Perera, Carolyn Allen.

Philanthropist, collector, and music patron, Carolyn Allen Perera (1883-1966) amassed a major collection of Verdiana and was one of the founders of the Toscanini Memorial Archives at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Born in New York City, Carolyn married banker Lionello Perera in 1904 and adopted his Italian heritage, learning to speak the language fluently. The Pereras were involved with several different 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. A strong friendship developed over the years, and it was Toscanani who launched her interest in Guiseppe Verdi later in life. Perera's collection of Verdiana grew to include letters to and from the composer, photographs, and rare editions of his work. In 1960 she and Walter Toscanini (Arturo's son) created an exhibit of their Verdi collections for display at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Ohio). She remained an active patron of music until her death and completed a self-published autobiography, Now It Should Be Told (1963), in honor of her eightieth birthday.