John Alden Carpenter Collection
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2010563508
General International Standard for Archival Description
Music Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Finding Aid encoded by Library of Congress Music Division, 2005
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
John Alden Carpenter Collection1891-1961 (bulk 1900-1949)
Carpenter, John Alden, 1876-1951
Biographical History for: John Alden Carpenter Collection1891-1961 (bulk 1900-1949)
Biographical Sketch John Alden Carpenter was born Feb. 28, 1876 in Park Ridge, Illinois. His earliest musical studies were with Amy Fay and W.C.E. Seeboeck in Chicago and J.K. Paine at Harvard University, from which he graduated in 1897. Other musical studies included a few lessons with Edward Elgar in Rome in 1906 and four years of study with Bernhard Ziehn in Chicago (1908-1912), with subsequent studies under Ziehn disciple Julius Gold in the years that followed. Like his father, Carpenter was by profession in the shipping business, serving as vice-president of the family firm George B. Carpenter & Co. until he retired in 1936 to devote himself entirely to music. Carpenter's musical compositions include both songs and orchestral concert and stage works. His earliest orchestral work, Adventures in a Perambulator, was written in 1914 and was the first of many successes. The ballet Skyscrapers (1923-1924), performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1926, was one of the first attempts at a literal depiction of modern American urban life, and thus has been accorded a certain historical significance. Other stage works include a "jazz pantomime" entitled Krazy Kat (1921), based on the comic strip by George Herriman, and a ballet-pantomime with Spanish overtones, The Birthday of the Infanta (1917). Carpenter was also considered an outstanding composer of songs; of particular note are the song cycles Gitanjali (1913, orchestrated 1934), a setting of a collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore, and Water-colors (1916, orchestrated 1918), based on the writings of Confucius and other Chinese poets. Carpenter's commissions include Song of Faith (1932) for the George Washington Bicentennial in 1932, and the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge commissions of his String Quartet (1927) and Piano Quintet (1934). Carpenter was a highly successful composer in his day, being named a Knight of the French Legion of Honor (1921) and receiving such honors as the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. He also received honorary degrees from Harvard University, Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin, and the American Conservatory of Music. Carpenter died Apr. 26, 1951, in Chicago.
Scope and Content Note The John Alden Carpenter Collection spans the years 1891 to 1961 and contains music materials, correspondence, writings, photographs and artwork, certificates and honors, programs, clippings and scrapbooks. The bulk of the collection consists of musical materials, primarily holograph manuscripts of Carpenter's songs, orchestral pieces, and dramatic works. The holograph manuscripts of Carpenter's songs are perhaps the most remarkable feature of the collection, as they include not only his better-known works but also many that have never been published. Notable among these are numerous unpublished youthful works, such as "Brother," "My Red Hair," and "My Horror," as well as several songs from the cycles Gitanjali and Water-Colors. Carpenter's chamber and orchestral works are well represented also. For many works that Carpenter later arranged or revised, the collection contains both the original and at least one revision. The materials for Birthday of the Infanta, for example, consist of three full scores, including both the 1918 original and a revised version from 1949, as well as holograph changes to the 1949 revision; a holograph arrangement for piano, 4 hands (1938); the composer's reduction of the first movement vocalise, with harp and piano accompaniment; and numerous sketches. A number of the printed scores of Carpenter's music in the collection feature holograph annotations or alterations. Carpenter's musical compositions include both songs and orchestral concert and stage works. His earliest orchestral work, Adventures in a Perambulator, was written in 1914 and was the first of many successes. The ballet Skyscrapers (1923-24), performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1926, was one of the first attempts at a literal depiction of modern American urban life, and thus has been accorded a certain historical significance. Other stage works include a "jazz pantomime" entitled Krazy Kat (1921), based on the comic strip by George Herriman, and a ballet-pantomime with Spanish overtones, The Birthday of the Infanta (1917). Carpenter was also considered an outstanding composer of songs; of particular note are the song cycles Gitanjali (1913, orchestrated 1934), a setting of a collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore, and Water-colors (1916, orchestrated 1918), based on the writings of Confucius and other Chinese poets. Carpenter's commissions include Song of Faith (1932) for the George Washington Bicentennial in 1932, and the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge commissions of his String Quartet (1927) and Piano Quintet (1934). Selected scores are cataloged and shelved under ML96.C274, ML96.5.C33, ML96.N22c, ML29c.C3, and ML96.D42 and are indicated as such in this finding aid. The bulk of the correspondence in the collection consists of letters from Carpenter to Ellen Borden (Mrs. John Borden, also addressed as Mrs. Waller Borden), who became Carpenter's second wife in 1933. This twenty-five year correspondence dates from approximately 1910 to 1935, and although the letters are largely personal in nature, they do contain mention of various compositions and productions. The remaining correspondence contains items to Carpenter by various colleagues and friends, including George Whitefield Chadwick, Percy Grainger, Frederick Stock, Leopold Stokowski, and Walter Damrosch. There is also considerable correspondence from the 1940's between Carpenter and his publisher, G. Schirmer. Carpenter's writings in the collection consist primarily of his program notes for works such as Adventures in a Perambulator, Skyscrapers, The Seven Ages, and the song cycle Gitanjali, as well as the stage works Krazy Kat and The Birthday of the Infanta. Many of the typescript texts for songs and dramatic works include emendations in Carpenter's hand. Other writings include a typescript entitled The Art of the Theatre by designer Robert Edmund Jones, who worked with Carpenter on a number of his stage productions, and a humorous illustrated book by Deems Taylor entitled Moments Mousical (1949), with drawings by Walter Kumme. Of particular note are the numerous photographs and watercolors of the sets and costumes of Carpenter's stage productions. These include photographs of the shadow puppets from Krazy Kat and of both stage designs and stagings for the Birthday of the Infanta. In addition, there are numerous ink and watercolor sketches of costume designs by Robert Edmund Jones for the Birthday of the Infanta. Two charcoal drawings of Carpenter in the collection are also by Jones. The remainder of the collection consists of certificates and honors, a variety of biographical materials, programs, and clippings. Three large scrapbooks include not only clippings and programs but also photographs from stage productions and letters received by Carpenter. Claudia J. Widgery, March 1993
series
Personal Papers, 1891-1961
Biographical materials from the life of John Alden Carpenter.
file
Biographical data (manuscript and typed), including dates of compositions and data on first performances
School report cards, 1891-1892
Family papers, including both manuscript and typescript descriptions of Carpenter's ancestors, family histories, as well as relevant correspondence and clippings
Coat of arms, family portraits
Writings, circa 1913-1951
Carpenter's program notes for various productions, typescript texts for songs and dramatic works that include emendations in Carpenter's hand, and writings by others, including a typescript entitled The Art of the Theatre by designer Robert Edmund Jones, who worked with Carpenter on a number of his stage productions, and a humorous illustrated book by Deems Taylor entitled Moments Mousical (1949), with drawings by Walter Kumme.
subseries
Writings of John Alden Carpenter
"A Foreword to the Wise" (manuscript)
"Words of Wisdom" (typescript)
Program notes on Adventures in a Perambulator
Program notes on The Birthday of the Infanta
Program notes on Gitanjali
Program notes on Krazy Kat
Program notes on The Seven Ages
Program notes on Skyscrapers
Writings of Others
Jones, Robert Edmund
The Art of the Theatre
Koo, T. Z. (compiler)
Songs of Cathay: An anthology of songs current in various parts of China among her people Shanghai, China: The Association Press, undated
Pierson, Thomas C.
