Mrs. John C. Talbot donated the Kroeger Family Papers to the Western Historical Manuscript Collection on November 9, 1984.
Dr.Ernest Kroeger (August 10, 1862 to April 7, 1934) was a noted composer, pianist, organist, lecturer and writer on musical subjects. He directed the Kroeger School of Music which he founded in 1904 after successfully completing his responsibilities as musical director of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, a position which earned the composer election as an officer of the French Academy. Dr. Kroeger also served as the dean of the music department at Washington University, director of music for John Burroughs School and the Taylor School for Boys, president of the Music Teachers National Association and as president of the Missouri Music Teachers Association. He held membership in the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the American Guild of Organists.
Mr. Kroeger's compositions were extensively published in the United States and Europe and were considered typical of the best work by American composers. His compositions include a suite entitled "Lalla Rookh", the orchestral composition "The Mississippi" and the piano pieces "Egaria", "Dance of the Elves" and "March of the Indian Phantoms". Although the collection contains no examples of Dr. Kroeger's musical work a significant amount can be found at the Gaylord Music Library of Washington University.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Kroeger family papers contain correspondence, documents, publications, notes and photographs relating to Ernest R. Kroeger, Laura Kroeger, nee Clark (wife), A.E. Kroeger (father), Julia and Alice Kroeger (sisters), Beatrice and Louise Kroeger (daughters), Richard Kroeger (son), John and Elanor Talbot (daughter and husband), William Talbot (grandson) and two relatives of Laura Kroeger, Jacob Clark and Eva Turner Clark. Other items which researchers may find interesting include a newsletter from the Shakespeare Fellowship, a publication on union factories issued by the Boot and Shoe Workers in 1929, and a program from an opera performance attended by Dr. Kroeger in Bavaria in 1889 (in German).
SERIES DESCRIPTION
1. correspondence, 1850-1960, folders 1 - 8: Correspondence in the collection is for the most part personal ranging from transcriptions of letters written in the 1850's by Jacob Clark (a relative of Mrs. E.R. Kroeger) to John E. Braly concerning the state of things in Missouri, his health and that of other members of his congregation. the personal correspondence of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Kroeger includes predominantly letters to each other when Mrs. Kroeger went east in 1933. It also includes three letters written by John Masefield (a relative of Laura Kroeger) during WWI to the Kroegers' three daughters. Two scrapbooks contain condolence correspondence regarding the deaths of Dr. Kroeger's two sisters, Alice and Julia. John C. Talbot (son-in-law) is represented by twenty pieces of correspondence most regarding his position as assistant to the chancellor at Washington University.
2. documents, 1874- 1953, folders 9 - 12: The series contains a selection of certificates of royalty and transfer of copyright relating to Dr. Kroegers musical compositions and various certificates awarded to Dr. and Mrs. Kroeger for their contributions to music and education.
3. publications, 1879-1940, folders 13 - 22: The publications in the collection include an 1879 edition of The Western magazine containing an article by Dr. Kroegers father on Fredrich Hohenstauffen II , a catalog from the Kroeger Music School with a listing of faculty, school policies and fees. A 1940 edition of the Shakespeare Fellowship newsletter and a transcription of an address regarding the fellowship delivered by Eva Turner Clark in 1936. Three biographical pieces on Dr. Kroeger and the program from an opera performance he attended in Bavaria in 1889 (in German).
4. miscellaneous, 1915-1946, folders 23 - 25: This series contains a notes made by various family members, recipes, membership cards, a poem by E.R. Kroeger, information on the Town Club and a statement of financial affairs and policy of the St.Louis Junior Red Cross.
5. diaries, 1947 and 1960, folders 26 and 27: 2 diaries with daily entries for the years 1947 and 1960 compiled by John C. Talbot.
6. photographs, nd: folders 28 - 34: 142 family photographs of the snapshot or portrait variety
FOLDER LIST
BOX 1
1. Ernest and Laura Kroeger, 28 pieces, 1891-1944
2. John C. Talbot, 20 pieces, 1929- 1960
3. Beatrice Kroeger, 1 piece, from John Masefield February 25, 1918(copy)
4. Louise Kroeger, 1 piece, from John Masefield April 8, 1916 copy)
5. Jacob Clark, 6 pieces, to Reverend John E. Braly, 1850 - 1857 transcripts)
6. Alice B. Kroeger, 1 piece scrapbook of condolence letters and cards on her death. December, 1909 located in box 3 (oversize)
7. Julia B. Kroeger, 1 piece scrapbook of condolence letters and cards on her death. April 21, 1921 located in box 3 (oversize)
