Lillian Blauvelt papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll. 4275

Staff Only

Scope and Content note

This collection documents the professional life of opera singer Lillian Blauvelt, particularly during her years as a grand opera soprano. Contents include promotional material, performance programs, press clippings, photographs, and memorabilia. A number of items arrived mounted on board with numbered and adhered typescript captions. The collection reflects Blauvelt’s work and public stature as a turn of the century performer.

Dates

Creation: 1888 - 1989
Creation: Majority of material found within 1891 - 1905

Creator

Blauvelt, Lillian, 1873-1947 (Person)

Access

Unrestricted.

Copyright

Access to collections at Maine Historical Society is not an authorization to publish. Rights and reproduction requests may be submitted in writing to the MHS Image Services Coordinator or Research & Administrative Librarian, subject to format.

Biographical note

Lillian Blauvelt (1873-1947) was born in Brooklyn, NY. A trained violinist, she made her musical debut at New York’s Steinway Hall at eight years old. She went on to study voice at the National Conservatory of Music and with Jacques Bouhy, before performing in her first opera at 16, in Brussels. Blauvelt became an international opera star, performing around the world, to kings and queens, and receiving a host of accolades, including the decoration of the Order of Saint Cecilia in 1901 from the oldest musical society in the world. In 1905, after years as a grand opera singer, Blauvelt signed a six-year contract to appear in comic operas. In the decades following, she performed in a variety of operas and concerts and taught voice.

Lillian Blauvelt was married multiple times, including to: Royal S. Smith, a Brooklyn organist; William F. Pendleton; and, in 1914, composer Alexander Savine.

Collection donor and great-grandniece, Debra-Jo Middleswart, notes that Blauvelt had a summer home on St. George's Lake in Liberty, Me., where she would practice singing over the water. She performed in Maine for benefits such as the Bangor Auditorium, and in Bar Harbor and Portland.

Extent

1.75 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Provenance

Gift of Debra-Jo Middleswart, October 5, 2020 (acc. no. 2021.014). Debra-Jo Middleswart is the great-grandniece of Lillian Blauvelt. She inherited this collection from Carl Pulcifer, the son of Lillian Blauvelt’s sister Florence, who was Middleswart’s great-grandmother.

Related Materials

The gift included six performance objects that have been catalogued in Past Perfect and are housed in the MHS museum collection:

Fan, hand, 2021.014.001
Lillian Blauvelt black feather fan, 2021.014.002
Lillian Blauvelt white feather fan, 2021.014.003
Lillian Blauvelt leather gloves, 2021.014.004
Lillian Blauvelt black lace shawl, 2021.014.005
Lillian Blauvelt as Juliet, photograph, 2021.014.006

Processing note

Items arrived carefully housed in individual archival folders. Like items were combined and rehoused. Newspaper clippings were photocopied, as originals are fragile; they were retained, but should be accessed sparingly. Photographs were sleeved. Oversize items were separated and are housed in Box 2.