Descriptive SummaryMSS 3Emma Lucy Gates (1880-1951) Papers,
1896-1950Bowen, Emma Lucy Gates, 1880-1951L. Tom Perry Special Collections10 boxes (50 linear inches). Singer, actress, and
teacher.Correspondence, concert programs, music
scores, and miscellaneous items. Includes correspondence of Bowen when she was
in Germany as an opera singer from 1898 to 1914 and later when she was a voice
and music teacher in Salt Lake City, Utah. Also included are letters from her
husband, Albert E. Bowen from 1897 to 1923 and Lucy's agent, Catherine A.
Bowman. Some of the materials relate to the Lucy Gates Opera Company.
ProvenanceThe papers of Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen) were given to the Brigham Young
University Library in 1951. The exact date of gift and the circumstances of the
gift were not recorded. At that time the library did not support a manuscript
division.
AccessOpen for public use. However, certain pieces of correspondence are
restricted as noted in the box list.
Conditions of UseIt is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary
copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from Emma Lucy Gates (1880-1951) Papers
must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special
Collections Board of Curators.
Preferred CitationInitial Citation: MSS 3; Emma Lucy Gates
(1880-1951) Papers; 20th & 21st Century Western & Mormon Americana; L.
Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
Following Citations:MSS 3, LTPSC.
Biographical History1880Born, St. George, Utah, Novemeber 5, daughter of Jacob F.
and Susa Young Gates1898Goettingen, Germany to study the piano1899Enrolled at the Berlin Royal Conservatory of Music1900Commenced to study voice with Madame Blanche Corelli1901Returned to Utah and concertized1902Studied in New York1902Returned to New York for further study1907Returned to Germany for further study1908Appointed to the Royal Opera House in Berlin1911Appointed prima donna of the Royal Opera House,
Cassel1914Returned to U.S.A. becuase of the war. Began to
concertize1915Organized the Lucy Gates Opera Company in Salt Lake City,
Utah1916Signed a recording contract with Columbia Graphophone
Company1916Married Albert E. Bowen, July 301916Charter member of the Society of American Singers in New
York1917-1928Concertized extensively throughout the U.S.A.1948Last public performance1951Died, April 30
Scope and Content NoteThe papers in this collection consist primarily of letters and
pictures. Altough the emphasis is on the theatrical career of Miss Gates, there
is considerable information about other members of her family, including her
mother, Susa Young Gates, and her brother, B. Cecil Gates, a musician and
composer in Salt Lake City, and Harvey Gates, a writer in Hollywoord.
Six bound volumes of letters cover the period of Miss Gates' early
career (1896-1910) when she was studying and concertizing in Europe. Unbound
letters for the later years (1914-1930) cover her courtship and marriage to
Albert E. Bowen and the experiences encountered on the road performing.
Clippings and programs present a complete picture of her work in this
country and abroad. There are also some of the libretti and notebooks Miss
Gates used in her studies.
Container number 13 constitutes the file of Susa Young Gates while she
was associated with the Brigham Young Academy. These papers relate to Mrs.
Gates' activity as a faculty member and creator of the Domestic Economy
Department of the Insitution. Included are some minutes of the Board of
Trustees as and a suggestion to the Young family on how to perpetuate the
Insitution named after their patriarch, Brigham Young.
