USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume IV > Part 10
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tract existed for many more than five years and was terminated only with his death. Concert appearances piled up until it was necessary to drop the choir singing because of long tours.
Madame Rider-Kelsey sang in practically every city of importance in the United States with all the great oratorio societies and musical organizations, as well as the great symphony orchestras. Her first New York recital was given on November 3, 1913, in Carnegie Hall, after which Henry T. Finck wrote in the New York Evening Post "she can hold her own in comparison with the greatest of Lieder singers-only two or three living sopranos could have equalled her-a superlative artist, a star of the first magnitude." Henry Krehbiel, of the New York Tribune, said "she has artistic gifts and graces which place her among the aristocratic few. It would be difficult to find words of praise which might not be suspected of extravagance."
Madame Rider-Kelsey's orchestra engagements included the New York Philharmonic under Gustave Mahler, Safonoff and Stransky; the Boston Symphony under Fiedler; the New York Symphony under Walter Damrosch; the Chicago Symphony under Frederick Stock; and the festival engagements included Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, Worcester and Portland and Bangor, Maine.
Opportunity knocked at the door many times in most unexpected ways. In 1907 Madame Rider-Kelsey went to England and the con- tinent for a much needed rest after a strenuous concert season. While in London a friend to whom she was indebted asked her to sing at a very popular Sunday evening musicale. Much against her own wishes she consented and one of her listeners was so enthusiastic about her voice and style that she urged her to sing for a man whose identity she chose to keep secret. After much urging she consented and was taken to the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and asked to sing for none other than the director, Colonel Higgins, with the idea of singing in opera. Opera had never held any appeal for Madame Rider-Kelsey as she felt that the highest form of singing lay in the field of recital and oratorio, but again she felt that the opportunity that had been offered in so ex- traordinary a way could not be refused and she returned to America
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with a flattering contract to sing three roles at Covent Garden the following season. These roles were Mimi in La Boheme, Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Michaela in Carmen.
In the following season, 1908, Madame Rider-Kelsey travelled twenty thousand miles, sang eighty concerts and learned the three op- eratic roles, mostly while traveling. Inasmuch as she was the only American singer trained entirely in America who had ever been en- trusted with major roles in the famous institution Covent Garden, she was eager to show the musical world that Europe no longer held the supremacy in vocal teachers. She returned to Europe at the end of her strenuous concert tour in June and made three appearances with splen- did success. However, having satisfied herself that she could succeed in this field, she asked to have her contract cancelled so that she might return to America and her chosen field of concerts and recitals.
At another time she was engaged to sing in a Christian Science church in New York at the highest salary ever paid to a church singer. It was written of Madame Rider-Kelsey "This popular soprano has been a familiar and beloved figure ever since she made her debut as a very young artist and won instantly a place with the great singers of our time. There is hardly a musical center in America or Canada where she has not sung many times. The press in New York, Boston, Chicago and through the country has been strong in its praise of the richness, beauty and quality of her voice and of her highly developed artistry."
In 1926 Madame Rider-Kelsey married Mr. Lynnel Reed, well known violinist and composer of Toledo. Mr. Reed studied the violin with that great artist, Ovide Musin, in Belgium over a period of three years. He began his study of composition at the Liege Conservatory in Belgium and upon his return to America studied under Percy Goet- schius in New York and later with Stillman Kelley in Oxford.
Due to her changed geographical location Madame Rider-Reed was obliged to give up many of her concert activities, but she has given many recitals at the beautiful Toledo Art Museum, among which was an all- Schubert recital, commemorating the centenary of Schubert's death. Her studio in Toledo has been for several years a mecca for the young students of voice and the art of singing. Her press notices from all parts
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of the country show her outstanding position in musical circles and Toledo's art life has been greatly enriched through the fact that she took up her residence here after her extended concert and oratorio work. Her pronounced talent has led to a widespread demand for her return to the concert stage by those most competent to judge of the beauty of her voice and the charm of her artistry.
