Adelina Patti papers

This material is held atNational Library of Wales / Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru

  • Reference
    • GB 210 NLW ex 3007
  • Alternative Id.
      (alternative) 99880632802419
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1805-[?late 20 cent.]
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English English.
  • Physical Description
    • (i) 29 ff.; (ii) 14 ff.; (iii) 34 ff.; (iv) 17 ff.; (v) 16 pp.; (vi) 62 ff.; (vii) 3 ff.
  • Location
    • ARCH/MSS (GB0210)

Scope and Content

Correspondence and other papers, 1805-[?late 20 cent.], relating to the soprano Adelina Patti and to her friend Edward Hall, Box Office Manager at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.
The papers comprise: (i) Some eight letters (one an envelope only), 1893-1898, from Adelina Patti, at Craig-y-Nos Castle, Nice and Paris, to Edward Hall, London (ff. 3-5, 9-25), together with one letter to Hall from [?Pittman], Ystalyfera, 10 August 1883 (ff. 1-2), and a letter from Patti, in Indianapolis, 1 January 1894, to [?W. E.] Gladstone (ff. 6-8); (ii) typescript transcripts of the Adelina Patti letters, [?late 20 cent.] (11 ff.); (iii) some twenty-seven newspaper cuttings, December 1893-February 1894, relating to Patti's tour of America, apparently sent to Edward Hall from Toronto, possibly by Patti herself; (iv) photographs, postcards and ephemera relating to Patti, 1889-1984; (v) an insert book for the EMI long play record 'Adelina Patti' (RLS 711), 1973; (vi) copies of five newspapers, 1805-1809, containing news relating to the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, together with a few other printed items, 1875, 1925, concerning the Theatre and Edward Hall; and (vii) largely unrelated items, comprising photographs of Nellie Melba, [?1911], Queen Elizabeth [the Queen Mother], [?1940s], and a 'Souvenir Programme of the Visit of… the Duke and Duchess of York to Cardiff... and Blaina', [1932].

Arrangement

Arranged at NLW as follows: letters (arranged chronologically); transcripts; newspaper cuttings (arranged chronologically); Patti ephemera; insert book; Covent Garden papers; miscellaneous.

Access Information

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.

Acquisition Information

Bellmans Auctioneers & Valuers; Billingshurst; Purchased at auction, lot 609; 17 July 2018; 99880632802419.

Note

Title based on contents.

Archivist's Note

September 2018

Description compiled by Rhys M. Jones.

Conditions Governing Use

Usual copyright laws apply

Custodial History

The letters are said to have been given to the seller by a Mrs Edward Hall (see Bellmans auction catalogue); this however cannot plausibly be Hester Hall the wife of Patti's correspondent, who died in 1915.

Related Material

See also NLW MS 23351B.

Additional Information

Published