Aldine S. Kieffer letter, 1881

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

MSS 16663, Aldine S. Kieffer letter, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Summary

Extent:
0.03 Cubic Feet 1 letter folder
Creator:
Kieffer, Aldine S., 1840-1904
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 16663, Aldine S. Kieffer letter, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains a single letter from Aldine S. Kieffer to an E.M.[?]dder on Kieffer's business letter head in Dayton, Virginia. Kieffer was a publisher, music teacher, and promoter of the use of Shape Note music. The letter states that he likes the tune and will place it in the Musical Million, a publication that was a leading tool to promote Shape Note music, that was edited by Kieffer. He also mentions a rude communication from a Mr. Robertson.

Biographical / historical:

Aldine Silliman Kieffer (August 1, 1840 – November 30, 1904) was a leading 19th century proponent of shape note musical notation, music teacher and publisher. He was born near Miami, Saline County, Missouri and died in Dayton, Virginia.

Kieffer was the grandson of Mennonite musician Joseph Funk. After Funk's death, he and Ephraim Ruebush took over Funk's publishing company. With Ruebush and John W. Howe, Kieffer founded the Kieffer, Ruebush, & Company music company circa 1873, which was moved from Singers Glen to Dayton, Virginia in 1878. Kieffer was editor of the Musical Million and Fireside Friend periodical. The Musical Million, published from 1870 until 1914, was one of the leading tools promoting shape note music for almost a half century. It helped link teachers and students across the country, and published many songs in its pages.

Kieffer taught singing schools and used his songbooks in the schools. One of Kieffer's most popular song books was The Temple Star, published at Singer's Glen in 1877. One of his most popular songs was his poem Twilight is Stealing, set to music by B. C. Unseld in 1877 and published in the Temple Star.

Source: "Aldine Silliman Kieffer" Wikipedia. Accessed 2/08/2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldine_Silliman_Kieffer

Acquisition information:
This collection was purchased from DeWolfe Wood by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on September 22, 2020.
Physical description:
Good
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Shape-note singing
Names:
Kieffer, Aldine S., 1840-1904