LILA PAULINE ROBESON
For ten seasons connected with the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York, LILA PAULINE ROBESON has since given her time and interest to church, concert, oratorio and recital work in Cleveland; and to the teaching of voice at Western Reserve University and in her private studio. Born in Cleveland, April 4, 1880, she is a daughter of William Reuben and Sarah Eliza (McIlrath) Robeson, the former of Pennsylvania Dutch lineage, while the McIlraths were of Scotch descent and her grandmother, member of the Pier family, was of French heri- tage.
After completing the work of the grades in the Cleveland public schools Miss Robeson entered Central High School, from which she was graduated in June, 1898. She is also a graduate of the Women's College, now called the Flora Stone Mather College, of Western Reserve University, where she won her Bachelor of Philosophy degree in June, 1902. Following the completion of her college course, she taught piano and voice both in the city and in the Cleveland area, for five years. She then studied in New York city for five years, returning to Cleveland frequently to teach and thus earn the money to continue her study of voice under such masters as Isadore Luckstone and Oscar Saenger. There were various other coaches in language and repertoire.
In January, 1912, with the encouragement of Madame Gadski, Miss Robeson had an audition for the Metropolitan Opera Company of New
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York and in March of that year, received her first contract. She made her debut, with Farrar, in Konigs-kinder by Humperdinck, in Novem- ber, 1912, on the second Monday evening of the season. Thereafter she continued with the Metropolitan for ten seasons, singing many leading contralto roles, especially in the German repertoire, among them being Fricka in Walkure, Ortrud in Lohengrin and Mother and Witch in Hansel and Gretel, as well as other roles of note; appearing with such artists as Caruso, Farrar, Gadski, Fremstad, Matzenauer and Schumann- Heink.
In 1922 Miss Robeson voluntarily resigned her connection with the Metropolitan because of her desire to live in Cleveland, after which she continued to sing in church, concert, oratorio and recital. The teaching of voice also interested her much and in 1929, at the invitation of Arthur Quimby, she took up the teaching of applied voice at Western Reserve University. The music department of the university is growing very rapidly and for the past two years she has spent two days each week teaching at the Music House of the college, while Cleveland College, the downtown branch of Western Reserve University, employs her for two group voice lessons per week. She also maintains her own studio and is much interested in her students in all stages of development, her pupils coming to her from towns all over the state.
Miss Robeson is an honorary member of the Fortnightly Musical Club and is also a member of the Mu Phi Epsilon, an honorary musical sorority, and several local clubs, including the Lecture Recital Club, the Music and Drama Club, the Women's City Club and others. Born and bred a Presbyterian, she has been associated with many denominations in choir work from the Unitarian to the Christian Science and Episco- palian churches and back to the Presbyterian. For many years she made her home with her mother until Mrs. Robeson passed away in 1918, the companionship between them being ideal. Since 1920 Miss Robeson and Mrs. Betsy A. Campbell have made their home together. They have a little house at 3286 Kenmore Road, Shaker Heights, and greatly enjoy travel. They now have their third house trailer and have traveled in this manner on their vacations in the summer months from the Gaspe Peninsula to Mexico and from Lake Louise to Williamsburg, Virginia.
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DAISY AND MARGARET MARION SEMPLE
DAISY and MARGARET MARION SEMPLE, instructors in the art of dancing in Toledo, are natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and daughters of James Main and Kate (Hull) Semple, the former of Scotch descent and the latter of English lineage. That the mother's people had long been residents of the new world is indicated in the fact that she is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Daisy and Margaret Marion Semple attended schools of Cincin- nati and Toledo, for from Pittsburgh the family removed to Cincin- nati and then came to the city in which the sisters still reside. They began teaching dancing in Toledo and still give instruction of that character, holding dancing classes which are private classes for chil- dren and young people. Many of their pupils begin with them when quite young and continue through until they go away to college. The sisters are prominently known in this connection and also in other ways as well.
