Woman's Musicale records, 1917-2016 (bulk 1927-2016)
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Organization: I. Minutes; II. Yearbooks; III. History and Anniversaries; IV. Letters; V. Members; VI. Audio Recordings;,Arrangement: Chronological within each series.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Condition note: Items from 1927-1947 often have two puncture holes, where materials were originally held together by a ribbon in a large folder that served as a scrapbook binding. Binding and ribbon were removed for ease of access and preservation purposes, during processing by Nashville Public Library staff in 2016.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Abstract: Records, mostly 1927-2016, including minutes, constitution and by-laws, yearbooks, and a wide variety of other material, including audio recordings of performances beginning in 2009, documenting the membership and activities of a women's musical club in Nashville, Tennessee.

Scope and content: Records consist of: Series I. Minutes, 1927-2015, include details of each meeting, including members performing, what instruments they played, and the musical pieces performed, often featuring pieces of classical music on the piano or strings, or songs by vocalists. Constitutions and by-laws may be found within the year when revisions were made. Also included are brief updates from club officers, attendance rosters, and brief mentions of members' health, performances elsewhere, and other musical events of note in the community. Early minutes from 1927 to 1947 at times also served as a scrapbook, including newsclippings and other materials. During this same period, some treasurer's receipts were also included, and reflect the organization's support of music education, prizes for young musicians, contributions to the Tennessee Federation of Music Clubs, the American Red Cross, and even the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Minutes from the thirtieth anniversary of the group, meeting on May 28, 1947, include quotes from various members' reminiscences, including the founders of the group; a group photograph of four of the founders is also included.

Series II. Yearbooks, 1921-2016 which typically provide lists of officers and members, dates, hostesses, and featured performers at each meeting, though specific details about musical pieces performed at the meetings are seldom provided.

Series III. History and Anniversaries, 1966-2012 includes photographs, programs and announcements relating to special anniversary celebrations, particularly as the club reached its 75th anniversary (1992) and beyond. The 80th anniversary in 1998 also includes a video provided on both a VHS tape and a DVD. Only a few items related to earlier anniversaries are provided, although there is a small undated folder containing a brief history of the organization, written by an unidentified early member.

Series IV. Letters, 1947-2015 contains correspondence including thank you notes, members' acceptances or resignations, and other subjects of a more general nature.

Series V. Members, 1917, 1980-2012 includes items relating to individual members, such as recollections, programs and announcements of member performances outside of Musicale, notices of member's deaths and memorial services, and other items. One folder has some brief correspondence from founder Dorothy Gaynor Blake.

Series VI. Audio Recordings, 2009-2014 provides musical recordings on CDs of member performances at meetings.

Cite as: Woman's Musicale Records, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

Nashville Public Library does not have intellectual property rights to these materials.

Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,1994.,Acc. RT-127.

Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,1998.,Acc. RT-379.

Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,2002.

Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,2004.,Acc. 2004.025.

Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,2011.,Acc. 2012.051.

Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,2012.,Acc. 2012.047; 2012.045.

Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,2016.,Acc. 2016.003.

Minutes (1927-1947) from holdings of Tennessee State Library and Archives,Woman's Musicale;,Gift;,2016.,Acc. 2016.006.

Related Materials: The Lela Hamilton Women's Music Clubs Collection, compiled by Woman's Musicale member Lela Hamilton, is held by the Special Collections Division of the Nashville Public Library.

The Woman's Musicale was chartered in 1917 by a group of women in Nashville, Tennessee to "study seriously the works of the composers... by the reading of prepared papers and articles, and by having a musical program at each meeting." The initial group of women were all married, and "had always studied music before their marriages." Founders of the group included: Dorothy Gaynor (Mrs. Robert) Blake, daughter of Jesse L. Gaynor, a composer of children's songs; Mrs. Martin Roberts; Mrs. Allen Cummings; Mrs. Thom Gardner; and Mrs. D. R. Gebhart.

Membership was by invitation, and most often, a woman was a guest performer before being invited to membership. For much of the organization's lifespan, the number of active members was limited to 25, although honorary memberships were extended to former members who could no longer attend or perform, and associate membership was an option for persons willing to pay dues, serve as hostesses, and attend without performing. Dues were modest and affordable. In 1923, the group affiliated with the National Federation of Music Clubs and at an unknown date, affiliated with the Tennessee Federation of Music Clubs. Members of Woman's Musicale often supported each other's endeavors outside of the organization, promoting recitals and other public performances. In addition, members were involved in and supported numerous other musical organizations in the city, including the Nashville Civic Music Association and the Nashville Symphony Association, among others, and supported musical education and performance for children.

In English

Records created and maintained by Woman's Musicale until donated to the Nashville Public Library.

Minutes (1927-1947),Originally given in 1947 by Irene Adams (Mrs. John) Frank, secretary of the Woman's Musicale, to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. It was identified in TSLA holdings as manuscript accession no. 1022, and appeared in the TSLA catalog as Manuscripts files M-81. On May 24, 2016, these materials were deaccessioned from the holdings of TSLA and returned to the custody of Woman's Musicale, who donated them to the Special Collections Division of the Nashville Public Library on the same day.

Process;,2015;,Marie Stroop, volunteer.

Minutes (1927-1947),process;,2016;,Linda Barnickel.

Additional accruals are expected.

Book jacket image digital identifier: Women's Musicale - Sl, F7 - Founding members photo