John Alden Carpenter. Dissertation proposal, Eastman School of Music, Nov. 1951
Taylor, Deems
Moments Mousical. Chicago: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., 1949
Young, Stark
Somebody's Saint
Birthday of the Infanta, text excerpts
Hyacinth, incomplete text
Khaki Sammy
Typescript with pencil emendations in hand of Carpenter
Song of Faith, text
Typescript with title and attribution in hand of Carpenter
Miscellaneous poetry texts
Correspondence, 1910-1940s
Includes correspondence from Carpenter to his second wife Ellen Borden and correspondence to and from Carpenter by various colleagues and friends, including a considerable amount between Carpenter and his publisher, G. Schirmer.
Letters from John Alden Carpenter to Ellen Carpenter
Letters by Category
"Imagery and Humor"
"Interest and Ideas"
"Referring to Music"
Letters by Year
undated
Letters to John Alden Carpenter
American Institute of Arts and Letters see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Barrère, Georges see: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Benedek, Theodore Alfred
Biancolli, [?]
Bloch, Joseph
Cadman, Charles Wakefield see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Cameron, Basil see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Chadwick, George Whitefield see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Chasins, Abram
Coolidge, Elizabeth Sprague see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Copland, Aaron
Damrosch, Walter See also: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
De Lamarter, Eric see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Dumesnil, Maurice
Engel, Carl see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Fisher, Renée B.
Flagler, Harry H.
G. Schirmer, Inc.
Gilman, Lawrence see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Gold, Julius see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Golschmann, Vladimir See also: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Grainger, Percy Aldridge See also: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Gunn, Glenn Dillard see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Harvard University see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Hasselmann, C. see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Hurlbut, Byron Satterlee
Janssen, Werner see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942 see: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Kernochan, Marshall see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Kindler, Hans
Koussevitzky, Serge see: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Lewis, [John?] Hamilton see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
MacKinnon, Douglas A.
Massine, Leonide
Mueller, Herb
N., "Hump" T.
Piatigorsky, Gregor see: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Rodzinski, Artur see: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
Schirmer, G. see G. Schirmer, Inc.
Serkin, Rudolf
Sousa, John Philip see: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Stock, Frederick A. See also: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Stokowski, Leopold See also: Scrapbook, 1943-1961 See also: Degree certificates from: American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, IL
Stone, John Timothy see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Swarthout, Gladys
U. S. George Washington Bicentennial Commission see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
University of Rochester See also: Scrapbook, 1943-1961
Walter, Bruno see: Scrapbook, 1914-1942
Young, Steve see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Ziehn, Bernard see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Ziehn, Emma see: Scrapbook, 1900-1933
Music, 1904-1951
Includes primarily holograph manuscripts of Carpenter's songs, chamber and orchestral pieces, and dramatic works. Many of his printed scores feature holograph annotations or alterations. Selected scores are cataloged and shelved under ML96.C274, ML96.5.C33, ML96.N22c, ML29c.C3, and ML96.D42 and are indicated as such in this finding aid.
Manuscripts, 1913-1949
About my garden
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 57)
Ad domnulam suam
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 58)
Adventures in a perambulator
Holograph score, revised version ; 105 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 1)
Holograph piano score, incomplete ; [8] p.
Aged woman
America the beautiful
The anxious bugler
Berceuse
Holograph piano score, incomplete ; [4] p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 62)
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 38)
The birthday of the infanta
Holograph full score, with emendations in red and blue pencil ; [184] p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 3)
Holograph sketch, condensed score ; [20], 44, [6] p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 4)
The birthday of the infanta ; arr.
Holograph score for piano, 4 hands, in ink and photocopy ; 44 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 5)
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 6)
The birthday of the infanta. Suite, no. 2
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 7)
The birthday of the infanta. Suite, no. 2 See also: Sketches of the symphony no. 1, The birthday of the infanta, and an unidentified instrumental piece. 191- ] (Mfm.# 3/34)
Holograph full score, in ink and part photocopy ; 60 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 8)
Blue gal
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 39)
Blue gal ; arr.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 40)
Bright truth is still our leader
Brother
Holograph piano-vocal score in purple pencil ; 3 p.
Canterbury bells
Holograph piano-vocal score ; 1 p. (oversize)
Carmel concerto
Holograph, in ink, with corrections in pencil ; 45 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 9)
Chanson d'automne
Les cheminées rouges
Les cheminées rouges See also: Le petit cimetière
Chevaux de bois
Holograph piano-vocal score, incomplete ; [4] p.
Le ciel
The cock shall crow
Cold song
Come
Concertino, piano
Holograph full score, in ink, with blue and red pencil additions and corrections ; 80 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 10)
Holograph two-piano score, incomplete ; p. 17-58
Concertino, piano. New York: G. Schirmer, 1920
Printed two-piano score, with emendations in red ink ; 65 p.
Concertino, piano See also: Unidentified sketches, miscellaneous (Mfm.# 5/66)
Holograph short score of cadenza (optional) ; [4] p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 11)
Concerto, violin
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 12)
Concerto, violin ; arr.
Holograph score, with corrected sections (partly photocopy), pasted in ; 23 p.
The cryin' blues see: Jazz boys see: Shake your brown feet, honey
Dance suite
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 13)
Dansons la gigue!
Holograph piano-vocal sketch (fragment) : [1] p.
Danza
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 60)
Photocopy of holograph piano score ; 5 p.
Dawn in India
Holograph piano-vocal score ; [2] p. (2 copies)
Discontent
Holograph piano-vocal score in purple pencil ; [2] p.
Ditty
Don't ceäre
Dutch dance
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 61)
En sourdine
Endlose Liebe
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 41)
Fanfarette - Berceuse for Richard
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 14)
The faun. Act II, p. 36; Act III, p. 32; Suffragette March
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 59)
The faun. Act II (Page 36)
The faun. Suffragette March
The faun. [Untitled]
The faun. Act III (Page 32)
Holograph full score, incomplete ; [1], 83 p.
Fog wraiths
Four seasons
From hill and plain
From a tree-top
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild
Holograph piano-vocal score ; [2], [1] p.
Gitanjali; arr.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 42)
Copyist's manuscript of full score, with emendations in composer's hand; [82] p.
Gitanjali. No. 6 ; fragment
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 66)
Go, lovely rose
The green river
Holograph piano-vocal score, incomplete ; [2] p.
The heart's country
Her voice
The hermit crab
Highwaymen
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 56)
The home road
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 49)
How to dance
Holograph piano-vocal score in purple pencil ; [3] p.
Il pleure dans mon coeur
Impromptu
Jazz boys See also: Shake your brown feet, honey
Reproduced from holograph piano-vocal score ; [3] p.
Jazz orchestra pieces
Reproduced from holograph scores ; bound volume
Krazy Kat ; a jazz-pantomime
Holograph full score, revised version ; 58 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 15)
Krazy Kat ; arr.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 16)
Holograph piano-vocal score, revised version ; 15 p.
Land of mine
Holograph piano-vocal score and sketch ; [1], [1] p.
Little fly
Little heathen boys
Little nigger
The little prayers of I
The little turtle
Holograph piano-vocal score in blue ink ; [2] p.
Love in the valley
Holograph score, incomplete (vocal part only) ; [2] p.
The marshes of Glynn
Holograph piano-vocal score and sketches ; [4] p.
May the maiden
Memory
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 65)
Menuet
Holograph instrumental parts ; 1 p., 1 p., 1 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 67)
Midnight Nan See also: Jazz boys
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 43)
Miniature
Holograph score for violin & piano ; 3 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 63)
Mistress mine
Reproduced from copyist's piano-vocal score ; 2 p.
Morning fair
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 44)
Mountain! Mountain!
Copyist's piano-vocal score in blue ink ; [2] p.
Copyist's piano-vocal score in black ink, with typed text ; [2] p.