8. Richard Kroeger, 1 piece letter from Hunleth Music Co. regarding fathers account. April 20,1934
9. Ernest R. Kroeger, 19 pieces transfer of copyright and royalty certificates for his musical compositions, 1895-1905
10. Laura Kroeger, 1 piece certificate from Missouri State Teachers Association, August 4, 1953.
11. Ernest R. Kroeger, 4 pieces: a. certificate of conformation, 1874 b. life membership ticket Music Teachers National Association. c. membership card, Fine Arts Society of Detroit 1907 d. Life membership Certificate, National Art Society June 4, 1908
12. Miscellaneous documents, 1945 - 1946 a. Requisitions for the chancellors residence, Washington University, August 8, 1945 b. Statement of entertainment expenses, Chancellor Washington University, March 1, 1946 c. The Objectives of Washington University, October 10, 1951 d. Memo from Chancellor Washington University, April 10, 1953 e. Ford Foundation letter to Ethan Sheply, December 15, 1955 f. Minutes of Council of Deans Washington University, October 8,1956 g. Washington University Faculty Committee for Stevenson - Kefauver, October 25, 1956 h. Washington University office of the Chancellor (requisition) i. Washington University office of the Chancellor, 3 assorted ledger sheets.
13. The Western magazine containing article by A.E. Kroeger, september/october 1879.
14. Program from the operas "Parsifal," "Tristan and Isolde" and "The Master Singer of Nurnberg" performed at Bayreuth, Bavaria July 21 to August 18, 1889
15. Catalog of the Kroeger School of Music, description of faculty, policies and fees. nd.
16. The Shakespeare Fellowship, 2 pieces. a. Address by Eva Turner Clark regarding the organization. November 16, 1936 b. Newsletter of the organization. February 1940
17. Newspaper clippings regarding family and friends 40 pcs.
18. Alan Gregg, Director Ford Foundation. Address given at Washington University Medical School on 50th Anniversary,February 21,1950
19. "The Romance of Chouteau's Pond". McCune Gill and Isaac A.Hedges. Small booklet on Cupples Station.
20. Ernest R. Kroeger. Biographical writings, 3 pieces a. Transcription of article by Rupert Hughes for "Contemporary Composers of America" 1900 b. Transcript of biography from "International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians" 1939 c. Printed biography with photo nd.
21. "The Story of A City" Program from St. Louis public schools celebration of the city's 200th anniversary, 1964
22. Boot and Shoe Workers Union list of factories using union stamp. July 1,1929
23. Louise Kroeger, notes on music education, 56 pieces, nd.
24. Recipes, 14 pieces, nd.
25. Miscellaneous a. Membership card to Harvard Club. John Talbot 1915 b. Poem by Ernest R. Kroeger, nd. c. Musical notes, nd. d. Note on jewelry prices, nd. e. Tabulation of hours for job, nd. f. Tabulation of royalties on scrap paper, nd. g. Membership information on the Town Club, nd. h. Statement of financial affairs and policy, St. Louis Junior Red Cross, nd.
BOX 2
26. John C. Talbot 1947
27. John C. Talbot 1960
28. Photographs 14167 - 14168, Mrs. A. E. Kroeger
29. Photographs 14169 - 14175, Ernest R. Kroeger
30. Photographs 14176, Laura Kroeger
31. Photographs 14177 - 14180, Julia Kroeger
32. Photographs 14181 - 14185, John C. Talbot, 14185 in box 3 (oversize)
33. Photographs 14186 - 14280
34. Photographs 14281 - 14309
INDEX
Boot and Shoe Workers Union, f. 22
Brookings, Robert, f. 19
Chouteau's Pond, f. 19
Clark, Eva Turner, f. 16
Clark, Jacob, f. 5
Cupples Station, f. 19
Education, f. 10,11,12,15,21
Fine Arts Society of Detroit, f. 11
Ford Foundation, f. 12,18
Gregg, Alan, f. 18
Hunleth music company, 8
Junior Red Cross, f. 25
Kroeger, Alice B. f. 6
Kroeger, Beatrice, f. 3
Kroeger, Elanor f. 2,26,27
Kroeger, Ernest R. f. 1,9,11,14,15,17,20,21,25
Kroeger, Julia B. f. 7
Kroeger, Laura, nee Clark, f. 1,10
Kroeger, Louise, f. 4,15,17,23
Kroeger, Richard, f. 8
Kroeger School of Music, f. 8,15,17,20,23
Masefield, John f. 2,3,4
Missouri State Teachers Association, f. 10
Music, f. 9,11,14,15,20,21,23,25
National Arts Society, f. 11
Opera, German, f. 14
Recipes, f. 24
Shakespeare Fellowship, f. 16
St. Louis Public Schools, f. 21
Talbot, Elanor nee Kroeger, f. 2,26,27
Talbot, John C. 2,12,25,26,27
Talbot, William, f. 17
The Western Magazine, f. 13
Town Club, f. 25
Washington University, f. 2,12,18,
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
222 THOMAS JEFFERSON LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
8001 NATURAL BRIDGE ROAD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63121
(314) 516-5143
whmc@umsl.edu