Finding Aid for the Albert and Elaine Atwood Collection on Thilo Becker and Otie Chew PASC-M.0060

Finding aid prepared by Doug Johnson, 2015; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Finding aid last updated 17 May 2016.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu


Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Albert and Elaine Atwood collection on Thilo Becker and Otie Chew
Identifier/Call Number: PASC-M.0060
Physical Description: 2 Linear Feet (4 flat boxes, 1 document box)
Date (inclusive): circa 1888-1984
Abstract: The collection consists of material relating to the careers of Thilo Becker and Otie Chew, prominent Los Angeles musicians and music teachers. There are clippings and programs relating to their performance and teaching careers, and to the performance careers of several of their students. There are also scrapbooks documenting piano concerts given in Los Angeles from 1915-1956.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Albert and Elaine Atwood Collection on Thilo Becker and Otie Chew (Collection PASC-M 60). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 994622603606533 

Biography/History

Thilo Becker and Otie Chew were a married couple who were prominent musicians and music teachers in Los Angeles throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Becker, a pianist, was born in Australia in 1868, and spent several years studying in Leipzig, Germany before emigrating to Los Angeles in 1894. He gave a few recitals, but quickly gained more prominence as a teacher than as a performer. Chew, a violinist, was born in London in 1880 and was recognized as a child prodigy, earning a scholarship to the Royal College of Music at the age of 11. In 1907 she moved to Los Angeles and met Becker, and the two soon married. They enjoyed a prominent place in Los Angeles musical society, teaching scores of students and hosting guests at their home studio on Alvarado Street. In the 1930s they revived their performing careers for some time, giving a number of dual recitals in the city. Thilo Becker died on December 16, 1944 and Otie Chew Becker died on January 22, 1953.
Albert and Elaine Atwood were friends of Otie Chew. Elaine was Chew's youngest pupil, but they did not have a social relationship until Becker's death in 1944. As a widow, Chew became a close friend to both the Atwoods, traveling with them on many occasions and entrusting them with portions of her estate.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of material relating to the careers of Thilo Becker and Otie Chew, and to the careers of their students. There are clippings and programs, mostly contained in scrapbooks. There is an unpublished book manuscript by Becker and a small amount of music composed by him. There is a small amount of material regarding Richard Wagner, including cards depicting scenes from his operas. Also of interest are scrapbooks compiled by Marjorie Barker, a student of Becker's, that document a large number of piano concerts given in Los Angeles over the course of decades.

Organization and Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:
  • Series 1. Personal papers
  • Series 2. Scrapbooks
  • Series 3. Music manuscripts

Processing Information

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Subjects and Indexing Terms

Musicians -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives.
Becker, Thilo
Chew, Otie

 

Series 1. Personal papers

Scope and Content

This series consists primarily of material relating to the careers of pianist Thilo Becker and his wife, violinist Otie Chew.
box 5, folder 1

Biographical information for Thilo Becker and Otie Chew 1895-ca. 1984

Scope and Contents

Includes photocopies of Chew's certificate of admission to Windsor Castle; typed anecdotes related by Albert Atwood.
box 5, folder 2

Book manuscript 1932

Scope and Contents

"Thoughts Relating Principally to Music" by Thilo Becker [includes copy of telegram from Ignace Paderewski].
box 5, folder 3

Cards - Richard Wagner undated

Scope and Contents

Twelve cards depicting scenes from Wagner operas; post card for Parsifal.
box 5, folder 4

Correspondence 1891-1944

Scope and Contents

Includes letters from Otie Chew to her parents; copy of a cable from Ignace Paderewski to Thilo Becker.
box 5, folder 5

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra 1967

Scope and Content

Contains program for world tour by Shibley Boyes [two copies, one inscribed by Boyes].
box 5, folder 6

Photographs

Scope and Content

Includes portrait of Richard Wagner; photos of Paloma Schramm and Shibley Boyes.
box 5, folder 7

Photographs - Otie Chew 1895 and undated

box 5, folder 8

Photographs - Thilo Becker undated

box 5, folder 9

Photographs - Thilo Becker and Otie Chew undated

box 5, folder 10

Programs 1890-1951

Scope and Content

Contains programs for performances by Otie Chew, Thilo Becker, Paloma Schramm, and Olga Steeb; program for memorial service of Los Angeles Times music critic Isabel Morse Jones.
box 5, folder 11

Clippings 1888-1953

box 5, folder 12

Journals of C.F.W. Schramm 1897-1899

 

Series 2. Scrapbooks 1915-1956

box 1

Scrapbook 1915-1951

Scope and Contents

Contains clippings and programs regarding piano concerts in the Los Angeles area, compiled by Marjorie Barker. [unbound]
box 2

Scrapbook 1923-1956

Scope and Content

Contains clippings and programs regarding piano concerts in the Los Angeles area, compiled by Marjorie Baker. [unbound]
box 3

Scrapbook 1933-1937

Scope and Content

Contains clippings and programs regarding Thilo Becker and Otie Chew.
box 4

Scrapbook 1922-1955

Scope and Contents

Contains clippings and programs regarding the students of Thilo Becker [unbound]
box 4

Photocopies 1915-1949

Scope and Content

Contains photocopies of various pages from the scrapbooks in the collection.
 

Series 3. Music manuscripts

Scope and Content

Contains handwritten music manuscripts.
box 3

Caruthers Conway compositions 1944-1945

box 3

Im Walde et. al. [Friedrich von Bodenstedt and others] 1903

box 3

Paloma Schramm compositions 1904

box 3

Thilo Becker compositions [some cowritten with Paloma Schramm-Baruch] undated