TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary of the Collection
Administrative Information
Biography of Elaine Madlener
Scope and Content of the Collection
Organization
Selected Search Terms
Container List
Series 1: Correspondence, 1955-1965
Series 2: Autograph Collecting, 1935-1955
Series 3: Photographs, 1952-1956
Series 4: Charles L. Morgan, 1916-1951
Series 5: Working Notebooks, 1955-1965
Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1955-1965
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frames on
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print view
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The Newberry Library
Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special
Collections
60 West Walton Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610-7324
USA
Phone: 312-255-3506
Fax: 312-255-3646
E-Mail: specialcolls@newberry.org
URL: http://www.newberry.org
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by
Polly Smith,
2008.
©2008.
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Creator
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Madlener,
Elaine
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Title
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Elaine Madlener Papers
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Dates
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1916-1966
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Dates
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bulk
1944-1965
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Extent
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1.5 cubic ft. (3
boxes)
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Abstract
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Research material for a
biography of Herbert von Karajan and material on autograph collecting gathered
by Elaine Madlener, Chicago philanthropist and socialite. Material related to
Madlener’s Grant Hospital committee work for two benefit performances by
Karajan in 1955 and 1965, and manuscripts by British author Charles Langbridge
Morgan.
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Language
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Materials are in
English, French, and German.
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Repository
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Newberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department
of Special Collections
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Collection Call Number
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Midwest MS Madlener
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Collection Stack Location
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3a 41 5
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Elaine Madlener Papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection, The Newberry
Library, Chicago.
Gift, Elaine Madlener, 1975; Richard Madlener, 1990-1992.
Polly Smith, 2008.
Access
The Elaine Madlener Papers are open for research in the Special
Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The Elaine Madlener Papers are the physical property of the
Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or
assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this
collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special
Collections.
Return to the Table of Contents
Chicago socialite and philanthropist. Researched and wrote about
conductor Herbert von Karajan and autograph collecting.
Elaine (nee Wetmore) Madlener, wife of Otto Madlener, was born
September 6, 1912 in Brooklyn, NY. She was a graduate of Rye Country Day School
and attended Columbia University.
Madlener was the Board of Directors of the Grant Hospital Women’s
Auxiliary 1943—1972 and served as its president 1960—1962. She co-chaired the
committee that sponsored performances by Herbert von Karajan with the London
Philharmonic (1955) and the Berlin Philharmonic (1965), benefiting Grant
Hospital.
In 1948, Madlener was named the first woman secretary of the National
Autograph Collectors Society (now the Manuscript Society). She authored
articles on the subject of collecting in Autograph Collectors Journal (1951)
and Antiquarian Bookman (1949, 1952). She presented a colloquium entitled
“Contemporary Authors View the Autograph Collector” which was later published
in Manuscripts (1955).
Madlener was a founding member of the Newberry Library Associates. She
lived in Chicago and Winnetka, IL and Bath County, Virginia. She had two sons,
Richard A. and William C. Madlener. She died March 28, 1989 (at the age of 76)
in Brunswick, GA.
Return to the Table of Contents
Austrian conductor.
Herbert von Karajan was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1908. He was
educated at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and made his conducting debut in 1933 at
the Salzburg Festival. At the height of his career Karajan led the Berlin
Philharmonic, La Scala in Milan, the London Philharmonic, the Vienna State
Opera and the Salzburg Festival. He acted as guest conductor of major
orchestras in Europe and the US, including the Orchestre de Paris, the
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Bayreuth Festival. In 1955 he succeeded
Wilhelm Furtwängler as lifetime director of the Berlin Philharmonic.
There is dispute among researchers as to Karajan’s political
associations—his career was buoyed when he joined the Nazi Party in 1934 and he
was named director of the Aachen Stadttheater. In 1942 he married Anita
Gutermann (who was part Jewish) and fell out of favor with the Nazis. When he
made his US debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in early 1955, his concerts were
met with picketing and protests. However, his performances in Chicago were not
marked by controversy. His primary concern was always music over politics.
Karajan made over 800 recordings, more than any other conductor. He
was a skilled pilot and an aficionado of cars, boats and motorcycles. He was
married three times and had two daughters with his third wife. Karajan died of
a heart attack in 1989.
Return to the Table of Contents
Material relating to Madlener’s committee work for two benefit
performances by Herbert von Karajan (with the London Philharmonic in 1955 and
the Berlin Philharmonic in 1965), research on Karajan’s life and work, and
manuscripts and notes for an intended (yet unwritten) biography of Karajan. The
benefit committee work includes scrapbooks, working notebooks, programs, press
releases, correspondence and photographs. Karajan biographical material
includes articles, discographies, reviews, correspondence and photographs.
