Farrar, Geraldine

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American soprano.

From the description of Autograph note signed, dated : [n.p.], 1961, to [Joseph Chouinard?], 1961. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270913139

From the description of Autograph letters signed (2), dated : Ridgefield, Conn., 31 January 1934 and New York [n.d., 1934], to H[arry] H[arkness] Flagler, 1934 Jan. 31 and [n.d. 1934]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270576719

From the description of Autograph letter signed, dated : Ridgefield, Conn., 28 August 1962, to Julia Wightman, 1962 Aug. 28. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270576721

From the description of Autograph letter signed, dated : Ridgefield, Conn., 27 August [1920's?], to Polly, [1920's] Aug. 27. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270873314

Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967) was an American opera singer.

From the description of Geraldine Farrar letters, 1952-1956. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122607792

From the guide to the Geraldine Farrar letters, 1952-1956, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Geraldine Farrar (b. Feb. 28, 1882 in Melrose, Mass.; d. Mar. 11, 1967 in Ridgefield, Conn.) was an opera singer and film actress. She studied voice in Boston, New York, Paris and Berlin and performed at the Metropolitan Opera for many years. She recorded extensively on Victor labels, and appeared in silent movies and on radio. Farrar retired from opera in 1922 and appeared in recitals until 1931.

From the description of Geraldine Farrar collection, 1895-1943 (bulk 1898-1939). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71056517

Opera singer and film actress.

Geraldine Farrar's stage presence earned her a fanatic following of "Gerryflappers" in the early 20th century. She studied voice in Boston, New York, Paris and Berlin, and caused a sensation in Germany with her debut as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust in 1901. In 1906 Farrar joined the Metropolitan Opera and sang in 29 roles in nearly 500 performances there. She recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company, and appeared in a number of early Hollywood films. A true diva, temperamental and fiercely independent, Farrar's life was the source of considerable scandal, with many love affairs and a very public divorce in 1923. She retired from opera in 1922, though continuing to give recitals and a few radio broadcasts. Farrar died in 1967, at the age of 85.

From the description of Geraldine Farrar memorabilia, 1902-1963. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 698380148

Biographical Note

  • 1882, Feb. 28: Born, Melrose, Massachusetts to Sidney "Sid" Farrar, former player with the Philadelphia Athletics, and Henrietta Barnes Farrar
  • 1894 - 1898 : Studied voice with Mrs. J.H. Long in Boston and Emma Thursby in Manhattan; performed for Lillian Nordica and Nellie Melba
  • 1899 - 1900 : Farrar family moved to Paris and then Berlin to further Geraldine's career
  • 1901: Began life-long association with Kaiser Wilhelm II and family
  • 1901, Oct. 15: Berlin Hofoper debut as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust
  • 1903: Began vocal training with Lilli Lehmann
  • 1903 May: Studied the role of Manon with composer Jules Massenet in Paris
  • 1903, Dec. 1: Premiere of Manon in Berlin
  • 1903 - 1906 : Performed with Monte Carlo Opera
  • 1905, Mar. 8: Mascagni's Amica, world premiere
  • 1906, Feb. 24: Saint-Saëns' L'Ancêtre, world premiere
  • 1906 Summer: Metropolitan Opera contract
  • 1906 Oct.: Declined Strauss' request to premiere Salomé at the Berlin Royal Opera
  • 1906, Nov. 26: Metropolitan Opera debut in Gounod's Romeo et Juliet
  • 1907, Feb. 11: Metropolitan Opera premiere of Puccini's Madama Butterfly
  • 1910, Dec. 28: Humperdinck's Königskinder, world premiere
  • 1914, Jan. 3: Metropolitan Opera, first American production of Wolf-Ferrari's Le Donne Curiose
  • 1914, Nov. 19: Metropolitan Opera, plays the first of fifty-seven sold-out performances of Carmen
  • 1914: Metropolitan Opera, Gustave Charpentier's Julien, premiere
  • 1915 - 1919 : Cecil B. DeMille films, including Carmen, Maria Rosa, Temptation, The Woman God Forgot, and Joan the Woman
  • 1916, Feb. 8: Married actor and director Lou Tellegen in New York
  • 1918: Metropolitan Opera, Puccini's Suor Angelica, world premiere
  • 1922 Apr.: Made final performance at the Metropolitan Opera as the title character in Leoncavallo's Zazá, her last appearance on the opera stage
  • 1922 - 1931 : Toured as concert singer, concentrating on Lieder
  • 1923: Divorces Lou Tellegen
  • 1931: Retired from singing career
  • 1934 - 1935 : Hosted Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts
  • 1935 - 1967 : Public service activities including work with the Red Cross, the American Women's Volunteer Service Transport, the Office of Price Administration, and the Republican Party
  • 1938: Published autobiography Such Sweet Compulsion
  • 1967, Mar. 11: Died, Ridgefield, Connecticut

