Leonora Jackson McKim Photograph Collection, PP306

Transcription

1 Photograph Collection, PP306 Finding Aid to the Photograph Collection, PP306 H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society Download a PDF version of the finding aid. Collection summary Title Photograph Collection Creator Call number PP306 Inclusive dates 1883 ca 1942; not dated Bulk dates Ca 1890s Extent 3 boxes Abstract Related Collections This collection consists of photographs related to Leonora Jackson McKim ( ), one of the first female violinists to achieve international acclaim. There are publicity photographs of McKim, photographs of her family, including her husband, Dr. William Duncan McKim, his family, and images of the McKim residence. MS 1780, Manuscript and Ephemera Collection PP186, William Duncan McKim Photograph Collection Administrative summary Repository H. Furlong Baldwin Library Maryland Historical Society

2 201 W. Monument St. Baltimore, MD Access restrictions Open to the public without restrictions. Use restrictions For information about how to purchase digital reproductions and for permission information, please visit the Rights and Reproductions page. Provenance Gift of the Estate of March Accession number Processing note Processed by Damon Talbot and Michael Marks, October Biographical Note In a country rich with male violin soloists at the turn of the 20th century, few women achieved similar status. was one of those female American soloists to do so, both in the United States and Europe. Leonora Jackson was born in Boston on February 20, First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland, wife of President Grover Cleveland, recognized Jackson s talent and became her patron. Another of her well-known patrons was industrialist George Vanderbilt. In addition, she won the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1887, for a prize worth approximately $90,000 in today s dollars. The Mendelsohn Scholarship was awarded by the Leipzig Conservatory to support foreign students who studied there. These sources of financial support enabled Leonora to study in Chicago, as well as in Paris and Berlin. Future winners included Ernst Toch, Kurt Weill, and Roman Totenberg (Nina s father). One of Leonora s European teachers was Joseph Joachim, a Hungarian violinist of international fame who was a close collaborator of Johannes Brahms. He is considered one of the most significant of the 19th century violinists. Leonora toured throughout Europe and the United States as soloist with the Boston Symphony, the London Philharmonic, and other leading orchestras. Having achieved international virtuoso status, Queen Victoria decorated her with the Victorian Star. Leonora is seen wearing the Star in some her photographs. Her record of performances is impressive. In the season alone she played 160 concerts. Upon her marriage in 1915 to Dr. William Duncan McKim ( ), however,

3 she retired from performing except for occasional participation in local musical programs in churches and schools. Her 1774 Stradivarius violin is named for her and is now located in Los Angeles. It had belonged at one time to Joachim, her teacher. Leonora and her husband were avid supporters of the arts. Their home was often a venue for musical programs, where they also displayed many of their works of art. Upon Dr. McKim s death, Leonora donated many of their art works to the Smithsonian Institution and the Maryland Historical Society. She died on January 7, Scope and Content The Photograph Collection consists of three boxes of 262 photographs related to one of the first female violinists to achieve international acclaim. There are publicity photographs of McKim, photographs of her family, including her husband, Dr. William Duncan McKim, his family, and images of their homes. There are also photographs of Jackson McKim s musical peers including her violin teacher while in Europe, Joseph Joachim. The violin he passed along to her is today famously known as Leonora. The collection is broken down into three series: Container List Series I: This series consists of images of Leonora Jackson as a child and during her career as a violinist up to Series II: Jackson and McKim Families This series consists of images of various members of the McKim and Jackson families including Leonora Jackson s parents and brother, her husband, William Duncan McKim, and images of the McKim residence. A travel album from 1904 contains 163 photographs mostly of Jackson s travels through Europe. Series III: Musicians and Friends This series contains images of some of Leonora Jackson s musical peers and friends, including Russian author Olga Novikoff ( ); Ernest Schelling ( ), American Composer and Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, ; Hungarian Composer Arthur Nikisch ( ); Hungarian Violinist and instructor Joseph Joachim ( ); and George Vanderbilt ( ), one of Jackson patrons. Description Date Format Image ID Box Series I: Leonora Jackson

4 McKim at 4 years of age attending kindergarten school in Englewood 1883 at age 15, publicity photograph 1894 publicity photograph ca 1900 publicity photograph 1891 publicity photograph wearing the Victoria Star ca 1900 Frank F. Leets Studio, Randolph, NY Cabinet Cards PP Postcards, Cabinet Card, Photographic Print PP Hana Studios, London Cabinet Cards PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Harrison and Coover, Chicago Photographic Print, Cabinet Cards PP Elliott & Fry, London Cabinet Cards PP Photographic Print PP J.C. Scaarwachter, Germany Hermann Ernst, London; S. Rosenow, Cabinet Cards (2 autographed by Leonora McKim) PP Germany Cabinet Cards PP H.S. Mendelssohns Studios, London Cabinet Cards PP Baker Art Gallery, Columbus, OH Paris Cards PP Photographic Print PP Series II: Jackson and McKim families Haslett McKim ca 1880s Sarony, NY Cabinet Card PP The Jacksons in Germany or Austria, with 4 bicycles 1896 Erin Nerung Tintype PP County Fair Photo Studio, Coney Island Tintype PP Mrs. Jackson and Leonora at Coney Island County Fair and Jackson William Duncan McKim's mother Jackson, and their mother 1891 S. Rosenow, Germany Cabinet Card PP Mora, NY Cabinet Card PP Harrison, Chicago Cabinet Card; Photographic Print PP

5 Jackson, and their mother Jackson, and their mother 1882 William Duncan McKim and Ca 1915 William Duncan McKim John A. McKim [ woman - possibly Leonora Jackson McKim] [ people with William Duncan McKim on right] [ people] ca ? not dated ca not dated Sagamore Farm 1898 Newton Road, London, looking toward Westbourne Grove and Whiteleys Store not dated House on Newton Road McKim Residence, th Street, Washington DC, built in 1905 Christmas Greetings, Leonora McKim, view of the organ room at thSt. N.W., Washington DC, residence of Leonora and W. Duncan McKim, Jackson, and their mother and father William Duncan McKim and in front of the Sphinx and Pyramid, Egypt not dated after 1905 ca s ca John A. McKim Photograph album, Leonora Jackson, trip to Germany, England, Brazil, and other places (163 photographs) 1904 Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Prints PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Prints PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Cyanotypes PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Max Platz, Chicago Paris Card PP Photographic Print PP Photographic Print PP Album of Photographic Prints PP Series III: Musicians and

6 Friends George W. Vanderbilt ( ) 1894 Photographie Inalterable, NY Photographic Print [Inscribed to Leonora Jackson] PP Joseph Joachim ( ), Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim ( ), Hungarian violinist, taken in the Classroom in Berlin at the Hoch Schule 1890s; 1893 February 1897 Postcard; Photographic Print; Photograph of a drawing PP Photographic Print PP Olga Novikoff ( ), Russian author 1898 Ernest Schelling ( ), American Composer, Coductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, s Prof. Levitz[?] Arthur Nikisch ( ), Hungarian composer 1890s B. Lantner Housla Praha [Images of Orchestra] 1904 Gruss aus Café' Passage, Berlin [Image of musicians] 1904 Anthony's, France Cabinet Card [Inscribed to Leonora Jackson] PP Cabinet Card [Inscribed to Leonora Jackson] PP Photographic Print PP Postcard PP Postcard PP Postcard PP