Miss Daisy Semple at one time was a member of the mayor's advisory committee on parks and playgrounds. She was also one of the founders of the Zonta Club and one of the original sponsors of the Town Hall series. The Misses Semple belong to the Toledo Women's Club and to Trinity Episcopal Church. They find pleasure and recreation in golfing, swimming and dancing, and Miss Daisy Semple is also well known as the author of children's stories.
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COLETTE TE PAS
COLETTE ANTHONY TE PAS, of 130 East 197th Street, in Euclid, is a familiar figure in musical and church circles and for some years has been a capable teacher of music. Born in Cleveland, she is a daughter of John J. and Mary (Wise) Anthony, both natives of Ohio. Spending her girlhood days in her parents' home, she pursued her studies in the parochial schools, the Ursuline Academy and in Western Reserve University, in which she took academic work in 1922. Later in that year she was appointed to a teaching position in the Cleveland schools, with which she was thus connected for six years or until 1928. She received advanced musical training in the Analytic School of Music and her ability as a teacher has enabled her to impart readily to others the knowledge she has acquired in connection with the musical arts or with general education.
On the 7th of October, 1928, Colette Anthony was married to Ed- mund J. Te Pas of Cleveland, a patent attorney of this city, who died February 25, 1939, Cleveland thus losing one of her representative citi- zens and a prominent member of the bar. He left to his widow the care of their five children, John Anthony, Theodore, Joan, Edmund and Helene Te Pas. Mrs. Te Pas belongs to Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church and she has membership in the National Council of Catholic Women and is also active in the Social Mission Sisters Guild. She con- fines her attention to those projects and plans which make for cultural and moral development and has exerted a widely felt influence along those lines.
Women In Art (Continued from Page 929)
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CHARLOTTE MINA HOFF
CHARLOTTE MINA HOFF of Akron, whose ability and versatil- ity as an artist are nationally recognized, has made notable contribution to art development in Ohio, taking the initiative in introducing an art apprecation as a working force in the lives of many of the women of the state. Born in Akron, she is a daughter of Miles and Martha (Swain) Hoff, both natives of this state, the father of Holland Dutch descent, while the mother belonged to one of the old families of Baltimore, Mary- land, of English lineage.
After completing her high school studies in Akron, Miss Hoff took up the study of art in Buchel College and continued in the Cleveland School of Art and the New York School of Art. She studied under such eminent instructors as Chase, Mora, Henri, Kenneth Hayes, Miller, John Sloan, Walt Kuhn and Frank Parsons, under whose guidance she em- braced the idea of putting art into everyday life, which thought and purpose she has been introducing in various women's clubs, for she is an able lecturer as well as painter. She lectures on art in the clubs which have membership in the Akron and Summit County Federation of Woman's Clubs and was vice president of the Federation from 1930 to 1932, while at the present writing she is chairman of the art depart- ment of the Federation, in which connection she has a committee mem- ber from her art department working in connection with each other department, introducing art ideas as related to the other departments of the Federation work. She is also a committeewoman of the Northeast District of the Ohio Federation for Art and she was the organizer of the group of Ohio-born artists and has sent their work on tour for many years.
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In her own work Miss Hoff shows great versatility, being both a landscape and portrait painter, her landscape subjects being largely the beautiful hills of Ohio and various canvasses of this nature adorn her own home. Her work has been mostly on display in private collections, although sometimes it is on public exhibit, and she has also been work- ing with the National Council of Women of New York City, in connection with newspaper and radio publicity.
Miss Hoff has membership in the Women's Art League of Akron, is serving on the board of trustees of the Akron Art Institute, is a mem- ber of the Ohio Water Color Society, the Woman's Art Club of Cleve- land, the Three Arts Club of New York City and her fame in her chosen field extends from coast to coast. She has membership in the First Methodist Church of Akron and is one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of this city.
JANE REECE
JANE REECE, distinguished Dayton, O., photographer, was born in West Jefferson, O., the daughter of William Lawrence Reece and Mary Augsburger Reece. Her art education climaxed in a course at Columbia University, under Clarence H. White. It is said that this great pictorialist hesitated to accept Jane Reece as a pupil because she was so far in advance of his classroom students. It was finally ar- ranged that she join the classes she elected, on condition that she aid in the instruction.