From the guide to the Geraldine Farrar Collection, 1895-1943, (bulk 1898-1939), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Norman, Gertrude, d. 1961. Van Dresser-Norman papers, 1895-1956. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Autograph letter signed, dated : Ridgefield, Conn., 27 August [1920's?], to Polly, [1920's] Aug. 27. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Autograph letters signed (2), dated : Ridgefield, Conn., 31 January 1934 and New York [n.d., 1934], to H[arry] H[arkness] Flagler, 1934 Jan. 31 and [n.d. 1934]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Sophia Smith Collection. Music collection, 1840s-1980 (ongoing) (bulk 1930-80). Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Hellman (Florence Marx) Theatrical Diaries Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Geraldine Farrar collection, 1895-1943 (bulk 1898-1939). Library of Congress
referencedIn McDermott, Edward J. [Guide to the McDermott Record collection 1900-1940.] Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Phillips Memorial Library
referencedIn Frank Connor photographic collection, 1900s-1940s. College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library
creatorOf Ellis, Mary, 1900-2003. Mary Ellis papers. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Music Collection MS 409., 1848-2003, 1930s-1980 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Howard D. Rothschild papers, 1921-1989. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Secrist, John, 1918-1958. Papers from the John Secrist Jr. collection, 1919-1973 (bulk 1949-1958). Library of Congress
referencedIn Marcella Sembrich papers, 1790-1988, 1885-1930 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn Geraldine Farrar Collection, 1895-1943, (bulk 1898-1939) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn A.P. Schmidt Company. A.P. Schmidt Company archives, 1869-1958 (bulk 1895-1920). Library of Congress
referencedIn The Love Family Papers, 1850-1960 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Fawcett, James Waldo. Correspondence of James Waldo Fawcett, 1925-1928. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Barnes, Harold. The Harold Barnes collection, [ca. 1940-ca. 1970]. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn American Vaudeville Museum collection, 1845-2007, (bulk 1910-1940) University of Arizona Libraries, Library Special Collections
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Autograph letter signed, dated : Ridgefield, Conn., 28 August 1962, to Julia Wightman, 1962 Aug. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Bigelow, Poultney, b. 1855. Poultney Bigelow papers, 1855-1954. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Lillian B. Gilkes Papers, 1900-1976 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Stark, Samuel. Theatre scrapbook collection., 1860-1950 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Poultney Bigelow papers, 1855-1954 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Stark, Samuel. Theatre scrapbook collection, 1860-1950. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Theatre Arts Monthly, collection of portraits, ca., ca., 1924-1939 (bulk), 1916-1964 (inclusive). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Riley, Katherine Murphy. Scrapbooks, 1910-1953. Atlanta History Center, Kenan Research Center / Cherokee Garden Library
creatorOf Geraldine Farrar letters, 1952-1956. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Hulda Lashanska papers, 1908-1971, 1920-1930 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn Maria H. Dehon Polk collection of Constant Coquelin, [ca. 1884]-1934 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn John Eldon Thayer collection of motion picture memorabilia, 1916-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Geraldine Farrar Collection, 1895-1943, (bulk 1898-1939) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn William B. Osgood Field papers, 1610-1952, n.d, 1897-1934 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Williams, John Alonzo, 1869-1951. John Alonzo Williams letters to Abbie Farwell Brown [manuscript], 1908-1911. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Van Dresser-Norman papers, 1895-1956 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Papers from the John Secrist Jr. Collection, 1919-1973, 1949-1958 Library of Congress. Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
referencedIn Howard D. Rothschild collection on, Ballets Russes, of Serge Diaghilev: Photographs and scrapbooks, 1909-1975. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Juilliard School collection of autograph letters and other documents, 1793-1985. The Juilliard School, Lila Acheson Wallace Library
