Andrews Family Opera Company. Papers, 1849-1976.

Collection — Container: Microfilm Reel 01

Identifier: SMHC Collection 1285

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The articles included in the collection were written primarily by Cornelia Andrews DuBois and are focused on the history of the Andrews Family Opera Company.

The volumes in the collection consist of a family record book and three scrapbooks. The family record book contains genealogical and biographical information on various members of the Andrews family. John Redding Andrews and his son John Wesley Andrews compiled it. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings, programs, photographs, and other memorabilia pertaining to the concert tours of the Andrews Family Opera Company. Many of the clippings include biographical information as well as reviews of performances. Florence Andrews Clayton compiled the two earliest scrapbooks and Nellie Andrews Hazelrigg compiled the last scrapbook.

Dates

1842-1876

Biographical / Historical

The Andrews Family Opera Company [Troupe] was founded by the family of John Redding Andrews, a Methodist minister who left Russellville, IL in 1865 to settle in St. Peter, Minnesota, with his wife and children.

The Company started as a traveling family vocal troupe in 1875. They added a comet band and Swiss bells to their performance before emerging as an opera company in 1884. The company was a pioneer in their productions of Grand Opera in English. Their performances, which were moderately priced, were seen primarily in small towns and cities throughout the Midwest, but they did travel to other parts of the county to perform.

The troupe disbanded in 1901. It was speculated that the large chain companies were gaining control of the major theaters throughout the country. This made it difficult to acquire theater space for smaller independent groups like the Andrews'.

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains published and unpublished articles about the opera company, a family record book, and three scrapbooks. Biographical and genealogical information, photographs and news clippings are all included.