Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird family papers, 1884-1991 (bulk: 1900-1940).

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Baird, Maria Uytendale Hendrickson, 1874-1930, creator.

Contributor:

Baird, William James, 1874-1924, creator.

Caner, Sarah Uytendale Baird, 1896-1991, creator.

Marchesi, Mathilde, 1821-1913, creator.

Caruso, Enrico, 1873-1921, creator.

Language:

English

French

German

Multiple languages

Subjects (All):

Musicians.

Music--Instruction and study.

Music.

Families.

Opera--France--Paris.

Opera.

Women in the theater.

Theater--United States--History--20th century.

Theater.

Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs.

Philadelphia (Pa.).

Paris (France)--Social life and customs--20th century.

Paris (France).

Genre:

Photographs

Scrapbooks

Sheet music

Penn Provenance:

Gift of William Scott, 2024.

Physical Description:

4 boxes (2 linear feet)

Arrangement:

Organized into 2 series: I. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird papers and II. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner material.

Place of Publication:

1884-1991

Language Note:

The bulk of the collection is in English; however there is material in French and German.

Biography/History:

Maria Uytendale Baird née Hendrickson (1874-1930) was born to parents Sarah Wood Noxon (1852-1929) and New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Charles Elvin Hendrickson (1842-1919) in Red Bank, New Jersey. On October 16, 1895 she married William James Baird (1874-1924) and had three children, Sarah Uytendale Baird (1896-1991), William James Baird, Jr. (1899-1963) and Charles Hendrickson Baird (b. 1900). William James Baird's father, Matthew Baird (1817-1877) was a professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. After his death, the "Baird Scholarship" was established at Penn in his memory. William James Baird's mother, Anna Wright (1841-1919) was a member of the board of managers to the Department of Women at the University. Maria Uytendale and William James Baird spent many years in Europe and lived in Paris, France from 1903 to 1907 where they studied voice. Maria was a student of Madame Mathilde Marchesi (1821-1913), a famous singing teacher whose other students include Nelli Melba (1861-1931) and Emma Calvé (1858-1942). Maria and William returned to Philadelphia in 1908 where they performed often at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Ballroom, the Orpheus Club, and at Mendelsohn Hall in New York. The couple divorced in 1923. Maria made three demonstration recordings of her rendition of Handel's "Sweet Bird" accompanied by Mr. Clemente Barone, the first flutist in the Philadelphia Orchestra. Copies of these recordings were never issued commercially. In 1924, Maria would begin teaching voice in Philadelphia. Their daughter, Sarah Uytendale, married Harrison Koons Caner Jr. (1892-1981) on November 14, 1916 and had three children, Uytendale Emily Wayne Caner (Scott) (1917-1991), Katherine Caner (Hare) (1920-2002) and Harrison Koons Caner III (1927-2021). She was a socialite acclaimed for her fashion and her acting in the 1920s and often used the stage name Uytendale Allaire. Her debut was in 1924 when she first appeared on Broadway in The Torch Bearers .

Summary:

The collection contains material dated between 1884 and 1991 but is primarily from 1900-1940 and is arranged in two series: I. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird papers and II. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner material. Series I. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird papers dates from 1884 to 1929 and documents the social and professional life of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird in the early 20th century. She was often called Uytendale by her friends and family. The material mostly consists of materials related to opera in Paris and Philadelphia. Subseries A. Signed photographs of and illustrations by opera stars contains 32 signed images that Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird collected primarily while studying opera in Paris. Of note are several signed illustrated portraits by Italian operatic tenor, Enrico Caruso, as well as 3 signed photographs of Maria's opera teacher, Madame Marchesi. The images are arranged alphabetically by the name of the singer. Subseries B. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird's social life materials includes chronologically arranged address books, books of engagement, 12 family photographs and a scrapbook containing letters received from Madame Marchesi and menus from events she attended in Paris. It also includes an essay written by Louise Natali-Graham about what it's like to be a student and friend of Madame Marchesi. Subseries C. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird and William James Baird's musical performance material is chronologically arranged and contains 3 photographs of William in costume, a scrapbook of clippings related to their performances, and correspondence and announcements relating to Maria teaching bel canto in Philadelphia. Subseries D. Sheet music contains 26 booklets of lyrics and music from Maria's operatic education. It is arranged alphabetically by song name and features music in English, French and German. Subseries E. Advertisements and programs for operas and theaters includes Maria's collection of playbills and opera programs from London, Berlin, and the United States. Series II. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner material includes her personal papers as well as material collected about her life by her family members. The series mostly consists of material relating to her life as a socialite and her theatrical career in the 1920s and 30s. She is referred to as Sarah Uytendale Baird, Mrs. Harrison Caner and her stage name, Uytendale Allaire, throughout. Subseries A. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner's social life materials primarily contains letters she received as well as commemorative pamphlets for notable events she attended in the city, arranged chronologically. Subseries B. Signed photographs of actors contains 4 autographed portraits of male theater performers addressed to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner. They are arranged chronologically by actor's name. Subseries C. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner's theatrical performance materials includes playbills and newspaper clippings relating to her performance in different plays. These clippings appear to have been collected by Sarah, herself, and the materials are arranged chronologically. Subseries D. Collected material about Sarah and her family consists of material from other members of the Baird family. It includes a cookbook that was likely started by Sarah. It also includes hundreds of Xeroxed newspaper clippings primarily about Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner arranged in reverse-chronological order. Finally, it contains a genealogy book compiled and edited by William Powell Scott, Jr. about the Baird family with detailed descriptions of the family's history, photographs and family tree.

OCLC:

1593412525