creatorOf Volkonskai︠a︡, Irina Sergeevna, 1904-1969?. Irina Sergeevna Volkonskaia Letters, 1951-1969. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Van Volkenburg Browne, Ellen, b. 1882. Autograph letters signed (48) and telegram : Seattle, Los Angeles, Victoria (British Columbia), Florence, New York, Windsor (Vermont), West Brooksville (Maine), Totnes (Devon), to Edward Wagenknecht, 1933-1973 and [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Geraldine Farrar letters, 1952-1956 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Scrapbook on theater and opera, 1901-1915. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn Lashanska, Hulda, 1893-1974. Papers, 1908-1971 (bulk 1920-1930). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Autograph note signed, dated : [n.p.], 1961, to [Joseph Chouinard?], 1961. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Howard E. Potter papers, 1929-1961 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn Locke, Robinson, 1856-1920,. Robinson Locke Collection, 1870-1920. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1918. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. [Letter] 1955 August 22, Stanford, Calif. [to] Geraldine Farrar, Ridgefield, Conn. / Herbert Hoover. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Robinson Locke Collection, 1870-1920 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Charles A. Sink autographed photograph collection, 1894-1972 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Webb, Clifton, 1893-1966. Clifton Webb collection, 1929-1961. Boston University. School of Medicine
referencedIn Emeline Clark Roche Collection, 1815-1988 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Mary Ellis papers, 1897-2003 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Hall, Bolton, 1854-1938. Hall-Herrick papers, ca. 1830-1949. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Kurt Schindler papers, 1882-1946 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn White mss., 1932-1969 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Sembrich, Marcella, 1858-1935. Marcella Sembrich collection, 1790-1988 (bulk 1885-1930). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Fawcett, James Waldo, b. 1893. Correspondence of James Waldo Fawcett [manuscript], 1925-1928. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn The Harold Barnes collection, ca. 1940-ca. 1970 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn McDermott Record collection, McDermott Record Collection, 1900-1940 Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Love family. The Love family papers, 1850-1960 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1952-1967. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Christopher A. Reynolds Collection of Women's Song, circa 1800-1985 University of California, Davis. General Library. . Dept. of Special Collections
creatorOf Lashanska, Hulda, 1893-1974. Papers, 1908-1971 (bulk 1920-1930). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Michael, Louise. [Louise Michael scrapbook]. Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Central (downtown Buffalo)
referencedIn Harris, Julia Collier, b. 1875. Papers, 1921-1955. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Robert H. Davis papers, 1871-1946, 1908-1942 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Julia Collier Harris Papers MS 74., 1921-1955 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Crawford Theater collection, 1663-1992 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Williams, Camilla, 1919-2012,. Interview conducted by Oliver Daniel, Mar. 7, 1977 [sound recording]. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967. Geraldine Farrar memorabilia, 1902-1963. Newberry Library
referencedIn Hanson, Gladys, 1887-1973. Gladys Hanson papers, 1908-1965. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Massenet, Jules, 1842-1912. Autograph manuscript : [n.p., Paris?, n.d., 1911?], [n.d., 1911?]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Museum of Vaudeville corporateBody
correspondedWith A.P. Schmidt Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Bach, J.S. person
associatedWith Barnes, Harold person
associatedWith Barnes, Harold. person
associatedWith Beethoven, Ludwig van person
correspondedWith Belasco, David, 1853-1931 person
associatedWith Bigelow, Poultney, b. 1855. person
associatedWith Blein, Sylvia. person
associatedWith Boucher, Anthony, 1911-1968 person
associatedWith B. Schott's Söhne corporateBody
correspondedWith Businger, Ruth A., 1893-1965 person
associatedWith Carl Fischer, Inc. corporateBody
correspondedWith Carreño, Teresa, 1853-1917 person
correspondedWith Caruso, Enrico, 1873-1921 person