Miss Reece was represented in the first salon of photographic art held at Carnegie Institute and her successful work at Dayton became the nucleus of widespread recognition. One of her gifts is the ability to interpret pictorially, not only character but talents and abilities. Her photographs of children are said to have disclosed, in several instances, altogether unsuspected aptitudes.
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Miss Reece has photographed many of the world's great artists, among them Leopold Stokowski. She herself is regarded as in the vanguard of those who regard photography not as a handmaiden to the arts but as an art in itself. All of her studies, human beings, animals, flowers, landscapes, are invested with an authority which challenges deep interest as well as admiration.
Her studio at Dayton was formerly a firehouse. Spread about it is a city park and to the rear flows the Miami River. Horses were once stabled and engines polished in the huge enclosure now bounded by burlap covered walls and ceiling on which flocks of birds are painted. At one end of the studio where plants get the morning sun is a grouping of Moorish arches. Japanese shrubs frame some of the casement win- dows, others look out upon a sweep of park and river.
The work of Jane Reece has been exhibited in salons throughout the world, as the awards she has accumulated attest. She started her professional career at Dayton in 1903 and it was not long after that she developed her most successful type of portraiture, the sil- houette photograph. This innovation won general approval and has been widely adopted by the profession.
NAN WALLACE
Anyone familiar with photographic studios of Toledo knows the name of NAN WALLACE and is familiar, at least to some extent, with her work. She is numbered with those who have raised photography to rank with the fine arts and her own productions have been deemed worthy of exhibit in various places of the country where conventions are being held that present the most beautiful and artistic work that has been brought out through photographic processes. She has con- ducted her studio in Toledo since 1932 and each year has chronicled her progress and success.
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While conducting her studio under the name of Nan Wallace, in private life Nan Wallace is the wife of John T. Franz, who is with the Multigraph & Addressograph Company, with headquarters in Toledo. She is a daughter of I. A. and Aminta Bayes Radford, both natives of West Virginia, and their daughter was born in Charleston, that state, where she attended the public schools until graduated from high school. She next spent a year at the Montgomery Preparatory School and she also pursued a business course in her native city. She married R. S. Wallace of Charleston and they had one son, Maurice R., who was born in Charleston, who is now in the United States Navy as an air cadet in the United States Air Corps located at Pensacola, Florida. He was educated largely in Toledo and attended the University of Toledo for two years. Her husband, Mr. Wallace, was a photographer who had a studio in Charleston, West Virginia, where Nan Wallace secured her first training in photography. She continued there about six years, but after the death of her husband she went to Asheville, North Carolina, where she was connected with the Howard studios for about two years, and then made business connections with Bachrach, Inc., when she opened their studio in Toledo, remaining with them about two and a half years, when she became identified with the Whitt Gregg studio, with which she continued two years. She purchased her present studio in 1932 and has since ranked with Ohio's leading photographers. She has won a number of blue ribbons and "honorable mentions" and her work was exhibited in the national convention held in Chicago in August, 1937. She also had four photos hung at the convention of 1938 and re- ceived a certificate on all four. She already has twenty-four certificates of merit out of the twenty-five necessary to have the Master's degree in photography. This she expects to receive in 1940. She also has two certificates of merit from Indiana and two from North Carolina by being on their state convention programs. She has delivered a number of public lectures on photography and has frequently given talks on his- tory of photography before women's organizations and been invited to talk at many of the conventions. Hers is a well merited fame, to which she has attained through the excellence of her art.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Women In Civic And Social Service (Continued from Page 1006)
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MINNIE BYRNE
MINNIE BYRNE, executive secretary of the Catholic Community Center, Toledo, Ohio, was born at Saginaw, Michigan, and was educated at St. Andrew's Academy under the supervision of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary's of the Woods, Indiana. Her first employment was in a law office, her second in an industrial plant employing several hundreds of girls. Always interested in organization work, she had previously served as president of the Children of Mary Society, of the Young Ladies Sodality and had organized and been first president of the Catholic Business Girls Club at Saginaw, a membership of one thou- sand girls.
