Frances H. Johnson Papers, 1885-1947

Frances H. Johnson Papers , 1885-1947

2 boxes (.75 linear feet)

Collection number: RG Misc.

Abstract:

The collection consists mainly of letters written to Frances H. Johnson by various correspondents including Helen Hopekirk. A few of the letters are written by various correspondents to other people. Also included are clippings, programs from musical performances, fliers, and wedding invitations as well as material related to the Hartford Philharmonic Society and the Hartford School of Music.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

The papers are open for research according to the regulations of the Smith College Archives without any additional restrictions.

Restrictions on use:

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the documents must be requested from the Smith College Archives. Smith College owns copyright to any published material relating to college events and activities. Provenance and copyright ownership of other materials is unknown and researchers are responsible for determining any question of copyright.

Smith College Archives
Northampton, MA

Biographical Note

Frances Hall Johnson, born in 1865, was a trained classical pianist who also taught music and was active in promoting musicians locally as well as bringing renowned performers to Hartford. In about 1892 she founded the Musical Club of Hartford, a venture which began on a small scale, with eight or so members meeting and entertaining one another at their homes. In fifteen years the membership numbered 500. Johnson served on the boards of the Hartford Philharmonic Society and the Hartford School of Music (known today as the Hartford Conservatory). In 1931 Johnson published a book, Musical Memories of Hartford: Drawn from Records Public and Private. Johnson, who lived with her sister Rose, died in 1947.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Frances H. Johnson papers contain correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs from musical performances, fliers, wedding invitations, and minutes and other related material from the Hartford Philharmonic Society and Hartford School of Music. The letters, most of which were written by others to Johnson, pertain largely to musical matters, whether artistic or business-related. The largest batch of letters is from the Scottish-born pianist and composer Helen Hopekirk (1856-1945), who was a teacher and longtime friend of Johnson's. A few letters in the collection were written by others to people other than Johnson, including a letter from 1921 written by the composer Camille Saint-Saens to Isidore Philipp, who gave it to Johnson.

Correspondence to Frances H. Johnson (FHJ) is arranged alphabetically by author and then by date, with undated letters last. Enclosures (e.g. programs and the like) are kept with correspondence where the association with a letter is obvious. Envelopes and slips of paper with notes in FHJ's hand, containing identifying or explanatory information, are also included in this series. Correspondence to/from others is arranged alphabetically by author.

The papers include notes by FHJ (handwritten lists of correspondents, possibly written at the time of donation); handwritten notes, printed brochures, invitations, and membership lists from the Hartford Philharmonic Society and Hartford School of Music. Also included are the Memoir of Helen Hopekirk by Josephine F. Allen (Mrs. B.P. Clark); music programs and fliers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York; newspaper clippings, mostly from Hartford newspapers; and photographs.

Information on Use

Terms of Access and Use

Restrictions on access:

The papers are open for research according to the regulations of the Smith College Archives without any additional restrictions.

Restrictions on use:

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Frances H. Johnson Papers, Box #, Smith College Archives.

History of the Collection

The Frances H. Johnson Papers were donated around 1945 to Smith College by Miss Frances H. Johnson of Hartford, Connecticut. There appears to be no formal record of accession apart from an announcement in the Friends of the Smith College Library annual report of March 1946.

Johnson decided to donate her papers to Smith at the suggestion of her neighbor, Mary A. Goodman of the Smith College Class of 1896. Goodman is referred to in correspondence between Johnson and Margaret Grierson, Smith College's librarian at the time.

Processing Information

The collection was partially organized by an unknown person who is likely responsible for the dates written in blue pen on many of the otherwise undated letters. It is presumed that these dates were taken from the postmarks of their original envelopes and that the dates correspond more or less to the date on which the letter was actually written. An exception is the June 17 letter from Kay (last name not given), which has been dated 1948 but, because Johnson died in 1947, is more likely to have been 1943 or 1944. To the rest of the undated letters, where possible, dates have been added in pencil, in brackets, and most of the leftover envelopes have been discarded. Many letters remain undated.

Additional Information

Contact Information

Smith College Archives

Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: (413) 585-2970
Fax: (413) 585-2886

Email: nyoung@smith.edu
URL: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/archives

Language

English and French

Contents List

Correspondence to FHJ from Timothy Adamowski	1903		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Nathan Henry Allen	1894-1902		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Charles M. Andrews	1934-1936		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Evangeline Andrews	1944		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from James P. Andrews	1934		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from John W. Andrews	1934		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Julia Andrews	n.d.		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Edward Ballantine	1924		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Cordelia (Mrs. Lucius Barnes) Barbour	n.d.		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Anne Bartholomew	1944		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Frances Raymond Bartlett	1898-1899		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from R. L. P. Bell	1898		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from David Bispham	1902-1910		Box 1: folder 1
Note: See also photographs

