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Creator
Spencer, Eleanor, 1890-1973
Call number
JPB 04-20
Physical description
1.5 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language
The Promotional series contains some programs in German; English
Preferred Citation

Eleanor Spencer Papers, JPB 04-20 . Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Music Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Eleanor Spencer was an American concert pianist. A student of Theodor Leschetizky, she was most active in Europe and America from 1910 to 1938. She gradually went deaf in her 40s and retrained herself, resuming performances in 1947 after an extended break. The Spencer Papers consist of correspondence, writings, promotional material, clippings, concert programs, music manuscripts, diaries and photos.

Biographical/historical information

Eleanor Spencer (b Chicago, 30 Nov. 1890, d Locarno, Switzerland, 12 Oct. 1973) began studying piano as a small child, and performing at age 10. She studied with William Mason, and at 14 moved to Europe, where she continued her studies with Harold Bauer and Theodor Leschetizky. Her recital debut was in Bechstein Hall in London on 28 Apr. 1910, after which she performed further in Britain and Europe, including many appearances with major orchestras. Her American debut was in Carnegie Hall on 3 Nov. 1913. Spencer garnered consistently good notices for both her solo and orchestral performances; critics noted her strong technique, rich sound, and tasteful musical sense. She settled in Paris and based her career in Europe until the start of World War II, when she moved to New York. By that time she had started to go deaf and begun a decade-long hiatus from performance, during which she retrained herself. In the mid-1940s, though deaf, she resumed periodic solo performances, receiving strong reviews. Spencer spent her last years in Switzerland.

Scope and arrangement

The Eleanor Spencer Papers consist of one and a half linear feet of material dating from 1900 to 1973, with the bulk dating from 1900 - 1954. Most of the career documentation, in the form of promotional material and clippings, dates from childhood up to just before Spencer began going deaf (the late 1930s). The diaries and letters mostly date from ca. 1940 forward. Spencer’s diaries, in the form of datebooks, are a unique day-by-day record covering 16 years during which the pianist was losing her hearing, relearning the piano, and resuming performances. Music manuscripts contain some of Spencer’s piano exercises. The Papers contain essentially no documentation of Spencer’s life or career after 1954.

The Eleanor Spencer papers are arranged in three series:

  • Series I: Writings, and
    undated
    11 folders

    This series contains correspondence, essays, ephemera, music manuscripts and diaries. Four of the letters date from 1914 or before, and three from 1944 - 1948. One typed excerpt of a letter from Spencer to A.S. Moore in 1944 describes Spencer’s method of practicing her mental hearing as her deafness increases. Essays include a 1938 discussion by Spencer of her favorite orchestral conductors, and the text of a speech, author unknown, introducing Spencer at one of her concerts after she had gone deaf, from ca. 1947. Ephemera include a menu with writing, sketches and music drawn on it. The hand-written music manuscript pages are technical piano exercises. One larger page is a set of exercises sent to Spencer by a friend. The diaries consist of one datebook for each year. Spencer wrote brief descriptions of her activities for every day in all 16 books. Some of the books have prayers written in the front sections.

  • Series II: Promotional Material, and
    1900 - 1973
    Three folders

    This series contains promotional flyers and cards, clippings and concert programs. The flyers span Spencer’s career to ca. 1947 and date from her earliest public performances in Chicago. Most consist of a photo, current press quotes, and listings of previous appearances. The earliest are notable for their presentation of Spencer as a 10-year-old prodigy. One clipping is a review of Spencer at Town Hall in 1948, post-deafness. Another 1973 clipping, in German, may not have any content related to Spencer. Most of the programs are from European appearances. One, for a 1973 Berlin Festival, may not have any content related to Spencer.

  • Series III: Photographs, ca. and
    1900 - ca.1948
    Three folders

    The photographs document Spencer’s career as well as her mentors, friends and, possibly, family. Photos of Spencer are mainly publicity photographs, but also include a pencil sketch. Other subjects include her teacher, Theodor Leschetizky, and “D. Bredius.” Unidentified subjects may include Spencer’s childhood home in Chicago.

Administrative information

Processing information

Processed by Matthew Snyder; Machine-readable finding aid created by Matthew Snyder.

Using the collection

Location

Music Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts..

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.