The music doctor's blues
Holograph score for violin and piano ; 3 p.
Music II
MUSIC 1856 (reel 1, item 17)
My horror
My plan
My red hair
The mystery See also: Unidentified sketches, miscellaneous (Mfm.# 5/66)
Night songs. Slumber-song ; arr. see: Slumber song. 1943
Norse lullaby
The odalisque
Oil and vinegar ; for jazz orchestra. 1926
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 18)
On a screen
Patterns. 1930-1932
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 19)
The penitent
Holograph piano-vocal score, incomplete ; [1] p.
Le petit cimetière
Le petit cimitière [and] Les cheminées rouges
Photocopy of holograph score, with composer's corrections ; 3, 6 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 47)
Petite suite
Reproduced from copyist's piano score ; 5 p.
A pilgrim vision
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 20)
Polonaise Americaine See also: Unidentified sketches, miscellaneous (Mfm.# 5/58)
The pools of peace
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 48)
Prelude and fugue
A protest
Quintet, piano & strings
MUSIC 1 (reel 1770)
Holograph score in ink (33 p.) and reproduced copyist's manuscript parts
MUSIC 1 (reel 1771)
Holograph full score of opening pages ; 4 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 21)
Ozalid of holograph full score, revised version, with holograph pasteovers ; 33 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 22)
The road that leads me home; arr. see The home road
Schifferlied
Sea drift
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 23)
Photocopy of holograph full score ; 30 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 24)
Sehnsucht
Serenade
Reproduced from copyist's piano score ; [4] p.
The seven ages
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 25)
Shake your brown feet, honey See also: Jazz boys
Silhouettes see: Songs (1913) Les silhouettes ; arr.
Sketches of an unidentified symphony and Skyscrapers. 1920-1922
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 37)
Sketches of the symphony no. 1, The birthday of the infanta, and an unidentified instrumental piece. 191-
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 34)
Skyscrapers
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 26)
Skyscrapers See also: Sketches of an unidentified symphony and Skyscrapers. 1920-1922
Reproduced from holograph full score, with composer's manuscript emendations ; 2 scores (54 p. each)
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 27)
Sleep ma honey, sleep
Holograph sketch (vocal part only) ; [1] p.
Slumber-song. 1943
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 45)
Sonata, piano, A major
Holograph piano score and sketches ; [12] p.
Sonata, piano, G minor
Copyist's piano score ; 9 p., 4 p., 6 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 28)
Sonata, violin & piano
Holograph score for violin & piano ; 35 p.
Copyist's score for violin & piano, with holograph pasteovers ; 39 p.
Copyist's violin part, with pencilled emendations by the composer ; 14 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 29)
A song for Illinois
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 30)
Song of David
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 31)
Song of faith
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 50)
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 51)
Reproduced from holograph, with composer's manuscript revisions and additions, written or pasted in ; 39 p.
Song of freedom
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 52)
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 53)
Song of freedom ; arr.
Holograph piano-vocal score with text underlay ; [2], [2] p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 54)
Songs (1913) Les silhouettes ; arr.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 4, item 55)
Songs of silence
Positive photocopy of holograph score ; 2, 3 p.
The spider and the ghost of the fly
Spring joys
Suite for small orchestra
Symphony no. 1
Holograph full score, 1916-1917 version ; 1 v. (various pagings)
MUSIC 1856 (reel 2, item 32)
Symphony no. 1 See also: Sketches of the symphony no. 1, The birthday of the infanta, and an unidentified instrumental piece. 191- (Mfm.# 3/34)
Holograph full score, 1940 revised version ; 72 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 33)
Symphony II
Holograph full score, 1941-1942 version (incomplete) ; 46 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 35)
Holograph full score, 1947 rev. version, with composer's emendations pasted in ; 86 p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 36)
Terre promise
That soothin' song see: Shake your brown feet, honey
Thoughts
The thunderstorm
Holograph piano-vocal score in purple pencil ; [1] p.