Correspondence to FHJ from Maxine Tull Boatner	1943		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Bern Boekelman and calling card	1899		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Elizabeth Buell Brainard	1928		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Susan Lord Brandegee	n.d.		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Stella S. Brandt	1944-1945		Box 1: folder 1
Note: See also Helen Hopekirk

Correspondence to FHJ from Ruth B. Breen	1944		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Howard Brockway	1896		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Helen E. Brown and notes	1930		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Maida L. Bryant	1944		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Mrs. Bunce	1927		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Louise Bushnell	189?		Box 1: folder 1

Card to FHJ from Ruth and Ralph Butter	1944		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Elizabeth (Libby) Butterworth	1944		Box 1: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from John Spencer Camp	1901		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Katie Camp	1894		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Blanche M. Channing	1899		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from J. Chapart	1921		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Kitty Chatham	1925		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Emily Cheney	1897-1898		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Mary B. Cheney	1898-1906		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Ruth Cheney	1900-?		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Winifred Christie	1917		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Clara Clemens	1939		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Josephine Collins	n.d.		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Mary Patricia Richter Collins and Christmas card	1942		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Billy Conklin and programs	1928-1929		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Edith Conklin	1928-?		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Edith Conklin (daughter)	1929		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Sally Conklin	1928		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Carolyn D. Conning	1944		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Katharine Conning	1944		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Katherine Cook	1925		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Alice Cooley	1944		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Charles Cooley	1941		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Paul W. Cooley	1944		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Alf Cortot	1921		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Persis Cox and flier	n.d.		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Walter Damrosch and fliers	1900-1903		Box 1: folder 2
Note: See also Felicia Gifton

Correspondence to FHJ from Bertha P. Dennis	n.d.		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Helen Diedrichs	1927		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Olin Downes	1940		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Robert Duellner	1944		Box 1: folder 2

Card to FHJ from Bessie Dunham	1944		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Helen B. Edwards	1944		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Charles A. Ellis	1902		Box 1: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Alice Falcott	1927		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Betty Ferguson	1928		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Eleanor Ferguson	1943		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Peggy Ferguson	1925		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Elliot S. Foote	1929		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Anita P. Forbes	1926		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Gertrude Fothergill	1944		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Fanny Thompson French	1903		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Heinrich Gebhard and calling cards	1904-1909		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Felicia Gifton	1930		Box 1: folder 3
Note: See also Walter Damrosch

Correspondence to FHJ from L. B. Gilchrist	1909		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Philip Goepp	1900		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Belle Goodwin	1944		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Elizabeth (Mrs. Walter) Goodwin	19??		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Fanny Goodwin	1942-1944		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from James J. Goodwin	1902		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from C. L. Graff	1901		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Margaret S. Grierson	1942-1945		Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Alice Haight	1894		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Clarissa Hall	1926		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Marguerite Hall	1899		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from W. C. Hammond	1902		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Jane Hastie	1927-1929		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Julia Havemeyer	1901-1924, n.d.		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Phil Hewes	1927		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from E. C. Higginson	1896-1899		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Dotha Bushnell Hillyer	1899-1903		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Lucy Hillyer	1898		Box 1: folder 4

Invitation to wedding of Harold Goodwin Holcombe, Jr., to Helene Jeanne Guyen	1944		Box 1: folder 4

Correspondence to FHJ from Helen Hopekirk	1900-1941, n.d.		Box 1: folder 5-7
Note: Gaps in dates 1910-1911. See also William Wilson and "Memoir of Helen Hopekirk" by Josephine Allen

Correspondence to FHJ from Greta Horn	1926		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Arthur Judson	1921		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Harrison Keller	1920		Box 1: folder 8

Invitation to wedding of Victoria Amelie Kneisel to Willem Willeke	1911		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Maisy Lawherd	1942		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Dorothy W. Lewis	1927		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Elisabeth (Mrs. Vachel) Lindsay	1942-1943		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Charlie Little	n.d.		Box 1: folder 8

Invitation to wedding of Renee Longy to Georges Miquelle	1919		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Hamilton G. Macdougall	1929		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Marian MacDowell	1919		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from "Mackie" MacElroy	1919		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Marjorie MacKenzie	1941		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from William Mason	1899		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Tsuya Matsuki	1928		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Frances McCook	1943-1944		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from David McKeith, Jr.	1940		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Miriam (Mrs. David, Jr.) McKeith	1944		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Albion Metcalfe	1927		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Mary Michna	1944		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Frederica Mitchell	1944		Box 1: folder 8
Note: See also photographs

Correspondence to FHJ from Emily Morgan	1920		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Constance Morse	1927		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence from A. F. Motte La Croix	1921		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Homer Norris and programs	1904?-1908		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from O'Dell	1927		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Lois (Mrs. Remsen B.) Ogilby	n.d.		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Eva J. O'Meara	1942-1944		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Cary Page	1928		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Richmond Peck Paine	1900-1901		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Zoe W. Palmer	1928		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Katharine B. Parsons	1941		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Mattie (Martha) Peck	1904-1907		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Olga Perkins	1923		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Hattie Phelps	1943-1944		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Isidore Philipp	1921		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Caroline A. Pierce	1923		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Richard Platt	1907		Box 1: folder 8

