This collection (1898-2012 (bulk 1954-2012)) documents the performances, public career, and private life of Irish soprano and harpist Mary O'Hara. The collection consists primarily of business and personal correspondence. It also includes recordings, sheet music, diaries and notebooks, photographs, and artifacts.
The Mary O'Hara papers document the performances, public career, and personal life of Irish soprano and harpist Mary O'Hara. The collection highlights her early rise to fame in the 1950s until her entrance to Stanbrook Abbey in 1962, as well her return to her music career in 1974 until her retirement in 1994. O'Hara was married to the American poet Richard Selig from 1956 until his death in 1957, and her selected personal correspondence with him as well as some of his manuscripts are part of this collection. In addition, these papers include some notebooks and artwork from her time as a nun at Stanbrook Abbey (1962-1974).
The collection consists primarily of business and personal correspondence. It also includes audio and video recordings, performance scripts, publicity materials, literary manuscripts, sheet music, diaries, photographs, ephemera, and subject files. There are also electronic records and a few pieces of art and artifacts, including O'Hara's first professional harp.
Publicity materials include press releases, clippings, concert and tour schedules, ephemera, fan club newsletters, journal articles, posters, programs, flyers, and unpublished articles. Photographs include prints, slides, transparencies, and contact sheets. Subject files comprise published articles, photographs, and notes on subjects of interest to O'Hara. Scrapbooks are fragile and compile newspaper clippings that are duplicated in Series IX, Subseries B.
This collection is arranged in thirteen series: I. Art and artifacts; II. Audiovisual materials; III. Correspondence; IV. Diaries and notebooks; V. Electronic records; VI. Literary manuscripts; VII. Performance scripts and related materials; VIII. Photographs; IX. Publicity materials; X. Printed materials; XI. Scrapbooks; XII. Sheet music and song lyrics; XIII. Subject files.
Audiovisual materials are further divided into six subseries: A. Published sound cassettes; B. Published sound discs: analog, 33 1/3 rpm; C. Published sound discs: analog, 45 rpm; D. Published videodiscs (DVD-R); E. Unpublished sound cassettes; F. Unpublished sound discs: analog, 33 1/3 rpm.
Correspondence is further divided into three subseries: A. Business correspondence; B. Fan mail; C. Personal correspondence.
Performance scripts and related materials are divided into three subseries: A. Albums and repertoire; B. Live musical performances; C. Television and radio.
Printed materials are divided into two subseries: A. Music books; B. Other books.
Publicity materials are divided into nine subseries: A. Biographical notes and press releases; B. Clippings; C. Concert and tour schedules; D. Ephemera; E. Fan club newsletters; F. Journals; G. Posters; H. Programs and fliers; I. Unpublished articles.
Sheet music and song lyrics are divided into two subseries: A. Sheet music; B. Song lyrics.
37.0 Linear feet (52 boxes)
Collection Dates
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Additional Details
Custodial Information
These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.
Gift of Mary O'Hara and Padraig O'Toole, 2009-2013.
