Clara and Elsa Besch Collection

Description:

Personal papers of sisters Elsa and Clara Besch of Lansing, Michigan. Elsa Besch (b. 1891) worked as a stenographer and secretary for the Motor Wheel Corporation, retiring after 50 years of service in 1959. She also volunteered several thousand hours with the Red Cross Gray Ladies Ingham County chapter during and after World War II. Clara (b. 1896) was a piano teacher with involvement in many Lansing musical organizations, including serving as president of the Matinee Musicale from 1938 to 1940, and as president of the Musicians' League of the Lansing Area. At the end of her career she was working as an organist for the Estes-Leadley Funeral Home, in the 1970s. Their parents were Emil (a pattern maker) and Anna, and there was another daughter, Pauline "Polly" who married Henry Dietz. Elsa and Clara did not marry, and shared a home for most of their lives. Elsa, sometimes referred to as Elsie, passed away in 1986, and Clara in 1988. The records in this collection include a photo album of Elsa's that records her involvement with the Motor Wheel Girls' Club, a social group for female employees, in addition to other records of her professional and volunteer activities. There are also extensive materials from Clara's musical activities. Two scrapbooks document Clara's personal involvements such as her students' recitals or the Matinee Musicale, as well as clippings and other material concerning musical activities in Lansing and elsewhere. Her notebook from her time as president of two musical organizations, as well as a 1929 edition of "Who's Who in Music and Art in Michigan" where she is listed, are included. Several files of other music related material as well as correspondence to both sisters are also in the collection.

Date Created:

[1915 TO 1960]

Data Provider:

Capital Area District Library (Lansing, MI). Forest Parke Library and Archives

Collection:

Clara and Elsa Besch Collection

Subject Topic:

Lansing (Mich.), Music, Music education, Musicians, Pianists, Teachers, Secretary, Office workers, Women, Clubs, Volunteer organizations, and Nurses

Language:

English

Rights:

Copyright Not Evaluated

URL:

http://cadl.pastperfectonline.com/archive/7F95C35C-C1CF-408F-8AC3-453446303650