Bertha Walburn Clark Scrapbooks
The Bertha Walburn Clark Scrapbooks consist of three scrapbooks that document the life and career of Bertha Walburn Clark (1882-1972), founder of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Materials in this collection range from photographs, newspaper clippings, concert and music programs, papers, correspondence, interview and radio transcripts, a guest book, and thank you cards, with commentary written in 1974 by Katherine D. Moore.
The first scrapbook, "Bertha Walburn Clark Founder of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Vol. I, 1902-1946,” documents the early professional life and career of Clark, most notably the establishment and beginning years of the KSO, but continues through Clark’s retirement as conductor. The material dates from 1902-1974 and includes photographs, newspaper clippings, concert and music programs, and commentary.
The second scrapbook, "Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Vol. II 1941-47,” provides additional context and material regarding the career of Clark and the KSO with dates ranging from 1910-1979. Materials included are newspaper clippings, concert and music programs, radio transcripts, correspondence, and Knoxville Symphony Society yearbooks.
The third scrapbook, "Founders Day Vol. III," is dedicated to a celebration held by the KSO on March 31, 1959 to celebrate Clark. Materials included are correspondence, cards, telegrams, a guestbook, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1902-1979
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.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.75 Linear Feet (2 boxes [1 half box and 1 oversize box])
Abstract
The Bertha Walburn Clark Scrapbooks consist of three scrapbooks that document the life and career of Bertha Walburn Clark (1882-1972), founder of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Materials in this collection range from photographs, newspaper clippings, concert and music programs, papers, correspondence, interview and radio transcripts, a guest book, and thank you cards, with commentary written in 1974 by Katherine D. Moore.
Biographical / Historical
Born as Bertha Roth in Ohio in 1882, Bertha Walburn Clark would go on to graduate from the Cincinnati College of Music in May of 1902, where she studied under Jose Marien. During her musical Career she would go on to study under Made Powell, Phillip Mitel, and Harry Dimond. A year after graduation in 1903 Walburn Clark and her family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where she and her sister Olive opened a music studio that quickly rose to prominence.
Alongside teaching, Walburn Clark performed professionally in a Ladies Quartet, and worked as a conductor for the Tuesday Morning Musical Club, the Philharmonic Society, the Knoxville Community Chorus, and the Philharmonic Society Orchestra, which was the first orchestra organized by Walburn Clark and would go on to be renamed the Walburn Clark Little Symphony Orchestra in 1925, before being officially renamed as the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (KSO) in 1935.
Despite facing many challenges due to lack of funding, Walburn Clark never wavered in her dedication to establish a complete school of music in Knoxville. The KSO officially celebrated and recognized Bertha Walburn Clark as its founder in 1959, holding a Founder’s Day celebration in her honor. Walburn Clark would continue to conduct the KSO until April of 1946 and continued to play in the KSO as first violin, alongside her second husband Harold Clark, until she formally retired in in 1962. Walburn Clark continue to serve on the Knoxville Symphony Society until her death in 1972.
The three scrapbooks win this collection were put together postmortem in 1974, by Katherine D. Moore, a student and friend of Bertha Walburn Clark.
Arrangement
This material is in two boxes.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository