Leila M. Church collection
Scope and Content
The collection is arranged into 12 series: Outlines, scripts and manuscripts, One act plays, Programs, Sheet music and composition, Stories, Personal papers, Correspondence, Press releases, Newspaper clippings, Speeches, Photographs, and Sewing patterns.
Series 1. Outlines, Scripts, and Manuscripts, 1901-1931, contains first drafts of outlines, manuscripts and final drafts of script for plays and pageants, directorial notes on specific pageants as well as backstage notes on costumes or scenery.
Series 2. One Act Plays, undated, consists of the scripts for five one act plays.
Series 3. Programs,1918-1930, contains the programs from pageants and plays written and directed by Leila M. Church, comprising of towns throughout the state of Connecticut as well as other New England states.
Series 4. Sheet Music and Composition, 1928-1932, consists of original work written by Miss Church as well as professional work used in pageants or plays, as well as full orchestra arrangements.
Series 5. Stories, circa 1904-1905, contains short stories, published and unpublished that were sent to editors in New York City.
Series 6. Personal Papers, 1902-1931, consists of a diary of her music lessons, essays, personal notes, as well as her mother's poetry books.
Series 7. Correspondence, 1903-1917, consists of professional correspondence in reference to publishing short stories written during the early stages of her career.
Series 8. Press Releases, 1927-1931, consists of an ad about Miss Church's pageant services, as well as reviews on pageants.
Series 9. Newspaper Clippings, 1906-1927, contains clippings in reference to specific pageants as well as the published story in Youth's Companion from September 1909.
Series 10. Speeches, undated, contains a speech written for J. Mahoney to address Columbus Day.
Series 11. Photographs, 1920-1931, contains professional photographs of pageants. Participants from different towns in costume posing as well as cast photos.
Series 12. Sewing Patterns, undated, consists of a pattern to sew an 1840-1860s style boy's coat.
Dates
- 1901-1932
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Restrictions on Access
The sewing pattern is stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.
Original papers from Series 1. Outlines, Scripts and Manuscripts, Series 4. Sheet Music and Composition, and Series 9. Newspaper Clippings that have been removed and noted in the container list are restricted due to their fragile condition. Use copies of the removed papers are located in Series 1. Outlines Scripts and Manuscripts, Series 4. Sheet Music and Composition, and Series 9 Newspaper Clippings where noted in the container list.
See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.
Restrictions on Use
See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.
Biographical Note
Leila M. Church of Rockville, Connecticut, was a writer and director of plays and historical pageants. She lived in Rockville from her birth in August 1879 to her death on August 7, 1932 at the age of 53. She became well known in Connecticut and New England primarily for her historical pageants.
Miss Church began her literary career by writing short stories that she sent to multiple editors in New York City. She studied piano at the Hartford Conservatory of Music from 1902-1903. She used her knowledge of music to incorporate original and published musical scores within her pageants and plays. By 1918 she was writing, composing, and directing pageants and plays. She also took charge for much of the scenic and costuming decisions. Her services were requested throughout New England until the year of her death in 1932.
Extent
7.25 cubic feet
Abstract
Leila M. Church (1879-1932) was a writer, composer and director of plays and historical pageants primarily in Connecticut. The collection includes scripts, stories, essays, personal papers, scores and correspondence in reference to her professional artistic work.
Arrangement
Arranged into 12 series.
Series 1. Outlines, Scripts, and Manuscripts, 1901-1931, arranged alphabetically.
Series 2. One Act Plays, undated, arranged alphabetically by title.
Series 3. Programs, 1918-1930, arranged alphabetically by state and then town.
Series 4. Sheet Music and Composition, 1928-1932, arranged alphabetically.
Series 5. Stories, circa 1904-1905, arranged alphabetically by title.
Series 6. Personal Papers, 1902-1931, arranged alphabetically.
Series 7. Correspondence, 1903-1917, arranged alphabetically by sender.
Series 8. Press Releases, 1927-1931, arranged alphabetically.
Series 9. Newspaper Clippings, 1906-1927, arranged alphabetically.
Series 10. Speeches, undated.
Series 11, Photographs, 1920-1931, arranged alphabetically by town of pageant.
Series 12, Sewing Patterns, undated.
Provenance
Part of the collection was received on June 21, 1934, from Miss Marietta Fitch of Rockville, Connecticut. The bulk and remainder of the collection was received from Mr. Leon Woodward, former Town Clerk of Willington, Connecticut, on March 26, 1956.
Processing Information
Samantha Partney, a undergraduate Theatre Studies student intern from the University of Connecticut, processed the collection in June-July, 2013.
- American literature -- Connecticut -- Women Authors Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Commercial correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Connecticut Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Diaries Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Hartford (Conn.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Historical drama, American -- Connecticut Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manchester (Conn.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- New England Subject Source: Lcnaf
- New York (City) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Pageants -- Connecticut Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Plays (document genre) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Rockville (Conn.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Scores Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Scripts (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Sheet music Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Staged photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Templates (shaping tools) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Theater programs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- United States -- History, Local Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Willimantic (Conn.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Title
- RG 069:005, Leila M. Church Collection
- Subtitle
- Inventory
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Samantha Partney.
- Date
- 2013
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Connecticut State Library Repository
