Carolyn Allen Perera was born on November 16, 1883, in New York City (12 East 64th Street). She first heard the violin at the age of three and a half years, and this early influence led her to not only play the instrument, but also devote part of her life to exposing children to music. Her family encouraged cultural pursuits, and enabled her to attend many operas and concerts during her childhood. In 1904 she married Lionello Perera, an Italian banker who befriended the family when Carolyn was nine years old. She adopted his Italian heritage, and with his help, learned to speak the language fluently.
The Pereras were involved with several different welfare and 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, who was on tour with the La Scala Orchestra. A strong friendship developed over the years, and led to Carolyn's involvement as one of the founders of the Toscanini Memorial Archives at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
During a crippling bout of arthritis in 1950, from which doctors feared she wouldn't recover, Toscanini gave Carolyn a biography of the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. This book proved to have a healing effect, and launched her new interest as a collector of Verdiana. Her collection grew to include letters to and from Verdi, photographs, and rare editions of his work. In 1960 she and Walter Toscanini (Arturo's son) created an exhibit of their collections for display at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Ohio). She remained an active patron of music until her death on September 24, 1966. More of her life's adventures can be read about in her autobiography, Now It Should Be Told, self-published in honor of her eightieth birthday in 1963.
From the guide to the Mrs. Lionello Perera Papers, 1888-1966, 1930-1965, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)
