lewis_lucy_sc.html

LUCY LEE LEWIS (1905-1989)
PAPERS, 1937-1989
SCOPE AND CONTENT

The papers of Lucy Lee Lewis document Lewis's career as a harpist, particularly at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and her relationship with her students. Little or no material is extant documenting her scholarship and service to Oberlin College. The material, consisting of correspondence between Lewis and her harp students, clippings of her students' activities, and miscellaneous items, is of a relatively high research value. This collection is organized into eight series: 1. Biographical Miscellany, 2. Correspondence Files, 3. Files of Harp-Related Events, 4. Memorial Concert, 5. Miscellaneous Program Files, 6. Miscellaneous Publications and Papers, 7. Photographs, and 8. Artifacts/Objects (Awards, Posters, and Plaques).

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I Biographical Miscellany, 1937-1990 (2 folders)

Included in this series are vitae (employment forms, photocopies of newspaper articles, programs, obituaries), Lewis's last will and testament, and other miscellaneous printed material of a biographical nature. This series also includes correspondence and papers dealing with a celebration dinner for Lucy Lewis's retirement (1971) and the Terman Study of the Gifted. A scrapbook created by Lewis's students for the retirement celebration dinner may be found in Series VII; awards may be found in Series IX. Arranged by record type.

Series II Correspondence Files (10 folders)

This series is organized into four subseries: Student correspondence (letters to and from Lucy Lewis ), Clippings, Postcards, and Correspondence (Miscellaneous). The student correspondence files contain eight folders of correspondence between Lucy Lewis and her harp students, arranged by the students' last names. The Clippings subseries includes newspaper clippings of her students' activities, mostly sent to Lewis from her students. The Postcards subseries contains postcards sent from Lewis during her travels in Europe during 1953; the correspondence on these postcards documents her activities in Europe as well as her sense of humor. Miscellaneous correspondence consists of birth and wedding announcements as well as letters dealing with Lewis's former house in Redlands, California.

Series III Files of Harp-Related Events, 1954-1979 (2 folders)

This series is arranged into three subseries: 1. Oberlin Harp Festival, 2. Summer Harp Colony of America, and 3. International Harp Contest. The Oberlin Harp Festival subseries contains a scrapbook, probably created by Lucy Lewis, consisting of pre- and post-festival correspondence, photos, notes, clippings, and programs. (An Oberlin Harp Festival poster and plaque may be found in Series VIII.) The Summer Harp Colony of America subseries contains clippings, rosters, and correspondence dealing with the summer camp, and the International Harp Contest subseries consists of correspondence, clippings, and rosters. Arranged by individual event.

Series IV Memorial Concert Files, 1990 (1 folder, 1 envelope)

This series consists of four subseries: 1. Correspondence, 2. Miscellaneous Papers, 3. Programs, and 4. Recordings. Subseries 1 contains correspondence to participants and other miscellaneous letters; subseries 2 includes rosters, notes, and clippings; subseries 3 contains programs; subseries 4 is a single concert recording.

Series V Miscellaneous Program Files, 1929-1971 (4 folders)

This series is organized into five subseries: 1. Programs of Lucy Lewis's performances (1929-1967), 2. Performances of the Oberlin Harp Ensemble (1947-1959), 3. Lewis's Students' Performances at Oberlin (1944-1971), 4. Students' Performances Elsewhere, and 5. Miscellaneous Programs. Arranged within each subseries by date.

Series VI Miscellaneous Publications and Papers (1 folder)

This series contains originals and photocopies of published articles by and about Lucy Lewis. Also notes exist in Lewis's handwriting about former students' careers, at what institutions they taught, and in what orchestras they performed.

Series VII Scrapbook

Lucy Lewis's scrapbook from the retirement celebration dinner contains photos, correspondence, clippings, as well as programs from her students and personal friends. Many photos in the scrapbook identify the people pictured as well as dates.

Series VIII Photographs (3 folders)

This series consists of photographs (1929-ca. 1980) dealing with Lucy Lewis's early, mid- and later life. It includes photos of her harp students (1945-1951, 1953, 1967, 1978) and harp teachers Carlos Salzedo (ca. 1937) and Alfred Kastner (1930). Arranged by subject. Two oversized photographs of her students may be found in Series IX.

Series IX Artifacts/Objects (Awards, Posters, and Plaques)

Awards consist of an Israel State Medal (1976) and an appreciation plaque from the American Harp Society (1975). Oberlin Harp Festival objects include a plaque and a poster. Due to their physical size, two oversized photographs of Lewis's students are included in this series.