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Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/perform.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2006568218
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
The initial collection was given by Marya Mannes and David Blow in 1966 and 1990-1991. Additional material was acquired in 2018 from Elena Mannes, daughter of Leopold Mannes and Evelyn Sabin. In 2022, 37 letters were purchased and added to the collection.
No further accruals are expected.
Margaret Collins processed the Mannes-Damrosch Collection in 1995 and Wilda M. Heiss revised it in 1997. Michael A. Ferrando coded the finding aid in 2007. Morgen Stevens-Garmon incorporated new material (boxes 37-39) in 2019.
Two other related collections in the Music Division at the Library of Congress include the Damrosch-Blaine Collection from the Walter Damrosch family and the Damrosch-Tee Van Collection from the Frank Damrosch family, both brothers of Clara Damrosch Mannes. Additionally, both published and unpublished music and/or published writings by Leopold, Walter, and Frank Damrosch, David and Clara Mannes, and Leopold and Marya Mannes have been classified and placed in the general collections of the Library of Congress.
The status of copyright on the materials of the Mannes - Damrosch Collection is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
The Mannes - Damrosch Collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Performing Arts Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use. Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: container number, Mannes - Damrosch Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The Mannes-Damrosch Collection comprises correspondence and other materials from the Mannes family—David and Clara Damrosch Mannes and their children Leopold and Marya Mannes—and members of the Damrosch family including Leopold Damrosch and his sons, Frank and Walter Damrosch. The collection spans 1848-1986, with the majority of the materials dating from 1900-1950. It includes biographical materials, correspondence, writings, music, programs, clippings, artwork, photographs, awards, and other materials.
The Biographical materials include a copy of "The Autobiography of Leopold Damrosch," written when he was eighteen and living in Posen, and "Tante's Story," written by Marie von Heimburg, the aunt of Clara, Frank, and Walter Damrosch who helped raise them and the Mannes' children. These two documents exist also in the other two Damrosch collections in the Music Division. The remaining items include an incomplete biography of Clara Damrosch Mannes and an album and an article written by Leopold Mannes about his trips to Europe.
The Correspondence consists of letters written between members of the Mannes and Damrosch families and by others to both families. This series contains correspondence between Leopold Mannes and Evelyn Sabin in the five years leading up to their wedding in 1940. Some important correspondents include Percy Goetschius, Franz Liszt (only a translation from the original), Daniel Gregory Mason, Sergei Rachmaninoff, John D. Rockefeller, Artur Schnabel, Johannes Schreyer, Randall Thompson, and James Thurber.
The Writings contain primarily stories, poems, and essays by Marya Mannes. A large
number of the poems are signed "Sec," which was her pen name she used at
The Music consists chiefly of holograph scores, parts and sketches of compositions by
Leopold Damrosch and of arrangements or transcriptions by him. Included are many songs,
violin and vocal works, a music sketch of the
The Photographs consist of photoprints and twenty-eight albums of photoprints. Possibly, the quantity of the photographic materials is directly related to Leopold Mannes' early interest in photography. He and Leopold Godowsky conducted experiments for many years to develop a color process which eventually resulted in the co-invention of the Kodachrome process at the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York. The photoprints extend primarily to David and Clara Mannes and their children and the first and second generations of the Damrosch family. The photographic albums primarily center on the Mannes family, especially family vacations including Mannesden, the Mannes' summer home on Lake Champlain, and travels in the United States, Cuba and Europe. Two albums contain photoprints by Leopold Mannes in 1938 of his father conducting an orchestra at the free Museum Concerts which David Mannes presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for twenty-eight years until 1947.
The Artwork in the collection includes portraits of various members of the Mannes and Damrosch families and numerous miscellaneous subjects. The engraving plate of a portrait of Leopold Damrosch and two photogravure plates of portraits of David Mannes with his violin are included. Many sketches by Clara Damrosch Mannes, who displayed a talent for art as well as music, are represented. Most likely, a significant number of the unidentified works are by her also. Among the pencil sketches are drawings of Alfred Cortot, with whom Leopold Mannes studied piano in Paris. The sculptures of Mayra Mannes are represented by photographic reproductions, one of which is of her uncle, Walter Damrosch.
Other materials included are: some financial and legal documents; programs from performances by Clara and David Mannes, David Mannes, and Leopold Mannes; clippings pertaining to Leopold and Walter Damrosch, David and Clara Mannes and their children, Leopold and Marya; scrapbook of clippings documenting Leopold Mannes and the development of Kodachrome; another scrapbook for David Mannes' 90th birthday; awards primarily given to Marya Mannes; subject files, one of which pertains to David Mannes' involvement in the Music School Settlement for Colored People which he founded; and a few other miscellaneous items.
Margaret Collins, January 1995
Wilda M. Heiss, revised March 1997
The Mannes - Damrosch Collection is organized in 13 series:
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2006568218
Biographical materials consist of manuscripts and typescripts written by members of the Damrosch and Mannes families.
Arranged alphabetically by author, then by title.
Correspondence consists of letters written to and from Damrosch and Mannes family members and by others to members of both families, a few in translation only.
Arranged alphabetically by author, then chronologically.
Writings consist of manuscripts, typescripts and one printed book written by members of both the Damrosch and Mannes families.
Arranged alphabetically by author, then by title.
Contents
Contents
Contents
Music consists of original manuscripts by Leopold Damrosch, manuscripts of compositions arranged or transcribed by Leopold Damrosch, original manuscripts by Edmund Singer, several early works by Leopold Mannes, and copyist's manuscripts of other compositions.
Arranged alphabetically by composer, then by title.
Contents:
Folders:
Financial papers include miscellaneous items from David, Clara, and Leopold Mannes; Legal papers include passport, contract, and report cards.
Arranged chronologically by date.
Printed and typescript programs of music performances, lecture and commencement exercises.
Arranged alphabetically by organization or event, then chronologically by date.
Handmade 25th wedding anniversary album for Walter and Margaret Damrosch, clippings on Leopold Mannes performances and the development of Kodachrome, and a scrapbook of clippings, programs, letters, telegrams, a photograph, and a brochure for David Mannes' 90th birthday.
Arranged chronologically by date.
Printed and typescript clippings from magazines and newspapers.
Arranged alphabetically by person, then chronologically.
The Photographs series is represented by two subseries: Photoprints ; Albums. Photoprints consist of black & white positive prints. Albums consist of black & white prints, some color positive prints.
Arrangement is by subseries, then by alphabetically by subject or chronologically by date.
Artwork consists of pencil sketches, ink drawings, pastel drawings, watercolors, engraving and photogravure plates and reproductions of drawings, sketches and sculptures.
Arranged alphabetically by subject or title, then by medium.
Awards consist of certificates, diploma, and plaques.
Arranged alphabetically by recipient, then name of presenter.
Subject files consist of letters, printed clippings from magazines and newspapers, printed and typescript brochures and programs, photographs, burial documents.
Arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.
Miscellaneous consists of locks of hair, contents of wallet, and lists.
Arranged alphabetically by person.
Contents: