14 Elizabeth Coulson, 1929-40, n.d. 5 15 D, 1931-69 5 16 Judith Dvorkin, 1958 5 17 E-F, 1931-72 5 18 Geraldine Farrar, 1937-38 5 19 Kirsten Flagstad, 1939 5 20 G, 1924-70 5 21 George Gershwin, 1937 5 22 Peggy Glanville-Hicks, n.d. 5 23 Morton Gould, 1946 6 1 H-I, 1927-71 6 2 J-K, 1931-71 6 3 Jacob Javits, 1970 6 4 Olga Koussevitzky (Mrs. Serge), 1955-73 6 5 L, 1953-60 6 6 Fiorello LaGuardia, 1934 6 7 Miscellaneous (unidentified), 1940-73 6 8 M, 1932-73 6 9 Newbold Morris, 1945 6 10 Robert Moses, 1955 6 11 George Murphy, 1970 6 12 N-O, 1931-61 6 13 Richard Neuberger, 1958 6 14 Lawrence O'Brien, 1963 6 15 P-O, 1945-69 6 16 Claiborne Pell, 1970 6 17 R, 1927-71 6 18 Fritz Reiner, 1954 6 19 S, 1931-73 6 20 Harold Schonberg, 1971 6 21 Leopold Stokowski, 1927-54 6 22 Eleanor Steber, 1955 6 23 Gladys Swarthout, 1955 6 24 T, 1930-60 6 25 V-Z, 1943-73 6 26 Lillian D. Wald, 1935-39 6 27 Walter Bruno, 1948 6 28 Efrem and Mary Curtis Zimbalist, 1941-56 Memorabilia 6 Trips 7 1 Europe, 1964 7 2 Middle East, 1966 7 Memories of the Gripsolm Cruise to the Lands of the Vikings and Russia, 1943 7 3 Awards and Citations, 1951-69 7 Autograph book, 1927-31 Writings 7 4 Articles and clippings, 1934-69 7 5 "Thoughts of a Musicologist," 1969 Speeches 8 1 1924-66, n.d. 8 2 "On international understanding," 1954 Notes 8 3 Radio talks, 1937 8 4 New York Leisure Time Commission, n.d. 8 5-6 1917-73, n.d. 9 Pamphlets and blank postcards, 1921-72 10 Printed music scores, 1916-41, n.d. 10 Wisdom in Miniature or the Young Gentleman and Lady's Pleasing Instructor, 1795 Organizations 11 1 American International Music Fund, Inc., 1958 11 2 Asian Music Circle, 1959 11 3 Beekman Hill Neighbors, 1930-35 11 4 Cleveland Music School Settlement, 1956-72 11 5 Committee of Correspondence, 1954 11 6 Federal Music Project, 1936-46 11 7 Folk Festival Council of New York, 1933-34 11 8 Foreign Service Institute, 1955-57 11 9 Fortnightly Music Club of Cleveland, n.d. Curtis Institute of Music 12 1 Articles and clippings, 1928-39 12 2 Forms, 1924-30 12 3 Concert programs, invitations and miscellaneous, 1924-31 12 Catalogs, 1924-49 13 Recital and concert programs, 1925-31 14 Overtones, 1929-37 (monthly publication) 14 Henry Street Settlement 14 Music School 15 1 Memorabilia and printed material, 1939-54 15 2 Clippings, 1935-53 15 3 Calendars, 1945-53 15 4 Commencement, 1943-53 15 5 Publicity, 1938-50 15 6 Twenty-fifth anniversary, 1925 15 7 Annual reports, 1935-52 15 8 "Bulletin," 1954 15 9 Programs, 1931-62 15 10 Retirement, 1952 15 11 School of Drama, Playhouse, 1937-50 15 Unfinished Business, a firsthand account of the former director of the Henry Street Settlement by Helen Hall, New York, 1971 [on shelf] 16 1 International Conference on The Role of Music in the Education of Youth and Adults, 1953 16 2 International Congress for Professional Education of Musicians, 1953 International Council of Women 16 3 Music competitions for women musicians, 1958-66 16 Standing Committee on the Arts and Letters 16 4 Reports, 1955-69 16 5 Questionnaires, 1958-64 16 6 International Music Conference, 1953-68 16 7 International Music Council, 1951-68 16 8 International Society for Music Education, 1957-58 17 1 Julliard School, 1942-69 17 2 Katherine Gibbs School, 1949-59 17 3 Koussevitzky Music Foundation, n.d. 17 4 Layman's Music Course, Inc., 1934-35 17 5 Mu Phi Epsilon, 1958-74 17 6 Municipal Art Committee, City of New York, 1932-39 17 7 Municipal Broadcasting Station Subcommittee, 1935-36 17 8 Music