| Description |
190 linear feet (397 boxes, 51 volumes). |
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In seven series: I. Trask family papers; II. George Foster Peabody papers; III. Allena Pardee papers; IV. Establishment of the Yaddo Coporation; V. Yaddo Corporation Records; VI. Sound recordings, artwork, and artifacts; VII. Photographs. |
| Summary |
The Yaddo Records (1870-1980) comprise the personal papers of Spencer and Katrina Trask, George Foster Peabody, Allena Pardee, and Elizabeth Ames, in addition to the Yaddo Corporation's records. The collection contains correspondence, diaries, journals, notebooks, writings, scrapbooks, financial and legal documents, guest files, admission files, administrative files, ephemera, sound recordings, and photographs documenting the Trasks life together, the business and philanthropic activities of Spencer Trask and Peabody, Katrina Trask's career as a creative writer, the purchase, renovation, and life at Yaddo during the Trasks' lifetimes, Yaddo's transformation into an artist community, and the administration and operation of the Yaddo Corporation from 1926-1990. The records provide insight into the history of American arts in the 20th century, as well biographical and historical perspectives on many important American artists, writers, and composers. |
| Restricted Access |
Restricted access; Manuscripts and Archives Division; Permit must be requested at the division indicated. |
| Access |
Original wax cylinder recordings are closed to research until service copies are generated. |
| Biography |
Yaddo is an artists' community located in Saratoga Springs, New York. Yaddo was founded by financier and philanthropist Spencer Trask (1844-1909) and his wife Katrina (1853-1922). After the deaths of their four children, the Trasks decided to leave their mansion, 400-acre estate and considerable wealth to create a retreat for authors, artists and musicians. After their deaths, their close friend George Foster Peabody oversaw the creation of Yaddo, which was administered from 1924 to 1968 by Executive Director Elizabeth Ames. Since its official opening in 1926, Yaddo has welcomed such notable guests as Newton Arvin, Leonard Bernstein, Truman Capote, John Cheever, Aaron Copland, Malcom Cowley, James T. Farrell, Granville Hicks, Langston Hughes, Carson McCullers, Sylvia Plath, Katherine Anne Porter, and Clyfford Still. |
| Indexes |
Finding aid available in repository and on Internet. |
| Subject |
Yaddo (Artist's colony)
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Art patronage.
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Artist colonies -- United States.
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Artists -- United States.
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Authors, American -- 20th century.
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Benefactors.
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Capitalists and financiers.
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Leisure class.
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Music festivals -- New York (State) -- Saratoga Springs.
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New York (State) -- Social life and customs.
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Saratoga Springs (N.Y.)
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| Added Author |
Ames, Elizabeth.
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Arvin, Newton, 1900-1963.
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Cheever, John.
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Copland, Aaron, 1900-1990.
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Cowley, Malcolm, 1898-
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Farrell, James T. (James Thomas), 1904-1979.
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Hicks, Granville, 1901-
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Pardee, Allena.
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Peabody, George Foster, 1852-1938.
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Porter, Katherine Anne, 1890-1980.
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Trask, Katrina, 1853-1922.
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Trask, Spencer, 1844-1909.
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| Donor/Sponsor |
Acquisition of the Yaddo Records by The New York Public Library was made possible by the Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund.
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| Call No. |
MssCol 4795
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| Research Call Number |
MssCol 4795
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