Sousa, John PhilipAn archive of correspondence from Sousa to Hannah Harris, capturing the pair's evolving professional relationship
40 autograph letters signed (variously "John Philip Sousa," "Sousa," "J.P.S."), all but two on Sousa's "Director Band of the United States Marine Corps" stationery, dated between December 1887 and November 1891; old folds, a few splits to folds, a few stray spots, a few instances of offsetting.
A rich set of letters from the "American March King."
Hannah Harris, a former educator, and manager of the Star Course at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, had heard the U.S. Marine Band in Washington, and was determined to bring John Philip Sousa to Philadelphia. In the earliest letter present here, dated 18 December 1887, Sousa writes: "Dear Miss: I would be greatly pleased to give a concert at the 'Star Course.' My terms for a concert are seven hundred and fifty ($750.) dollars… The date 24th of March is satisfactory to me, as I know of no other engagement at that time." It would seem, however, that Harris may have raised issue with the proposed fee, as on the 22nd of December, Sousa wrote: "Dear Miss: I will come to Phil with forty-four (44) people, including a lady-vocalist for five hundred ($500) dollars...and fifty per cent of all over one thousand ($1000) dollars." In general, the present letters covey Sousa's side of an apparently engaging business relationship, with a respected and formidable figure who was working diligently to shape Philadelphia's cultural scene.
By contemporary accounts, Miss Hannah Harris was a force. "'Who is Miss Harris?' was a questions constantly asked after her name appeared in print—with the dignified title of manager of the Star Course," an article in Ladies' Every Saturday from 1895 begins. After outlining Harris's business acumen, it continues: "The pluck and savoir faire shown by Miss Harris in thus stepping in at the right moment to fill the place of the deceased manager are significant and strongly characteristic of the woman. Her's was not the courage born of presumption, but of a confidence in her own intimate knowledge of essential conditions and of the taste of a public, fully gauged during years of association with Mr. Pugh, and of close personal observation on her own side" (Waylen).
Over the course of their correspondence, the tone—at least on Sousa's part—becomes more familiar, with the "March King" even addressing an 1890 letter "My dear little lady." Indeed, his respect for Harris is apparent as he writes in on 16 September 1890: "Your letter is brimful of good suggestions, all of which I adopt."
All of the letters in the present lot were written during Sousa's time as Director of the Band of the U.S. Marine. In some respects, it seems extraordinary he would speak so candidly with Harris, a woman theater manager. But the present lot demonstrates a trust in, and generosity toward, Harris when Sousa was at the peak of his military career.
An intriguing group of letters, illuminating Sousa's relationship with a doyenne of Philadelphia's cultural scene.
REFERENCE:Waylen, Edith, "Miss Hannah Harris," in Ladies' Every Saturday, 18 May 1895, p. 7
Sousa, John PhilipAn archive of correspondence from Sousa to Hannah Harris, capturing the pair's evolving professional relationship
40 autograph letters signed (variously "John Philip Sousa," "Sousa," "J.P.S."), all but two on Sousa's "Director Band of the United States Marine Corps" stationery, dated between December 1887 and November 1891; old folds, a few splits to folds, a few stray spots, a few instances of offsetting.
A rich set of letters from the "American March King."
Hannah Harris, a former educator, and manager of the Star Course at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, had heard the U.S. Marine Band in Washington, and was determined to bring John Philip Sousa to Philadelphia. In the earliest letter present here, dated 18 December 1887, Sousa writes: "Dear Miss: I would be greatly pleased to give a concert at the 'Star Course.' My terms for a concert are seven hundred and fifty ($750.) dollars… The date 24th of March is satisfactory to me, as I know of no other engagement at that time." It would seem, however, that Harris may have raised issue with the proposed fee, as on the 22nd of December, Sousa wrote: "Dear Miss: I will come to Phil with forty-four (44) people, including a lady-vocalist for five hundred ($500) dollars...and fifty per cent of all over one thousand ($1000) dollars." In general, the present letters covey Sousa's side of an apparently engaging business relationship, with a respected and formidable figure who was working diligently to shape Philadelphia's cultural scene.
By contemporary accounts, Miss Hannah Harris was a force. "'Who is Miss Harris?' was a questions constantly asked after her name appeared in print—with the dignified title of manager of the Star Course," an article in Ladies' Every Saturday from 1895 begins. After outlining Harris's business acumen, it continues: "The pluck and savoir faire shown by Miss Harris in thus stepping in at the right moment to fill the place of the deceased manager are significant and strongly characteristic of the woman. Her's was not the courage born of presumption, but of a confidence in her own intimate knowledge of essential conditions and of the taste of a public, fully gauged during years of association with Mr. Pugh, and of close personal observation on her own side" (Waylen).
Over the course of their correspondence, the tone—at least on Sousa's part—becomes more familiar, with the "March King" even addressing an 1890 letter "My dear little lady." Indeed, his respect for Harris is apparent as he writes in on 16 September 1890: "Your letter is brimful of good suggestions, all of which I adopt."
All of the letters in the present lot were written during Sousa's time as Director of the Band of the U.S. Marine. In some respects, it seems extraordinary he would speak so candidly with Harris, a woman theater manager. But the present lot demonstrates a trust in, and generosity toward, Harris when Sousa was at the peak of his military career.
An intriguing group of letters, illuminating Sousa's relationship with a doyenne of Philadelphia's cultural scene.
REFERENCE:Waylen, Edith, "Miss Hannah Harris," in Ladies' Every Saturday, 18 May 1895, p. 7
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