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Creator
Perera, Carolyn Allen
Call number
JPB 06-11
Physical description
3 linear feet (4 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Mrs. Lionello Perera Papers, JPB 06-11, Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

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

The Mrs. Lionello Perera Papers document her interests in Verdi, and chamber music concerts during the 1930s-1960s.

Biographical/historical information

Carolyn Allen Perera was born on November 16, 1883, in New York City (12 East 64th Street). She first heard the violin at the age of three and a half years, and this early influence led her to not only play the instrument, but also devote part of her life to exposing children to music. Her family encouraged cultural pursuits, and enabled her to attend many operas and concerts during her childhood. In 1904 she married Lionello Perera, an Italian banker who befriended the family when Carolyn was nine years old. She adopted his Italian heritage, and with his help, learned to speak the language fluently.

The Pereras were involved with several different welfare and social service organizations, including the Italian Welfare League, which Carolyn founded in 1920 to aid Italian immigrants. This work allowed her to meet Arturo Toscanini, who was on tour with the La Scala Orchestra. A strong friendship developed over the years, and led to Carolyn's involvement as one of the founders of the Toscanini Memorial Archives at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

During a crippling bout of arthritis in 1950, from which doctors feared she wouldn't recover, Toscanini gave Carolyn a biography of the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. This book proved to have a healing effect, and launched her new interest as a collector of Verdiana. Her collection grew to include letters to and from Verdi, photographs, and rare editions of his work. In 1960 she and Walter Toscanini (Arturo's son) created an exhibit of their collections for display at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Ohio). She remained an active patron of music until her death on September 24, 1966. More of her life's adventures can be read about in her autobiography, Now It Should Be Told, self-published in honor of her eightieth birthday in 1963.

Scope and arrangement

The Mrs. Lionello Perera Papers document select activities of a New York City patron of music, primarily from 1930 to 1965. The emphasis of the collection is on concerts attended by Mrs. Perera, and her main subject of interest, Giuseppe Verdi. The collection does not contain any of her work with welfare agencies, such as the Italian Welfare League; there is only scant evidence of her violin performances, and her involvement with music schools.

The Mrs. Lionello Perera Papers are arranged in three series:

  • Series I: Personal Papers
    1891-1966, undated
    .75 linear feet (1.5 boxes

    This series consists of materials saved by Mrs. Perera that document the performing arts aspects of her life. Many of the programs found here are for musicians whom she knew personally, and likely hosted at her home. The program for Oklahoma! includes a note "with Toscanini," meaning that he was her guest at this production. Also of note is her self-published autobiography, Now It Should Be Told, which details significant events in her life.

  • Series II: Verdi materials
    1888-1966, undated
    .75 linear feet (1.5 boxes

    The contents of this series reflect Mrs. Perera's strong interest in the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. However, these materials are mostly from secondary sources, such as newspapers, or programs and libretti from productions of his work. There is some data related to her primary Verdiana collection, but none of the actual items. Of note are the folders of correspondence, one of which is with Walter Toscanini, who was also a collector of Verdiana. Two folders document exhibits of their combined collections.

  • Series III: Oversized Materials
    1898-1963, undated
    1.5 linear feet (1 box

    This series contains three folders of oversized Verdi-related materials.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Carolyn Allen Perera bequeathed the Mrs. Lionello Perera Papers to the Music Division in 1966.

Processing information

Processed by Anastasia Karel; Machine-readable finding aid created by Anastasia Karel.

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.