Fredricks (Jessica) Collection of Autographs and Letters, 1879-1965, bulk 1879-1950

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Summary

Title:
Jessica Fredricks Collection of Autographs and Letters
Dates:
1879-1965, bulk 1879-1950
Creators:
Fredricks, Jessica M.
Abstract:
Original autographs and letters by actors, musicians, authors, politicians, artists, and others, assembled by Jessica Fredricks, Head of the Music Department, San Francisco Public Library.
Extent:
( .4 Cubic Feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jessica Fredricks Collection of Autographs and Letters (BASC 14), Marjorie G. and Carl W. Stern Book Arts & Special Collections, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The Jessica Fredricks Collection of Autographs and Letters is a library compiled collection consisting of 132 autographs and letters in pencil and ink, probably developed out of Musicians' Letters: An Autograph Collection, 1880-1966, located in the Art, Music, & Recreation Center. Jessica Fredricks, Head of the Library's Music Department from 1917-1950, organized several noteworthy music collections over the course of her career, including the Northern California Composers List. The Jessica Fredricks Collection of Autographs and Letters includes signatures (clipped signatures and signatures removed from autograph albums), correspondence, signed visiting cards, poems, programs, portraits and photographs of celebrated persons in education, politics, literature, science, religion, and the arts. The predominant number of autographs are by artists associated with the theater. Most autographs date from 1879 to 1965. A large number of signed quotations are in the hand of theatrical personalities. Some theater figures have included the titles of plays and names of local theatres with their signatures, information which helps to further identify performers.

The collection also includes Raymond E. F. Larson's gift of letters from Harriet Whedon--Edith Kermit Roosevelt, President William Howard Taft; an autograph by Rear Admiral R. D. Evans, and an insurance policy for the American schooner John, signed by eight policy holders, dated July 30, 1796. Also, a letter by Mongkut, King of Siam, dated March 27, 1855, to Sir John Bowring, was anonymously donated to the Library. Also included is an undated manuscript by English literary critic Cyril Connolly, for the “Comment” section of Horizon: A Review of Literature, later published in volume 1, no. 1, February 1940.

Acquisition information:
The collection was most likely assembled by Jessica Fredricks (sometimes spelled Fredericks), Head of San Francisco Public Library's Music Department (1917-1950), as an offshoot of the Musicians' Letters: An Autograph Collection, 1880-1966, located in the Art, Music Recreation Center. Most autographs and letters reflect the same period of collecting as the Musicians' Letters. Several autographed letters had been directed to Fredricks and other library staff in answer to requests for information, as responses to congratulatory notes; and as correspondence about materials in the Library's collection. Several autographs include SFPL accession numbers from that time. The collection was transferred to the Book Arts Special Collections Center at an unknown date, possibly during the consolidation of special collections to form this department, 1964 through the early 1970s.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged alphabetically by author's surname.

Physical location:
Collection is stored onsite.
Physical facet:
1 manuscript box
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid composed by Andrea V. Grimes. Uploaded by Freya Channing.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-10-27 18:36:13 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research and is available for use during Book Arts & Special Collections hours.

Terms of access:

Some materials are fragile and may not be photocopied.

Copyright has not been assigned to the San Francisco Public Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to Book Arts & Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jessica Fredricks Collection of Autographs and Letters (BASC 14), Marjorie G. and Carl W. Stern Book Arts & Special Collections, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
bookarts@sfpl.org
Website