Also, autographs, correspondence and comments on the subject of
autograph collecting, solicited and compiled by Madlener for her symposium and
article “Contemporary Authors View the Autograph Collector”. Madlener also
collected manuscripts and related material by British author Charles Langbridge
Morgan.
Narrative descriptions of the subject matter, types of material, and
arrangement of each series are available through the Organization section of
the finding aid.
Return to the Table of Contents
Papers are organized in the following series:
Return to the Table of Contents
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the Newberry Library's public catalog. Researchers desiring
additional materials on a particular topic should search the catalog using
these headings.
Names
- Berliner
Philharmoniker
- Dettmer, Roger
- Grant Hospital (Chicago,
Ill.)
- Grant Hospital (Chicago,
Ill.). Women's Auxiliary
- Karajan, Herbert
von
- London Philharmonic
Orchestra
- Madlener,
Elaine
- Manuscript Society
(U.S.)
- Morgan, Charles,
1894-1958
- Stevenson, Adlai E.
(Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965
- Teatro alla
Scala
- Zelzer, Harry,
1897-1979
Subjects
- Authors, English -- 20th
century
- Authors--20th century --
Correspondence
- Autographs --
Collections
- Autographs -- Collectors
and collecting -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Benefit performances --
Illinois -- Chicago
- Chicago (Ill.) --
Intellectual life -- 20th century -- Sources
- Conductors (Music) --
Biography
- Manuscripts, American --
Illinois -- Chicago
- Oldsmobile automobile --
Photographs
- Scrapbooks --
1955-1965
- Signatures (names) --
1935-1955
Return to the Table of Contents
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Letters to and from Herbert von Karajan, Chicago critic Roger
Dettmer and others in preparation for benefit performances. Letters to
publishers regarding a proposed Karajan biography (including a working
outline). Also, drafts of unsent letters (to publishers and Karajan) regarding
Karajan’s genius and spirituality. Miscellaneous material in German, including
a 1955 edition of
Der Spiegel
, featuring Karajan.
One letter from Adlai Stevenson.
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Arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with miscellaneous and
drafts at the end.
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Box
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Folder
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Contents
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1
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1
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Dettmer, Roger, 1955-1957
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1
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2
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Karajan, Herbert von, 1955-1956
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1
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3
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Stevenson, Adlai, 1965
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1
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4
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Publishers, 1957
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1
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5
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Miscellaneous (
Der
Spiegel
), 1955-1956
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1
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6
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Drafts of unsent letters, n.d.
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Autographs, correspondence and comments on the subject of
autograph collecting, solicited and compiled by Madlener for her symposium and
article “Contemporary Authors View the Autograph Collector”. Includes many
notable writers and personalities including Bennett Cerf, Lin Yutang, W.
Somerset Maugham, H.L. Mencken, Upton Sinclair and Thornton Wilder. Also,
Madlener’s working papers on this subject, clippings, published articles and
information about the history of the National Society of Autograph Collectors
(now the Manuscript Society).
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Arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with general
correspondence at the end.
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Box
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Folder
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Contents
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1
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7
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Adams, James Truslow, 1944-1948
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1
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8
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Aldrich, Bess Streeter, 1945-1948
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1
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9
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Allen, Hervey, 1944-1949
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1
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10
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Bemelmans, Ludwig, 1945
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1
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11
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Benét, William Rose, 1945-1948
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1
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12
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Bowen, Catherine Drinker, 1945
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1
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13
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Boyle, Kay, 1945
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1
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14
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Bromfield, Louis, 1944
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1
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15
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Brooks, Van Wyck, 1945
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1
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16
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Brush, Katharine, 1945
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1
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17
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Burt, Struthers, 1945-1948
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1
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18
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Caldwell, Erskine, 1948
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1
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19
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Caldwell, Taylor, 1945-1949
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1
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20
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Cather, Willa, 1946
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1
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21
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Cerf, Bennett, 1945-1948
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1
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22
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Chase, Mary Ellen, 1945
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1
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23
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De Kruif, Paul, 1945
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1
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24
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De la Roche, Mazo, 1948
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1
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25
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Du Maurier, Daphne, 1945-1948
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1
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26
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Eisenschiml, Otto, 1948
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1
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27
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Ertz, Susan, 1945 (?)