Subject TracingsInstitutionsLucy Gates Opera CompanyPeopleBowen, Emma Lucy Gates, 1880-1951Bowen, Albert E. (Albert Ernest), 1875-1953Bowman, C. A.Genre/FormLettersProgramsSubjectOpera--Utah--History--SourcesWomen singers--Utah--Salt Lake
City--History--SourcesWomen musicians--Utah--Salt Lake
City--History--SourcesContainer ListInventoryInventoryContainerContents
1CorrespondenceFrom Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1898-1904; 3 Volumes
2CorrespondenceFrom Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1905-1907; 1 Volume
Opera libretti
"Martha"
"Undine"
"Der Barbier von Sevilla"
"Das Hohe Ziel"
"The Lady of the Lake"
Language lesson notebooks
Programs of concerts, brochures, etc.,
1901-1948
3CorrespondenceFrom Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1907-1910; 2 Volumes
Opera libretti
"Marriage of Figaro" (2, one in English, one in German)
"Don Juan"
"Der Waffenshmied"
"Die Zauberflote"
"Tannhauser"
"Fra Diavolo"
"Lohengrin"
"Der Bettelstudent"
"Il Travotore"
ContainerFolderContents
41-10CorrespondenceJacob and Susa Young Gates to Emma Lucy Gates (Bown),
1897-1923
51-5CorrespondenceTo Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1896-1950
Correspondence61To Lucy B. Young,
1899-1902.62Jacob Gates and Susa Y. Gates, to each other,
1900-1920.63-4To and by Jacob and Susa Y. Gates,
1879-1920.65From Harvy Gates to Jacob F. Gates family,
undated.66To and by B. Cecil (Pete) Gates, undated.67Jacob Gates to B. Cecil Gates,
1905-1906.68B. Cecil Gates to Jacob Gates family,
1906-1911.69"News Notes" of B. Cecil Gates from Germany,
undated.71-3Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen) to Gates Family,
1898-1918.74Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen) to Cahterine A. Bamman,
1918-1922.75To Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen), undated.76Bills, statements and concert arrangements.81-5Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen) to Albert E. Bowen,
1914-1927.Very personal. Not open for public
use.
86-10Albert E. Bowen to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
July - October,
1914.Very personal. Not open for public
use.
91-7Albert E. Bowen to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1914-1949.Very personal. Not open for public
use.
98To and from Albert E. Bowen,
1914-1950.Very personal. Not open for public
use.
99Albert and Robert Bowen to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
undated.Very personal. Not open for public
use.
101Family Photographs102Family BlessingsCorrespondence103John and Leah Widstoe to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1898-1923.104Harvey (Hal) and Bichette Gates to Emma Lucy Gates
(Bowen),
1914-1947.105B. Cecil Gates and family to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1905-1921.106Horace G. and Maille Whitney to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1902-1920.107Charles L. and Jote Burton to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1902-1915.108Emma Forsberry Gates to Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen),
1906. (others
undated)109By Emma Lucy Gates (Bowen), miscellaneous,
1896-1948.1010Letters in German111-3Miscellaneous letters including biographical sketches,
letters of introduction, concert arrangements and the like.114Lucy Gates concert programs115-6Berlin Theatre programs12Scrapbooks.
1901-1902
ReviewsScrapbooks.
1901 Postcard
albumScrapbooks. Kept by Susa YoungA Christmas Greeting to the Singer by N.L.
NelsonStorybooks"Nelle's Prayer"
"Rip Van Winkle"
131-2Clippings,
1901-1920133Cards, inviatations, miscellaneous papers.134Susa Young Gates, Appeal to Young Family to deed B.Y.A.
to LDS Church,
1889.135Susa Y. Gates, B.Y.A. Board minutes. (B. Cluff Jr.
registration)
1904-1915.136Susa Y. Gates, Suggestion...to B.Y.U. Board of Trustees,
1896, Daily programs B.Y.A.
(
1880's)137Susa Y. Gates, B.Y.A. papers on Domestic Economy and
Polysophical Society,
1878-1898.138Susa Y. Gates, B.Y.A. student essays and examination
papers,
1878.Pictures14Emma Lucy Gates and Susa Young Gates, other Gates family
members (framed)Picture post cards, inivtations, etc.151-2Lucy Gates153Albert E. Bowen154Family Group Pictures155Bowen and Widstoe Families156Early Bowen Home, Annie Shackleton Bowen, Robert R.
Bowen, Albert E. Bowen157B. Cecil Gates; Harvey Gates, Jacob Gates, Susa Young
Gates158Musical Associates: Herbert Goued, Margaret Anderson,
Augusta Close, Harriet Ware, Caruso, (post card), Count Von Bylandt, Fabanna
Mund159Lucy Gates in Faust1510Dan Y. McAllister, Harry Roberts and wife Jenie Bruce,
B. Schelleli, Richard D. Andrew, Marry Ann Forsberry Thornton1511Brighton Scenes1512Unidentified (Logan)1513Unidentified161Company pictures of
Faust-Carmen-Rigoletto-Lucia-Cavalleria162Joe Royer, Alfonzo Romero, Dick Hale163-4Lucy Gates poses in different roles165Family group pictures166Unidentified and theatre acquaintances167Lucy Gates at dinner of Musica Alliance of the
U.S.168Advertisement for Lucy Gates appearanceFolio items: PicturesLulu
Albert E. Bowen
Bowen family pictures