Zimbalist, Mary Louise Curtis Bok, 1876-1970

Mary Louise Curtis Bok was a music patron, philanthropist, founder of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Wife of Edward Bok (d. 1930); married violinist Efrem Zimbalist in 1943.

From the description of Letter, 1950 February 11, New Hartford, Conn. [to] John Bitter, Florence, Italy / Mary Zimbalist. (Curtis Institute of Music). WorldCat record id: 37323801

Mary Louise Curtis was born 6 Aug. 1876 in Boston, Mass. She was the daughter of the wealthy Cyrus Hermann Kotchmarr Curtis of Pennsylvania, publisher of the Ladies Home Journal and other magazines. She married Edward William Bok on 22 Oct. 1896, and later married Efrem Zimbalist on 6 July 1943. A patron of the arts, especially music, she was the founder of the Curtis Institute of Music. She was also the donor of the land and funds for the construction of the Camden Public Library (1928) and Amphitheatre. This was done to give local residents work during the Depression. She and her father both resided in Rockport, Me., until his death in 1933. She died 4 Jan. 1970 in Philadelphia, Pa.

From the description of Correspondence between Mary Louise Curtis Bok and the Town of Camden, Me., ca. 1930-ca. 1959. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 701549203

Biographical Note

Mary Louise Curtis Bok, founder of the Curtis Institute of Music, served as patron to George Antheil throughout much of his career. Antheil first made the acquaintance of Bok in 1921 through former theory and composition teacher Constantin von Sternberg. Despite her generous financial support, Bok was not, as she wrote in a letter to Antheil dated April 13, 1931, "in sympathy with the so-called modern trend," and generally disapproved of Antheil's music. Antheil dedicated a number of his musical works to Bok, including Night Piece, Six Little Pieces for String Quartet, and Symphonie in Fa .

From the guide to the George Antheil Correspondence with Mary Louise Curtis Bok, 1921-1940, (Music Division Library of Congress)