correspondedWith Cecilie, Crown Princess of the German Empire and of Prussia, 1886-1954 person
associatedWith Chamade person
associatedWith Charles Foley corporateBody
correspondedWith Charpentier, Gustave, 1860-1956 person
associatedWith Chouinard, Joseph, person
associatedWith Crawford, Jack Randall, 1878-1968 person
associatedWith Cullen, Frank, 1936- person
associatedWith Davis, Robert H. (Robert Hobart), 1869-1942 person
correspondedWith DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959 person
correspondedWith Dukas, Paul, 1865-1935 person
associatedWith Ellis, Mary, 1900-2003. person
associatedWith Eyre, Alice person
associatedWith Eyre, Alice. person
associatedWith Eyre, Lawrence person
associatedWith Eyre, Lawrence. person
associatedWith Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967 person
associatedWith Fawcett, James Waldo, b. 1893. person
associatedWith Field, William B. Osgood person
correspondedWith Finck, Henry Theophilus, 1854-1926 person
associatedWith Flagler, Harry Harkness, person
associatedWith Gilkes, Lillian B. (Lillian Barnard), 1902-1977 person
associatedWith Gilmour, Howard person
associatedWith Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Grechaninov, Alexandr Tikhonovich person
associatedWith Grétry, M. person
correspondedWith Hadley, Henry Kimball, 1871-1937 person
correspondedWith Hahn, Reynaldo, 1875-1947 person
associatedWith Hall, Bolton, 1854-1938. person
associatedWith Hanson, Gladys, 1887-1973. person
associatedWith Harris, Julia Collier, b. 1875 person
associatedWith Hellman, Florence Marx. person
associatedWith Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Howard D. Rothschild, collector. person
correspondedWith Humperdinck, Engelbert, 1854-1921 person
correspondedWith Humphries, Daisy person
correspondedWith Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971 person
correspondedWith Kreisler, Fritz, 1875-1962 person
associatedWith Lashanska, Hulda, 1893-1974. person
associatedWith Lehar, Franz person
correspondedWith Lehmann, Lilli, 1848-1929 person
associatedWith Locke, Robinson, 1856-1920, person
associatedWith Loewe, Carl person
associatedWith Love family. family
associatedWith Lucy Prindle Love and Helen Love Scranton person
associatedWith Mary Flagler Cary Music Collection (Pierpont Morgan Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Massenet, Jules, 1842-1912. person
associatedWith McDermott, Edward J. person
associatedWith McDermott, Edward J. person
associatedWith McNeilly, Donald, 1945- person
associatedWith Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Midwest Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Moritz, Pauline. person
associatedWith Moussorgsky, Modest person
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Norman, Gertrude, d. 1961 person
associatedWith Norman, Gertrude, d. 1961. person
associatedWith Oliver Ditson Company corporateBody
associatedWith Polk, Maria H. Dehon, ca. 1857-1941, person
correspondedWith Pons, Lily, 1898-1976 person
associatedWith Potter, Howard E person
correspondedWith Puccini, Giacomo, 1858-1924 person
correspondedWith Rachmaninoff, Sergei, 1873-1943 person
associatedWith Reynolds, Christopher A. person
associatedWith Riley, Katherine Murphy. person
associatedWith Roche, Emeline Clark, 1902-1995 person
correspondedWith Rothschild, Howard D. person
associatedWith Samuel Stark person
associatedWith Schindler, Kurt, 1882-1935 person
associatedWith Schumann, Robert person
correspondedWith Secrist, John, 1918-1958. person
associatedWith Sembrich, Marcella, 1858-1935. person
associatedWith Sink, Charles Albert, 1879-1972 person
associatedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
associatedWith Stark, Samuel. person
associatedWith Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich person
associatedWith Thayer, John Eldon, 1899-1980 person
correspondedWith Toscanini, Arturo, 1867-1957 person
associatedWith Van Volkenburg Browne, Ellen, b. 1882. person
associatedWith Volkonskai︠a︡, Irina Sergeevna, 1904-1969? person
associatedWith Wagner, Richard person
correspondedWith Webb, Clifton, 1893-1966. person
associatedWith Wightman, Julia P., person
correspondedWith William, Crown Prince of Germany, 1882-1951 person
associatedWith Williams, Camilla, 1919-2012, person
associatedWith Williams, John Alonzo, 1869-1951. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
United States
Subject
Manuscripts, American
Motion picture actors and actresses
Motion picture actors and actresses
Music
Opera
Opera
Performing arts
Performing arts
Sopranos (Singers)
Sopranos (Singers)
Women singers
Women singers
Occupation
Singers
Arrangers
Activity

Person

Birth 1882-02-28

Death 1967-03-11

Americans

Information

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Ark ID: w6w0977b

SNAC ID: 13968752