Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
See the
University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Preferred Citation
Cleveland Family
Papers, Accession 1999, Special Collections Department, University of
Virginia Library
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.