Scope and Content Note
The Leonora Jackson McKim Papers span from 1854 to 1969, the bulk of which date from 1890 to 1945. The Music series is by far the largest, containing primarily works for violin and piano. It also includes a few orchestra scores, string quartets, violin duets, solo piano works, and songs for voice and piano. While there are several holographs and manuscripts, the bulk of the materials are printed. Many works contain annotations, and some are signed by either the composers or conductors. Of particular note are the works composed by McKim and members of her family.
McKim pursued writing as well as music, and her literary efforts are found in the Writings series, along with a small amount of writings by others. McKim's typescript and holograph documents include poetry, plays, essays, stories, books, reminisciences, illustrations, and notes. She submitted works to publishers and publications under her own name as well as the psuedonyms Betty Fairchild and Louella Jones.
The collection also contains a small amount of Publicity Materials, consisting of clippings, a poster, and concert programs. The Photographs primarily depict McKim, her family, friends, and fellow musicians with whom she corresponded and performed. The few letters in the Correspondence series are chiefly with notable persons such as Albert Einstein, President McKinley, and first lady Edith Wilson, as well as with her brother Ernest Jackson. McKim was also creative as an artist, and her drawings, oil paintings, and watercolors comprise the Artwork series. The Miscellanyseries includes receipts, legal documents, lyrics, a portrait, and a scrapbook, among other items.