Finding Aid to the Estelle Carpenter Papers, 1891-1948
MS 1577A
Finding aid prepared by California Historical Society staff; revised by
David Krah, 2009
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
2001, revised 2009
Title: Estelle Carpenter papers
Date (inclusive): 1891-1948
Collection Number: MS
1577A
Creator:
Carpenter, Estelle, 1874-1948
Physical Description:
3 cartons, 1 box, 1 flat box
(4.5 Linear feet)
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Abstract: The Estelle Carpenter papers, containing her
correspondence, a variety of published material by and about her, some personal
effects, and a small collection of sheet music and audio recordings reflect her long
and illustrious career as Director of Music in San Francisco Public Schools and as
an active member of many musical societies in California and nationwide.
Information for Researchers
Access
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the California Historical Society. All
requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted
in writing to the Director of Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the owner of the
physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the
copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Estelle Carpenter Papers, MS 1577A. California
Historical Society, Manuscript Collection.
Separated Materials
Photographs shelved as MSP 1577A.
Pink silk dress belonging to Carpenter worn at 1924 Armistice Day celebration at
Fairmont Hotel transferred to Fine Arts Collection, CHS.
Related Materials
Collections of Edith Carpenter Shepard and Thomas Munroe Shepard's diaries,
journals, and letters available at the Northampton Historical Society,
Northampton, Mass.
Existence and Location of Originals
Includes photocopies of letters held at the Northampton Historical Society, from
a collection of papers of Edith Carpenter
Shepherd, Estelle's sister.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Saunders, Richard Drake
Shepard, Thomas Munroe
Shepherd, Edith Carpenter,
1876-1969
Addresses.
Concerts--California--San Francisco.
Programs.
Public schools--California--San Francisco.
School music supervision--California--San
Francisco.
Phonograph records.
Sheet music.
Songbooks.
Administrative Information
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Northampton Historical Society, acquired on various unknown dates.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by CHS staff; additions processed by David Krah.
Arrangement
The Estelle Carpenter Papers are divided into five series: Series 1: Correspondence;
Series 2: Articles and Publications; Series 3: Notebooks, Scrapbooks and
Memorabilia; Series 4: Sheet Music; Series 5: Audio Recordings.
Biography
Estelle Carpenter served as Supervisor of Music for San Francisco Public Schools from
1897 to 1945. Known as that "dynamo in skirts," she inspired generations of school
children to "breathe deeply," and sing praises to San Francisco, "the city we all
love." It was under her guidance that the school system initiated one of the most
innovative and thorough musical programs in the nation. As patriotic as she was
gifted, Carpenter combined modern methods of instruction with tradition and
sentiment.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on October 27, 1874, Carpenter learned to appreciate music
at an early age. She studied both voice and instrumental music, and often attended
performances of the New York Metropolitan Opera House. After her father's death, she
moved to San Francisco and continued her musical education.
Serious about a musical career, Carpenter enrolled in William Tomlin's Conservatory
of Music in Chicago. Tomlin was well respected for his innovative approach regarding
the musical training of young children. It was under his tutelage that Carpenter
developed her own distinctive style of instruction. While at Chicago, she came into
contact with and studied under many diverse and well-known artists, such as William
Piutti and Kate Douglas Wiggin.
Upon graduation, she returned to San Francisco and began teaching "experimental
classes" in music. Impressed with both her talent and dedication, the San Francisco
City Normal School appointed her as their Director of Music. Through her successful
work as Director, Carpenter was offered the position of Supervisor of Music for all
of San Francisco Public Schools.
Carpenter's rigorous program included the study of rhythm, musical history and
theory, harmony, as well as individual and group instruction. Her goal was to
combine appreciation, composition and performance in such a way as to "give an
insight into the abiding spiritual power of music," and to "provide a medium of self
expression through voice, body and instrument."
As Supervisor of Music, she staged numerous musical pageants for the City of San
Francisco, including celebrations for the Portola Festival, 1909; Admissions Day,
1910; Panama Pacific International Exposition, 1915; Armistice Day Festivals,
1927-1941; and, the Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939. Following the 1906
Earthquake and Fire, she was active with the San Francisco School Reconstruction
Fund, staging concerts and raising funds to rebuild the schools.
