Alice Lee Bourne papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 2019-041

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection documents the activities of Alice Lee Bourne, a professional harpist from Lyons, New York. While it is clear that she toured earlier in her life, these materials date from a period when she was mostly performing regionally across western and central New York.The materials document her concerts, her promotional work and he travels. The dateable materials are from 1959 to 1992, but some undated items (including photographs of her parents) are clearly considerably older. The materials include a scrapbook, postcards, photographs, and documents.

Dates

Creation: 1959-1971, undated

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Biographical Note

Alice Lee Bourne was born on June 22, 1902 to William and S. E. Bourne of Lyons, New York. Her father inherited a harp when she was 7 years old, which inspired him to have his daughter study nthe instrument. While Alice Lee Bourne recalled later in life that this first harp was in such poor condition that it had to burned as firewood, her father bought a playable instrument for her to use in lessons starting at age 10 in fourth grade. She became a proficient performer on the instrument and started a career as a touring performer of dinner music on the harp. She also married Glenn H. Longrod of Lyons on January 1, 1936. By the time of the materials in this collection, Alice Lee Bourne ahd largely left the touring world to focus on performing regionally. She played in numerous recitals around central and western New York in the 1960s and 1970s. She also promoted the instrument to children, noting in a 1970 article that she 7,688 miles the previous year to perform in schools in the Appalachian parts of Pennsylvania. He goal was to introduce students to an instrument they otherwise would not have heard. Materials in the collection show that she stayed active in the regional music scene into at least the 1980s. Alice Lee Bourne passed away in Rochester, New York on February 29, 2000.

Extent

0.09 Cubic Feet (1 scrapbook, loose materials) ; 13 x 12 x 2 inches

.12 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection documents the activities of Alice Lee Bourne, a professional harpist from Lyons, New York. This collection documents the activities of Alice Lee Bourne, a professional harpist from Lyons, New York. While it is clear that she toured earlier in her life, these materials date from a period when she was mostly performing regionally across western and central New York. The dateable materials are from 1959 to 1992, but some undated items (including photographs of her parents) are clearly considerably older. The materials include a scrapbook, postcards, photographs, and documents.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single box.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials arrived in a box addressed "To Local History" through inter-library mail. No donor information or information telling us which library accepted the materials could be found.

Bibliography

Ancestry.com. New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014. Archunde, Herman. "She Brings Heavenly Music to Children." Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), February 22, 1970, page 5.

Condition Description

Papers and photographs in excellent condition. Scrapbook contents good, but the book itself is severely deteriorated, pages very weak and binding failed.