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.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
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

Box 2

Guest book 1912

 

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