Marcella Craft papers
Finding aid prepared by Reajinae Jenkins and Alysia Thind, Student Processing Assistants, 2015.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2015
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Marcella Craft papers
Date (inclusive): 1899-1990, undated
Date (bulk): 1899-1915
Collection Number: MS 071
Creator:
Craft, Marcella, 1874-1959
Extent:
2.56 linear feet
(3 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: This collection contains photographs, correspondence, sheet music, and other material pertaining to Marcella Craft, an early
twentieth century opera singer who spent portions of her career in Europe and Riverside, California. Includes photographs
from her early childhood, materials from her teaching years at the Marcella Craft School of Opera, personal correspondence
from various individuals, programs, newspaper clippings, and hand written reviews of her performances, and sheet music from
composers such as Richard Strauss and Bellini.
Languages: The collection is primarily in English and German, with additional materials in Italian.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Marcella Craft papers (MS 071). Special Collections & University Archives, University
of California, Riverside.
Processing History
Processed by Reajinae Jenkins and Alysia Thind, Student Processing Assistants, 2015.
Processing of the Marcella Craft papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside
as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded
by the UCR Library and administered by Bergis Jules, University and Political Papers Archivist, and Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts
Curator.
Biographical Note
Marcella Craft was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1874. In 1887 she came to Riverside, California and became a soloist in
the choir of Riverside's First Baptist Church. She later moved to Boston and studied voice under Charles R. Adams. Following
these voice lessons she moved to Milan, Italy to further her musical training. In 1902 Craft made her operatic debut as Lenora
in the opera "Il Travatore". A few years later Craft moved to Germany and began to sing in the cities of Mainz and Kiel. While
in Germany Craft became the first American woman to ever be invited to perform for the imperial family. World War I put Craft's
career on hold in Germany so she returned to the United States and began performing with the San Carlo Opera Company. Unable
to obtain the same level of fame in the United States, she returned to Europe to perform until her retirement in the 1930's.
She moved back to Riverside after retiring where she established the Riverside Opera Company and taught music until her death
on December 12, 1959.
Collection Scope and Contents
This collection is compromised of photographs, reviews, correspondence, sheet music, and other material regarding the personal
and professional life of Marcella Craft. Included in this collection are photographs from her early childhood, materials from
her teaching years at the Marcella Craft School of Opera, and personal correspondence from various individuals, most of which
is in German. Programs, newspaper clippings, and hand written reviews regarding Craft's performances as well as sheet music
from composers such as Richard Strauss, Bellini, and several others are also included.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into four series as follows:
- Series 1. Photographs, 1899-1948, undated
- Series 2. Printed material, 1905-1990
- Series 3. Correspondence and notes, 1910-1931, undated
- Series 4. Sheet music, undated
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Opera
Riverside (Calif.)
Sopranos (Singers)
Genres and Forms of Materials
Correspondence
Photographs
Sheet music
Series 1. Photographs
1899-1948, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs of Marcella Craft as well as her family and friends. Imagery of landscapes, buildings, religious,
and cultural scenes are also included.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 1, Folder 1
Photographs of Craft including her family and friends
1899-1948
Box 1, Folder 2
Photographs of landscapes and buildings
undated
Box 1, Folder 3
Photographs of religious and cultural scenes
undated
Box 3, Folder 9
Portraits of Craft throughout the years
undated
Series 2. Printed material
1905-1990
Series Scope and Contents
This series primarily contains concert and opera programs that Marcella Craft was featured in, as well as various other opera
programs that pertain to Craft on either a professional or personal level. Handwritten reviews and press clippings pertaining
to Craft and her opera performances are also found within the series.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged into four folders based on subject matter.
Box 1, Folder 4
Concert and opera programs pertaining to Craft's career
1915-1940
Box 1, Folder 5
Reviews of Craft's performances (handwritten)
1905-1913
Box 1, Folder 6
Press clippings pertaining to Craft's career (includes photocopies)
1907-1990
Box 1, Folder 7
Programs of operas (German)
1949-1970
Box 2, Folder 1
Programs of operas (German)
1949-1970
Series 3. Correspondence and notes
1910-1931, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains correspondence, notes, and teaching materials. Includes Craft's notes on staging and music include several
illustrations and drawings of the stage and opera settings as well as a few pages of sheet music. The teaching materials include
notebooks and fliers pertaining to the Marcella Craft School of Opera.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 2, Folder 2
Correspondence received by Marcella Craft
1910-1915
Box 2, Folder 3
Notes and illustrations pertaining to staging and music
1911
Box 2, Folder 4
Notes and fliers pertaining to the Marcella Craft School of Opera
1930-1931, undated
Series 4. Sheet music
undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains sheet music from various operas that were collected and kept by Marcella Craft.
Some of the music found in this series was specifically written for Marcella Craft by various composers. Includes sheet music
by Bellini, Marion Bauer, Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, A Guagini-Benvenuti, Richard Strauss, and others.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 3, Folder 1
Sheet music by Richard Strauss
undated
Box 3, Folder 2
Sheet music by Mrs. H.H.A. Beach
undated
Box 3, Folder 3
Sheet music by Bellini
undated
Box 3, Folder 4
Music composed for Craft
undated
Box 3, Folders 5-8
Sheet music by various composers
undated