Cleveland Family Papers 1858-1943

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
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Cleveland Family Papers, Accession 1999, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:
Lt. E. W. Gregory
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Cleveland Family Papers, Accession 1999, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

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.

[for whom Ms. Eva Clevelandserved as choir director]

[Bulletin of Dedicatory Service, programs, and a 1941 church directory.]

[Includes prints of local buildings, program of 1922 AlbemarleHomecoming Celebration, battlefield markers information, and a copy of the town charter.]

[on etiquette, recipes, historical figures and patriotic issues.]

[Includes a copy of an 1896 New York Musical Echo,information on composers, booklets on piano exercises and teaching.]

[Items of personal interest to Ms. Eva Cleveland. Includes pages from an 1859 edition of the Georgia Temperance Crusader,brochures from her mother's school, poems, and souvenirs of vacation trips]

[Ledger, presumably of her father's, used as a scrapbook, which contains recipes, articles about beauty and household issues, and clippings about local social events and reviews of Ms. Eva Cleveland's church and school's recitals.]

[listing accounts]

Acquisition information:
This collection was placed on loan with the Library on September 28, 1944 , by Lt. E. W. Gregory of Norfolk, Virginia , through Miss Nellie George .
Processing information:

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

Physical location:
Physical description:
115 items