Newspaper Clippings, circa 1947-1948, 1980-1989
The Grace Moore Papers detail Moore’s career as an opera singer and actress from Tennessee. Correspondence, notes, photographs, concert programs, movie and play scripts, along with newspaper clippings, fan club publications, vinyl performance records and a series of scrapbooks that follow the life, career, and death of Grace Moore are included. Performance posters and a series of sheet music used, performed, and signed by Grace Moore are also included, along with a group of letters written by famous composers and assembled by Miss Moore.
Series I. Correspondence, 1916-1981
This series includes personal correspondence (Sub-series A) with letters to Ben Bower, and Helen Ruth Matthews, Grace Moore’s Secretary, along with telegrams to her husband and friends. This series also consists of business correspondence (Sub-series B) regarding Moore's finances and her dealings with the Metropolitan Musical Bureau, Inc. Handwritten notes and telephone messages (Sub-series C) are also included. The fan mail grouping (Sub-series D) is comprised of messages held for personal responses, photograph requests, and responses from Moore.
Series II. Photographs, 1930-1939
This series consists of photographs of Moore from her performances and movie sets such as “One Night of Love,” “King Steps Out,” and “I’ll Take Romance.” Signed photographs of Moore along with photographs from various movies in which Moore did not act are also included.
Series III. Programs, 1928-1954
This series consists of programs featuring Moore (Sub-series A) including her debut concert, and programs honoring Moore (Sub-series B).
Series IV. Scripts, 1934-1940
This series consists of bound scripts from movies, radio shows, and plays. Many of these scripts include revisions and handwritten notes.
Series V. Newspaper Clippings, circa 1947-1948, 1980-1989
This series consists of newspaper clippings that span the life and death of Moore and includes articles related to her personal life, performances, death, as well as articles about her hometown, induction to the Hall of Fame, biographies, and family.
Series VI. Fan Club Publications, 1936-1947
This series consists of fan club newsletters titled “Fan Club News” which cover Moore’s career and death.
Series VII. Scrapbooks, 1924-1953
This series consists of a collection of scrapbooks from multiple sources, including scrapbooks that have been taken out of their original binding from 1930-1940 compiled by her secretary Helen Ruth, along with 18 scrapbooks still in their original binding covering Moore’s life and career. These scrapbooks include newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, letters, telegrams, correspondence and various ephemera.
Series VIII. Sheet Music, 1838-1958
This series consists of five sheet music boxes. It includes individual sheets of music (Sub-series A) arranged by date as well as sheet music personalized and annotated by Moore and various composers (Sub-series B), including music signed by Moore, and sheet music signed by composers addressed to Moore. Compilations and collections of music arranged by title (Sub-series C), handwritten sheet music (Sub-series D), and materials related to music (Sub-series E) consisting of letters by composers, and the singing method of Manuel Gracia, are also included.
Series IX. Promotional Material, 1949
This series consists of re-releases of promotional movie posters and large performance posters.
Series X. Vinyl Records, undated
This includes eight vinyl records of Moore’s performances and souvenir albums.
Dates
- circa 1947-1948, 1980-1989
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
From the Collection: 13 Linear Feet
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository