Stevenson (Alice Barnett) Papers, 1839-2007

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Summary

Title:
Alice Barnett Stevenson Papers
Dates:
1839-2007
Creators:
Stevenson, Alice Barnett
Abstract:
The collection contains documents related to the life, travels, and musical work of Alice Barnett Stevenson, a prominent San Diego composer.
Extent:
5.5 Linear feet (9 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Alice Barnett Stevenson Papers, MS 63, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of materials related to the life and work of Alice Barnett Stevenson. Her personal papers include legal documents, such as her marriage license, family papers, and non-music related notebooks, as well as some family papers. Stevenson’s personal correspondence covers her studies abroad in Europe, her return to the United States, and her later world travels with Dr. Stevenson. Her composition notebooks, original and published sheet music, and four audio recordings of her work are also included. Documents of her professional relationships include correspondence and administrative materials for the San Diego Opera Guild and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Also present in the collection are several scrapbooks compiled after her death by her daughter-in-law, Margaret Price, as well as sheet music by other musicians and a graduate thesis about Barnett’s work. Items of particular interest include her composition notebooks from her college and Berlin years, as well as the journal of Emeline Gibbs Barnett, Stevenson’s maternal grandmother, that dates back to 1839.

Biographical / historical:

Alice Barnett Stevenson was born in 1886 in Lewiston, Illinois. Her father, Orrin Barnett, was a pianist and music teacher. Having grown up in a musical family, she excelled in her musical endeavors and went on to graduate from the Chicago Musical College in 1904 with highest honors. Her studies included piano with Rudolph Ganz, composition with Felix Borowski, and theory with Dr. Louis Falk, among others. After college she traveled to Berlin, Germany to continue her studies under the famous composer Hugo Ludwig Kaun, accompanied by Minnie Fish Griffin, a well-known and accomplished singer from Chicago. While in Berlin, she met Samuel H. Price, a violin student from San Diego. The two were married shortly after. After a lengthy tour of Europe, the couple returned to the United States in 1910, making their home in San Diego, where their two sons were born. The marriage did not last long and four years later, the couple divorced.

The divorce revived her musical career as she supported her young family. She taught music appreciation, theory, harmony, and history at San Diego High School while composing her own music. Between 1906 and 1932, Barnett composed 110 pieces. Fifty of these American art songs were published, including the popular “Trio”, “In the Time of Saffron Moons”, and “In a Gondola”. In 1926, she wed Dr. George Roy Stevenson. Dr. Stevenson was highly supportive of his wife’s career and her heavy involvement with multiple musical associations. She was founder and a life member of the Music Makers. In 1927, she founded the San Diego Symphony Orchestra association and was a member of the board of the Amphion Club from 1920 until 1948. She also served as patroness for many local organizations and served as a charter member of the Opera Guild. The Stevensons hosted numerous recitals, activities, and visiting musicians in their Mission Hills home. In later years, she and Dr. Stevenson traveled extensively until his death in 1965. Barnett died at age 89 on August 28, 1975.

Acquisition information:
Accession numbers 751101, 761029, 801220B.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Lauren Rasmussen on June 13, 2012.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into six series:

Series I: Personal Papers

Series II: Personal Correspondence

Series III: Music

Series IV: Associations

Series V: Scrapbooks

Series VI: Miscellanea

Items within each series are arranged by subject.

Physical / technical requirements:

Diary of Emeline Gibbs Barnett is very fragile; pages are brittle and spine is partially detached. Front and back cover are detached from binding of Alice Barnett Stevenson's journal (Box 1 folder 4). (June 15, 2012)

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Lauren Rasmussen
Sponsor:
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Date Prepared:
June 13, 2012
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-04-30T14:56-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Alice Barnett Stevenson Papers, MS 63, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website