Card to FHJ from Jean Potter	1944		Box 1: folder 8

Correspondence to FHJ from Mary (Mrs. Waldo) Pratt	1899		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Waldo S. Pratt	1898-1899, 1935		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Francis C. Prout	1899		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Emily Rand	1900		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Helen Ranney	1903		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Richy (Mrs. Waldo) Richards	1920		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from John Roberts	1926		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Elaine Bartlett Robertson	1935		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Elsie H. J. Robinson	1927		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from E. Robinson	1944		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Henry S. Robinson	1925		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Marion (Mrs. Henry S.) Robinson	1926, 1944?		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Lt. Henry S. (Bob) Robinson, Jr. and concert ticket	1944		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Timmy Robinson	1943		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Henry M. Rogers	1906		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Betty Rose	1928		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Charles Edward Russell	1930		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Henry P. Schauffer	1902		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Helen Scranton	1927		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Mary B. H. Seaverns	1926-1932		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from W. T. Sedgwick	1901		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Frances Seymour	1944		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Katherine D. Seymour	1944		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Peter Seymour	1944		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Harry Rowe Shelley	1900		Box 1: folder 9

Correspondence to FHJ from Bruce Simonds and flier, magazine clipping	1923-1944		Box 1: folder 10

Invitation to wedding of Elisabeth Treat Simonds to Alfred Warren Burns	1944		Box 1: folder 10

Correspondence to FHJ from Bessie Smart	1909		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Agnes Smith and program	1928		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Ethel Walker Smith	1944		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Hilda Smith	1926		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Henry M. Sperry	1927-1929		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Elizabeth (Liddy) Stevens	n.d.		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Eliza J. Stowe	1905		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Berthe Svecenski and note by FHJ	1915		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Claire Svecenski and calling card	1907-1909, 1915		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Louis Svecenski and calling card	1907-1918		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Marion Svecenski	1908		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Sally Swett	1944		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Eleanor Taft (Tilton)	1924-1927		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Elizabeth Taft	1907		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Mattie Taft	n.d.		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Elizabeth Bradley Taylor	1920		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Edith Thompson	1907, 1915		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Joseph H. Twichell	1890		Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence to FHJ from Willem van Loon	1941		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Nan (Mrs. Frederic Porter) Vinton	n.d.		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Martha Blake (Mrs. William) Walcott	1944		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Philip C. Walcott	1905		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Susan Lee (Mrs. Charles Dudley) Warner	1901-1920		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Mabel C. Washburn	1894		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Mary W. Watkinson	1942		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Gerald B. Webb	1942		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Archibald A. Welch	1901		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Frances (Mrs. Stanley Burnham) Weld	1944		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Charlotte White	1899		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Leslie D. Whitham	1941		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Helen Howard Whiting	1904		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from L. Annie Whitney	1898-1903		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Bumble (E.T.) Williams	n.d.		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from Eugene E. Wilson	1942		Box 2: folder 2

Correspondence to FHJ from William Wilson	1904-1919		Box 2: folder 3
Note: See also Helen Hopekirk

Correspondence to FHJ from Sally Winter	1943		Box 2: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ from Chris. A. Wolf	1902		Box 2: folder 3

Correspondence to FHJ (names unclear or incomplete)			Box 2: folder 4

Correspondence to Mrs. Andrews from David Bispham	1898		Box 2: folder 5

Correspondence to S.L. Warner from John Spencer Camp	1901		Box 2: folder 5

Correspondence to Mr. Welsh from F.W. Cheney	1901		Box 2: folder 5

Correspondence to Mr. Editor from W. D. Mackenzie	1905		Box 2: folder 5

Correspondence to Rose Johnson from Amy Pope	1944		Box 2: folder 5

Correspondence to I. Philipp from Camille Saint-Saens	1921		Box 2: folder 5

Correspondence to Archibald Welch from S.L. Warner	1901		Box 2: folder 5

Drawing in crayon (unsigned)	1944?		Box 2: folder 6

Hartford Philharmonic Society: handwritten notes, printed brochures, invitations, membership lists, etc.	1901-1902		Box 2: folder 7

Hartford School of Music: minutes from board meetings	1944		Box 2: folder 8

Memoir of Helen Hopekirk by Josephine F. Allen (Mrs. B.P. Clark)	1885		Box 2: folder 9

Music programs, fliers			Box 2: folder 10

Newspaper clippings			Box 2: folder 11

Notes by FHJ	1944?		Box 2: folder 12

Photographs

David Bispham	n.d.	Box 2: folder 13

Frederica Mitchell	1944	Box 2: folder 13

Questions about this collection? Contact the archives
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