Among her many professional affiliations were the San Francisco Opera Guild, National
Federation of Musical Clubs, as well as being a founding member of the San Francisco
Light Opera Association, California Western Musical Conference, and the Young
People's Concert Symphony.
In 1945 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors issued a testimonial of gratitude to
Carpenter in recognition of her "meterious and faithful service." When Estelle
Carpenter died in 1948, thousands of former school children mourned.
Scope and Contents
The Estelle Carpenter Papers offer an insight into the personal and professional
dedication of Estelle Carpenter, as well as the growth of music appreciation in San
Francisco schools, and the great respect the community held for her. The
collection's many publications contain Ms. Carpenter's approach to music education,
and codify her philosophy of music as a "vital factor in education", and as a part
of life.
The numerous programs, annoucements and memorabilia remember the great impact she had
on public life in San Francisco as she led choruses of often several thousand
children at events such as the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, Golden Gate
International Exposition, The Portola Festival, the dedication of McLaren Park, and
many annual celebrations.
Her role as an educator and pillar of the community is emphasized as well, reflected
in letters of appreciation, documents pertaining to the reconstruction of San
Francisco schools after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, articles about Carpenter and
her work, a recording of a radio broadcast remembering her life, and detailed
accounts of many of the pageants and performances that she orchestrated. Included
also are sheet music, and personal effects such as sewing and art workbooks,
notebooks and scrapbooks.
Series 1
Correspondence
1900-1948
Physical Description:
1 carton, 18 folders
Scope and Contents
Consists of letters from Estelle's sister, Edith Capenter Shepard, as well as
letters received from Estelle's brother-in-law (and Edith's husband) Thomas
Munroe Shepard. Additional correspondence relating to Estelle's position as
a music educator, including reports, letters of appreciation, and blank
stationery from organizations and public events.
Arrangement
Series 1 is divided into two subseries: 1.1: Correspondence with Edith
Carpenter Shepard, and 1.2: Professional and personal correspondence.
Subseries 1.1
Correspondence with Edith Carpenter
Shepard
1913-1947
Physical Description:
10 folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Existence and Location of Originals
Includes photocopies of letters held at the Northampton Historical
Society, from a collection of papers of Edith
Carpenter Shepherd, Estelle's sister.
Carton 1, Folder 9
Correspondence with Thomas Munroe
Shepard
1908-1917
Carton 1, Folder 10
Fragments and miscellaneous
undated
Subseries 1.2
Professional and Personal Correspondence
1900-1948
Physical Description:
8 folders
Arrangement
Arranged by type of material.
Carton 1, Folder 11
Reports to Superintendent of Schools and California
Federation of Music Clubs
1916-1940,
1941-1943
Carton 1, Folder 12-14
Miscellaneous correspondence
1908-1945
Carton 1, Folder 15-16
Letters of appreciation
1900-1948
Carton 1, Folder 17
Letters and tributes commemorating career at
retirement
1945-1946
Carton 1, Folder 18
Stationery from organizations and public events
1909-1935
Series 2
Articles and Publications
1897-1948
Physical Description:
1 carton, 17 folders
Scope and Contents
Consists of whole publications, fragments, and typescripts and manuscripts of
articles written by and about Estelle Carpenter. Included are miscellaneous
biographical materials, consisting of encyclopedia entries, obituaries and
other articles, and genealogical materials relating to the Carpenter family.
Publications include several different education and music society
bulletins, as well as newspaper clippings, a bound compendium of
music-related articles, and the typescript and related materials of a KNBC
radio broadcast about Ms. Carpenter's life.
Arrangement
Series 2 has been divided into four subseries: 2.1: Biographical Materials;
2.2: Typescripts and Manuscripts; 2.3: Printed Materials; 2.4: News
Clippings.
Subseries 2.1
Biographical Materials
1932-1949
Physical Description:
2 folders
Arrangement
Arranged by type of material.
Carton 2, Folder 1
Miscellaneous biographical articles and
obituaries
1932-1949
Carton 2, Folder 2
Carpenter genealogy
undated
Subseries 2.2
Typescripts and Manuscripts
undated
Physical Description:
4 folders
Arrangement
Arranged by type of material.