Education Conference, 1931 17 9 Music Educators National Conference, 1953 17 10 Music for Youth, Japan, 1958, n.d. 17 11 Musicians Club of New York, 1972 17 12 Musicians Emergency Aid of New York, 1932 17 13 National Advisory Council on Radio in Education, 1930-35 17 14 National Arts Club, 1962-72 17 15 National Arts Guild, 1967 National Council of Women 18 1 Printed material, 1953-64 18 Music Committee 18 2 Concerts and lectures, 1957-64 18 3 Radio broadcasts, 1951-65 18 4 Reports and minutes, 1953-64 18 5 Miscellaneous, 1956-62 18 6 National Federation of Music Clubs, 1958-69 National Federation of Settlements 18 7 General, 1940, n.d. 18 8 Music Division, 1926-48 19 1 National Guild of Community Music Schools, 1946-72 19 2 National Music Council, 1954-72 19 3 National Recreation Association, 1941, n.d. 19 4 National Youth Administration, 1939-41 19 5 Neighborhood Music Schools, Inc., 1949 19 6 New York Association of Music School Settlements, 1931-43 19 7 New York City Music Council, 1945 19 8 New York College of Music, 1934-52 19 9 New York Federation of Music Clubs, 1968-72 19 10 New York State Board of Education, 1950, n.d. Peabody Institute 20 1 Miscellaneous, 1912-71 20 2 Publications, 1938-71 20 3 People to People, Music Committee, 1957-58 20 4 Philharmonic Symphony Sociey of New York, 1933-57 20 5 Philippine Women's University, 1963-65 20 6 Pipers Guild of America, 1941 20 7 Radio Institute of the Audible Arts, 1934-35 20 8 Rural Music Schools Association, 1949-53 Smith College 20 9 Club of New York, Class of 1909, 1954-70 20 10 Board of Counselors, Music Committee, 1950-58 20 11 Society of Women Musicians, 1954 20 12 Turtle Bay Music School, 1945 21 1 Unitarian Church of All Souls, N.Y., 1969-73 21 2 United Nations, 1951, n.d. 21 3 UNESCO, 1956-57 21 4 United Nations Conference (International House), 1956-57 21 5 United Neighborhood Houses, 1942-43, n.d. 21 6 Women United for the United Nations, 1967 21 7 Women's Alliance, 1968 21 8 Works Progress Administration, 1934-43 21 9 World Association for Adult Education, 1931 21 10 Young Audiences, n.d. 21 11 YWCA, 1934, n.d. Subjects 22 1 Kennedy Center, 1967 22 Music 22 2 Asia, 1952-58, n.d. 22 3 Clippings, 1915-58 22 4 Veterans/War effort, 1942-45 22 5 Youth, 1944-51, n.d. 22 6 Music Education, Philippines, 1955-63 22 7 Music, USA, 1964 22 8 Radio, 1930-51 22 9 Recreation, 1942-58 22 10 Women, 1928-61 22 11 Young People's Concert, 1964 23 1 Women in music, 1914-57 23 2 Composers, 1959-69 23 3 Esther Ballou, n.d. 23 4 Joyce Barthelson, 1963-68 23 5 Gena Branscome, 1962 23 6 Mabel Wheeler Daniels, 1961, n.d. 23 7 Emma Lou Diemer, 1964-68 23 8 Judith Dvorkin, n.d. 23 9 Vivian Fine,1963, n.d. 23 10 Elizabeth Gest, n.d. 23 11 Peggy Glanville-Hicks, 1954-64, n.d. 23 12 Elizabeth Gould, n.d. 23 13 Mary Howe, 1955-64 23 14 Wanda Landowska, 1960 23 15 Frances McCollin, n.d. 23 16 Elizabeth Lutyens and Elizabeth Maconchy, 1963 23 17 Florence Jepperson Madeson, n.d. 23 18 Ursula Mamlok, 1965 23 19 Dorothy Mayner, 1969 23 20 Bernice Morrison Morris, n.d. 23 21 Carolyn Allen Perera, 1963 23 22 Julia Perry, n.d. 23 23 Jean Reti-Forbes, 1967, n.d. 23 24 Philippa Schulyer, 1960 23 25 Netty Simons, n.d. 23 26 Julia Smith, 1968 23 27 Louise Talma, 1963 23 28 Ninon Vallin, 1972 23 29 Mme. Vengerova, n.d. 23 30 Elinor Remick Warren, n.d. 23 31 Mary Weaver, n.d. 23 32 Vally Weigl, 1949-58 OVERSIZED MATERIALS Scrapbooks, 1909-31, 1922-24 Flat file Santayana, George, tr.: "The Music Of The Spheres"