Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open to research.

Publication Rights

EDIT ME!

Preferred Citation

EDIT ME!

Acquisition Information

This collection was placed on loan with the Library on September 28, 1944, by Lt. E. W. Gregoryof Norfolk, Virginia, through Miss Nellie George.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This collection of 115 items, 1858-1943, contains the papers of Eva Cleveland(1868-1944), a well-known music teacher and choir director in Charlottesvillewhose musical career spanned fifty-eight years, 1886 to 1944, and a ledger from the A. H. Cleaveland Dry Goods Store. A. H. Cleavelandowned and managed the Cleaveland Dry Goods Storeon Main Street in Charlottesville, Virginia, at least during the dates of his ledger, 1858-1875. His wife ran a small school, Cleaveland School, which began in 1876 and continued until at least the first decade of the twentieth century.

Ms. M. Eva Cleaveland(who later dropped both her first initial and the "a" in Cleaveland) and her sister Kate Cleavelandwere accomplished musicians who were known locally for their talent in singing and playing the piano. A younger sister, Carrie Cleaveland, was later a student in Ms. Eva Cleveland's school. After completing school and musical training at New York Universityand the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Ms. Eva Clevelandtaught music at her mother's school at least during the 1887-1888 session, but by 1892 she had her own music school which continued under her direction until 1943. "Miss Eva," as she was known locally, was also the organist and choir director of First Baptist Church of Charlottesvillefor twenty-five years. The many newspaper clippings kept by Ms. Eva Clevelandattest to her skills both in playing and teaching music, and generations of Charlottesvilleyouth spent years under her tutelage.

The collection of Ms. Eva Cleveland's papers include miscellaneous memorabilia of the Charlottesvillearea, programs of music recitals, and a scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings of local interest and recipes. Of particular value to local historians are printed materials on the First Baptist Church of Charlottesvilleand various printed materials pertaining to Charlottesvilleand Albemarle County. There are "patriotic" pamphlets, and a program from the Medical College of Virginia's 1936 commencement exercises, numerous recital programs listing local youth, and newspaper clippings discussing local events, musical and other.