To a young gentleman
To one unknown
Treat me nice, Miss Mandy Jane
Triste était mon ame
Twilight reverie
Two little pieces
Copyist's score for violin and piano ; 7 p., 9 p.
Unidentified harmonic exercises, canons, fugues, etc.
Unidentified instrumental works
Holograph sketches and score fragments for various chamber and orchestral instrumental combinations ; various pagings
MUSIC 1856 (reel 3, item 38;5/67)
Unidentified piano works
Holograph scores and sketches ; various pagings
Unidentified sketches, miscellaneous
Unidentified works for violin & piano
Holograph score for violin & piano, incomplete ; 12 p.
Holograph scores for violin & piano, incomplete ; [2], [3] p.
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 64)
MUSIC 1856 (reel 5, item 58;5/64)
Die vier Jahreszeiten
Holograph piano-vocal score in purple pencil; [10] p.
Waltz
Holograph piano score (primo part only) [purple clefs] ; [5 p.]
Water colors
Holograph piano-vocal score, incomplete ; 4 p.
Water-colours ; Chinese tone poems for small orchestra and mezzo-soprano not present
When the night comes
When you unfold the red, red rose
Worlds
The Wrigley wriggle
Copyist's score[?] for violin & piano with holograph signature ; [2] p.
Young man chieftan
Photostats (positive and negative) of holograph score ; 4 p.
Printed Music, 1904-1951
Alpaerts, Flor
James Ensor suite Brussels: Huis Schott, 1951.
Carpenter, John Alden
Frei erfundener Canon
Sea Drift. New York: G. Schirmer, 1936
Skyscrapers. A ballet of modern American life. Orchestral score, condensed concert version. New York: G. Schirmer, 1927
Song of faith. New York: G. Schirmer, 1939
Song of freedom. New York: G. Schirmer, 1942
Carpenter, John Alden and Rue Carpenter
When little boys sing. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., 1904
Guilbert, Yvette (compiler)
Chansons de la vieille France. Paris: Librairie Félix Juven, undated
Honegger, Arthur
Rugby Paris: Editions Maurice Senart, 1929
Spalding, Walter R.
Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, op. 10. Boston: Arthur P. Schmidt, 1937
Photographs and Artwork, 1891-1961
Of particular note are the numerous photographs and watercolors of the sets and costumes of Carpenter's stage productions. These include photographs of the shadow puppets from Krazy Kat and of both stage designs and stagings of the Birthday of the Infanta. In addition, there are numerous ink and watercolor sketches by Robert Edmund Jones of costume designs from Birthday of the Infanta. Two charcoal drawings of Carpenter in the collection are also by Jones.
John Alden Carpenter alone
John Alden Carpenter and others
Family of John Alden Carpenter
Birthday of the Infanta [production stills, set designs]
Krazy Kat [production stills]
Birthday of the Infanta - Sketches for costumes (pencil, ink and paint)
Robert Edmund Jones. 2 portraits of John Alden Carpenter (charcoal)
Santa Claus graphic (in color, printed on board (oversize))
Certificates and Honors, 1921-1961
Carpenter was a highly successful composer in his day, being named a Knight of the French Legion of Honor (1921) and receiving such honors as the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. He also received honorary degrees from Harvard University, Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin, and the American Conservatory of Music.
Degree certificates from:
American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, IL (oversize)
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (oversize)
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Membership certificates from:
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston, MA
National Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
Honors from:
French Legion of Honor (oversize)
Unidentified (Slavic language) (oversize)
Programs, 1913-1961
Programs of performances.
Programs, 1913-1961 (formerly in scrapbooks)
Scrapbooks, 1900-1961
Scrapbooks (oversize) which include letters, telegrams, programs, photographs, and clippings. Please note: the scrapbook in box 12 is in very fragile condition and cannot be served.
Clippings, 1891-1961
Miscellaneous clippings from newspapers and other periodicals.