1939-1949 CLASSICAL PIANIST QUEENS COLLEGE, UNIV of MICHIGAN PHOTO ALBUM PAUL ROBESON AUTOGRAPH

Item #900

The college years, documented in photos and news clippings, of one Helene Rich (later Emanuel), 1928-2018, of Brooklyn; her obituary at northjersey.com

25 leaves/50 pages, black; 45 b&w photos, a few captioned; 2 appear to be missing, and one is loose.

The first 16 photos, across ten pages, show Helene frolicking on campus with her school pals. Musically gifted, Helene attended New York’s High School of Music and Art; then Queens college, where these photos appear to be taken; then the University of Michigan.

The middle section of the album features 14 photos across five pages of a discharged serviceman’s trip through European capitals on his way home - Helene’s fiancé, or maybe her brother? This section is not captioned.

The majority of the latter part of the album is devoted to ephemera: newspaper clippings, some playful personal ads; announcements and invitations of various milestone (engagement parties, bris ceremonies, etc.; and most essentially, musical programs.

Ms. Rich was an avid appreciator of classical music, and among the programs of the performances she attended are some of the great names: Heifetz, Horowitz, Koussevitzky; and Serkin.

On the last page is a program for a recital featuring Ms. Rich herself, and one other pianist, at Steinway Hall (at its 57th Street location, near Carnegie Hall), in May of 1944 (when she was only sixteen years old).

There is a mini-program for a performance by Louis Prima, April 1945: “The Slide Rule Ball”

The front cover of a playbill for a performance of Othello at the Schubert Theatre, featuring a painted portrait of Paul Robeson in the title role, is SIGNED by Robeson.

The album also features a greeting with an early use of the term “Chrismukah”!

According to the obituary available online, Ms. Rich also played French Horn, bridge and tennis; had three daughters, six grandkids; would go on, in her 50s, to earn a law degree an perform pro bono conflict-resolution work; and continued to support the arts, fundraising for the Bergen (NJ) Philharmonic and attending the Metropolitan Opera frequently. Her sister, Florence, was mother to television personality Ina Garten, better known to millions through her cookbooks as the Barefoot Contessa.

Condition: outer binding in terrific shape; at least five leaves have come loose from the simple lace binding; many other leaves torn or chipped at the edges.

Price: $175.00