Adams, Milward, 1857-1923

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Chicago classical music series manager, and manager of the Auditorium Theater from 1889 to 1910.

Milward Adams was born in Kentucky in 1857, and came to Chicago in 1870 to work as an errand boy for Wilson Brothers Clothiers. He became associated with the manager of Chicago's Central Music Hall, George B. Carpenter, who also managed lectures and concerts series. Adams worked for Carpenter and started at the bottom, sweeping up after shows and manning the ticket window. After Carpenter's death he began to manage the Central Music Hall as well as several musical series, including the Theodore Thomas Summer Garden Concerts and the Mapleson Operatic Festival. Beginning in 1889 he began managing the Auditorium Theater and its varied series of operas, recitals, and lectures. He was also the first manager of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under conductor Theodore Thomas, from 1891 to 1894. Adams retired from managing the Auditorium in 1910, and died Jun. 18, 1923. Adams's career as theater manager allowed him access to many lecturers and artists, some of whom (like Theodore Thomas) became close friends. Adams had autographed photographs of these people mounted on the walls of his office at the Auditorium.

From the description of Milward Adams photograph collection [graphic] ca. 1890-1910. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 758131334

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Chicago Symphony Orchestra. President. Records of the Manager/Executive Director/President, 1891-[ongoing] (bulk 1967-[ongoing]). Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rosenthal Archives
referencedIn Reményi, Eduard, 1828-1898. Eduard Reményi letter, 1892. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Adams, Milward, 1857-1923. Milward Adams photograph collection [graphic] Newberry Library
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Calvé, Emma, 1858-1942 person
associatedWith Caruso, Enrico, 1873-1921 person
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
associatedWith Chicago Symphony Orchestra. President. corporateBody
associatedWith Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908 person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith McKinley, William, 1843-1901 person
associatedWith Midwest Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Paderewski, Ignace Jan, 1860-1941 person
associatedWith Reményi, Eduard, 1828-1898. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919 person
associatedWith Schumann-Heink, Ernestine, 1861-1936 person
associatedWith Sousa, John Philip, 1854-1932 person
associatedWith Strauss, Richard, 1864-1949 person
associatedWith Thomas, Theodore, 1835-1905 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Musicians
Singers
Conductors (Music)
Women singers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1857-01-06

Death 1923-01-18

Information

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SNAC ID: 30233213