Miss Byrne's work in the industrial plant increased her interest in welfare service for girls. She looked into health and sanitary conditions of the factory, followed this with a checkup on moral standards of the girls, organized a glee club, inaugurated a reading project, encouraged purchase and exchange of good books.
In the fall of 1923 Minnie Byrne entered the National Catholic School of Social Service at Washington, D. C. While there she assisted with the organization of the Student Council, was elected president, helped to organize the Alumnae Association of the school and headed this for two years. During this period Miss Byrne organized chapters of the association in Toledo, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, as well as at Washington. She remained at the National Catholic School of Social Service until June, 1925, when she went to the National Catholic Community House of East St. Louis, Illinois.
In April, 1926, Miss Byrne accepted her present position as execu- tive secretary of the National Catholic Community House at Toledo.
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The Toledo work is closely associated with the Diocesan and Deanery Councils and covers a wide field, including maintenance of a residence for self-supporting girls and women between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. Activities range from a baby clinic, Jeanne D'Arc Club, Girl Scout troops, Junior Council of the Catholic Community Center, and Catholic Business Girls Club to the Council of Catholic Women of the Toledo Deanery and the Toledo Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
Spiritual services include sponsorship of "days of recollection," re- treats, lectures, liturgy classes and classes in religion for children who attend the public schools.
The educational program of the Community House embraces classes in music (for adults), language, sewing, cooking, handicraft, dramatics, and commercial subjects. The recreation program invites young and old with social gatherings, parties, exhibits, music, dances, etc. Immigra- tion work has centered on assistance to foreign born citizens seeking to bring their families to the U. S. Reuniting of many families has proven a highly satisfactory service. The Catholic Foreign Born Institute works intensively with a Mexican colony of some six hundred individuals and with men and women of other nationalities who are endeavoring to acquire education necessary for citizenship. This outstanding project is of special interest to Miss Byrne.
During the past year (1939) the National Catholic Community House has given some form of service, it is estimated, to eighty-seven thousand persons. Slogan of the institution-the only one of its type in this country-is "A Home, a Workshop and a Playground".
Miss Byrne has headed the Toledo Chapter of the American Asso- ciation of Social Workers, has been vice president of the Ohio State Council, American Association of Social Workers, has served on the program committee of this organization and was secretary of the first Great Lakes Regional Conference on Adult Education, held in Toledo in 1938. She has worked closely with the Toledo Council of Social Agencies, with the publicity committee of the Toledo Community Chest, with the Toledo Federation of Settlement Houses and the Family Edu- cation Council for development of community programs of education
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in home and family life, initiated in only four cities of the U. S. by the Department of the Interior Office of Education.
At the present time Miss Byrne is secretary-treasurer of the Adult Education Council of Toledo, corresponding secretary of the Toledo Deanery Council of Catholic Women and of the Toledo Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
RUBY DIXON DE VOIST
RUBY DIXON DE VOIST, (Mrs. Ray G. De Voist) director of girls work, Union Bethel Social Settlement, is an outstanding leader of Cincinnati and vicinity in social service for young people.
She was graduated from New Vienna, O., High School, attended Ohio Wesleyan University and then the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. It was largely through her training and activities in music that Mrs. De Voist became identified with girl's club work at the Bethel Settlement. Her husband, Dr. Ray De Voist, was also connected with this organization at the time of their marriage and has assisted greatly in her efforts in behalf of city-bound boys and girls. Mrs. De Voist has co-operated closely with the Recreation Commission in her direc- tion of music classes, amateur dramatics and similar activities. She is an active member of the Cincinnati College Club, the Cincinnati Wom- en's City Club, the American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, Federation of Churches, Zonta International Club, Social Workers Club, Foreign Policy Association, Good Government League and other important and progressive groups.
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