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1
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28
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Fisher, Dorothy Canfield, 1944-1948
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1
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29
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Flavin, Martin, 1944
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1
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30
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Fosdick, Harry Emerson, 1945-1948
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1
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31
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Guiterman, Arthur, 1945
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1
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32
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Gunther, John, 1945-1949
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1
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33
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Hilton, John, 1945-1948
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1
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34
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Keyes, Frances Parkinson, 1945-1949
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1
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35
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Lasswell, Mary, 1945
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1
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36
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Leacock, Stephen, 1944-1948
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1
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37
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Lin, Yutang, 1945
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1
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38
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Lippmann, Walter, 1945
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1
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39
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Luce, Clare Booth, 1948
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1
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40
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Maugham, W. Somerset, 1945-1949
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1
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41
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Mencken, H. L., 1944-1948
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1
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42
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Morgan, William Langbridge, n.d.
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1
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43
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Morley, Christopher, 1948
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1
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44
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Odets, Clifford, 1945-1949
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1
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45
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Partridge, Bellamy, 1944-1948
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1
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46
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Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan, 1945-1948
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1
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47
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Rinehart, Mary Roberts, 1945-1948
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1
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48
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Roberts, Cecil, 1945-1948
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1
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49
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Roberts, Kenneth, 1945-1948
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1
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50
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Sherwood, Robert E., 1945
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1
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51
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Shirer, William L., 1945-1948
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1
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52
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Sinclair, Upton, 1944-1948
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1
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53
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Smith, Betty, 1945
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1
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54
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Spalding, Albert, 1945
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1
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55
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Starrett, Vincent, 1948-1949
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1
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56
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Thomas, Lowell, 1944-1948
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1
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57
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Train, Arthur, 1935-1943
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1
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58
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Van Doren, Carl, 1948
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1
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59
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Welles, Sumner, 1945
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1
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60
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Wilder, Thornton, 1945-1948
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1
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61
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Wylie, Philip, 1945
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1
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62
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Clippings, 1955
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1
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63
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Correspondence, 1944-1945
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1
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64
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Correspondence, 1946-1948
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1
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65
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Correspondence, 1949-1955
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1
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66
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Manuscripts, 1945
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1
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67
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Published Works, 1949-1955
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1
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68
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National Society of Autograph Collectors, 1948-1951
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Photographs of Madlener and family members at society functions,
and publicity shots from the pre-benefit events (1955) with Karajan, Harry
Zelzer and others, including a visit to the Lansing, MI Oldsmobile plant to see
the F-88 concept car. Also, publicity stills of Karajan, including some from
Teatro alla Scala with Maria Callas and composer Carl Orff.
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Arranged by subject.
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Box
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Folder
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Contents
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1
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69
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Madlener, family and social functions, 1955 and n.d.
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1
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70
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Madlener, with Karajan, Zelzer and others at benefit
reception, 1955
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1
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71
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Madlener, with Karajan in Oldsmobile F-88, 1956
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1
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72
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Karajan, portraits and publicity stills
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1
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73
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Karajan, with orchestras
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1
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74
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Karajan, with others (autographed)
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1
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75
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Karajan, Teatro alla Scala, ca. 1952-1954
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Material collected by Madlener about author Charles L. Morgan,
including two manuscripts of his early work “Index to Dreams” as well as
correspondence, receipts and a bibliography. One signed photograph.
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Arranged by type of material.
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Box
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Folder
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Contents
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1
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76
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Manuscript, "Index to Dreams", 1916-1917
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1
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77
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Typescript (signed), "Index to Dreams", 1916-1917
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1
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78
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Correspondence, 1919-1951
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1
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79
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Documents, receipts, bibliography, 1951
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1
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80
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Photograph (signed), 1951
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Two working notebooks created by Madlener while planning the two
Karajan benefit performances: donor lists, ticket sales, receipts and accounts.
Also research on Karajan, including press releases, reviews and other published
material. Also includes a 1955 photo-essay book on Karajan (in French with
translation) from the Great Concert Artists series.
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Arranged by subject. Notebooks are in original order, generally
chronologically.
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Box
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Folder
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Contents
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2
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81
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Benefit, 1955
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2
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82
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Karajan research, 1955-1956
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2
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83
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Herbert von Karajan-
Les Grandes
Interpretes
, 1955
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2
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84
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Benefit, 1964-1965
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Material from three scrapbooks, documenting the 1955 and 1965
benefit performances: clippings, programs, invitations, press releases. Karajan
material includes an autographed program, clippings, reviews, correspondence
and photographs. Also, a 1965 edition of LIFE magazine with a Karajan feature
article.
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Arranged chronologically.
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Box
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Folder
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Contents
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3
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85
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Scrapbook #1-Karajan and benefit, 1955
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3
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86
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Separated material, 1955-1956
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3
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87-89
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Scrapbook #2, 1955
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3
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90
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Separated material-photograph, program
(signed)
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3
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91-92
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Scrapbook #3, 1964-1965
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3
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93
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Separated material-clippings, 1964-1965
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3
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94
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LIFE magazine, 1965
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