Carton 2, Folder 3-4
Articles and speeches by Estelle Carpenter
undated
Carton 2, Folder 5-6
Articles and radio broadcasts about Estelle
Carpenter
undated
Subseries 2.3
Printed Materials
1906-1951
Physical Description:
8 folders, 1 volume
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by publication title.
Carton 2, Folder 7
California Federation of Music
Clubs
1923-1927
Carton 2, Folder 8
California Parent-Teacher Bulletin
1929-1939
Carton 2, Folder 9
Journal of Education,
San Francisco Public Schools Bulletin
1907-1927,
1945-1949
Carton 2, Folder 10-12
Miscellaneous publications
1906-1948
Carton 2, Folder 13
KNBC Broadcast -
This is Your Home
1951
Carton 2, Volume 1
Music and Dance in California and the
West
1948
Oversize Box 1, Folder 1
Music and the Allied Arts
1935-1936
Subseries 2.4
News Clippings
1897-1948
Physical Description:
4 folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Carton 2, Folder 16-17
Miscellaneous clippings
undated
Series 3
Notebooks, Scrapbooks, and Memorabilia
1891-1948
Physical Description:
1 carton, 16 folders
Scope and Contents
Consists of Estelle Carpenter's personal effects and memorabilia including
programs, invitations, tickets, announcements, and certificates, notebooks
and workbooks containing writing and sewing and art exercises, and
scrapbooks reflecting her interests in poetry and culture.
Arrangement
Arranged into 2 subseries: 3.1 Programs and Memorabilia, and 3.2 Notebooks,
Scrapbooks, and Workbooks.
Subseries 3.1
Programs and Memorabilia
1891-1948
Physical Description:
5 folders, 1 volume
Scope and Contents
Contains miscellaneous programs, annoucements, and invitations to various
public events, as well as certificates of achievment and membership to
various clubs and organizations.
Arrangement
Arranged by type of material.
Carton 3, Folder 4
Announcements and certificates
1895-1948
Oversize Box 1, folder 4
Where Nature Leads Through Paths of
Peace
1916
Dedication of Elizabeth Carpenter's (Estelle Carpenter's mother)
internment at Cypress Lawn Cemetery.
Subseries 3.2
Notebooks, Scrapbooks, and Workbooks
1894-1924
Physical Description:
11 folders
Arrangement
Arranged by type of material.
Carton 3, Folder 6
Music notation workbooks
undated
Carton 3, Folder 7
Textbooks, publications and receipts
undated
Carton 3, Folder 8
Weaving and sewing workbooks
undated
Carton 3, Folder 9-10
Miscellaneous workbooks
undated
Carton 3, Folder 16
Rubber stamps [3 items]
undated
Series 4
Sheet Music
undated
Physical Description:
2 folders
Scope and Content
Consists of some whole and some fragmentary sheet music either used or
composed or adapted by Estelle Carpenter.
Arrangement
Arranged in two folders.
Oversize Box 1, Folder 2-3
Series 5
Audio Recordings
undated
Physical Description:
8 phonograph records
Scope and Contents
Consists of eight 78 RPM phonograph records pertaining to Estelle Carpenter's
life and career as a music educator. It includes 2 discs from the
Standard School Broadcast series, a Standard Oil-produced music education program,
on whose advisory board Ms. Carpenter participated. 4 discs comprise a 1951
KNBC broadcast of a show entitled
This is Your Home, a regular series of San
Francisco reminisences written by Samuel
Dickson, in which the author recounts his experience as a
student of Ms. Carpenter's. Also included is a recording of
California Lullaby, performed by Rudy Seiger's Fairmont Hotel Orchestra. Ms.
Carpenter led a performance of this song with a cadre of her students,
accompanied by Mr. Seiger's orchestra, at the Fairmont hotel.
Box 1, Disc 1-2
Standard School Broadcast
undated
Box 1, Disc 7
Freedom's Call, by Schreiber, Felix
undated
Box 1, Disc 8
California Lullaby/
My Dearest Prayer performed by
Rudy Seiger's Fairmont Hotel
Orchestra.
undated
