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Reynaldo Hahn Letters and Manuscripts
Notifications
Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Reynaldo Hahn was a French composer of the fin de siècle. Born in Caracas, Venezuela to Elena Maria Echenaguera and the German merchant Carlos Hahn, Hahn grew up in Paris from age three. He attained instant fame in 1888 with his musical version of Si mes vers avaient des ailes, a poem by Victor Hugo. Between 1894-1896 Hahn had a romantic relationship with Marcel Proust and maintained a close friendship until Proust death in 1922. During World War II, Hahn was forced into hiding during the Nazi occupation of Paris. He returned to the city in 1945 and died there two years later.
Hélène Vacaresco was a Romanian-French writer and laureate of the Académie française. She was a permanent delegate to the League of Nations in 1925-26 and the only woman to serve with the rank of ambassador (permanent delegate).
This collection consists primarily of letters written by Reynaldo Hahn. The largest body of letters is addressed to Hélène Vacaresco, totaling 42 distinct letters from Hahn. Also present are letters to Hélène's mother, Euphrosine Vacaresco (Eufrosina Fălcoianu). Other recipients include Alfred de Vigny, Albert Gavy-Bélédin, Sully Prudhomme, René Peter, Paul Hervieu, Daniel Halévy, Julia Alphonse Daudet, Lucien Daudet, Robert Brussel, and other unidentified individuals. Additionally, non-correspondence materials include a manuscript regarding César Franck, personalized calling cards annotated by Hahn, a title page of a musical composition titled, "Adieu", a manuscript signed by journalist René Brest, and a musical manuscript signed by Hahn, La Nuit.
Organized in the following series: Series 1: Correspondence, Series 2: Additional Materials.
Purchase, 2011 (AM 2011-32). Purchase, 2012 (AM 2012-94). Purchase, 2016 (AM 2016-60). Purchased by Rubén Gallo on behalf of PUL through Ader Nordmann, 2015 (AM 2019-83). Purchased by Richard Linenthal on behalf of PUL, 2019 (AM 2020-50).
This collection was processed by Regine Heberlein and Jill Baron in September 2010 and May 2012, respectively. Finding aid written by Regine Heberlein and Jill Baron in September 2010 and May 2012.
The Finding aid was updated by Elvia Arroyo-Ramirez in February 2016.
The Finding aid was updated by Armando Suarez in February 2019.
The Finding aid was updated by Armando Suarez in January 2020.
Nothing was removed from the 2016 acquisition.
People
- Daudet, Lucien, 1883-1946
- Fălcoianu, Eufrosina
- Hahn, Reynaldo, 1875-1947
- Halévy, Daniel, 1872-1962.
- Hervieu, Paul, 1857-1915
- Peter, René
- Sully Prudhomme, 1839-1907
- Văcărescu, Elena, 1864-1947.
- Vigny, Alfred de 1797-1863
Subject
- Authors -- France -- 20th century -- Correspondence
- Composers -- France -- 20th century -- Correspondence
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Elvia Arroyo-Ramirez, Armando Suarez
- Finding Aid Date
- 2016
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
Correspondence to various recipients from Hahn.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes seven letters mostly addressed to "cher ami"; one postcard; two letters addressed to "Chatelain" (undated, 1923); one letter to an unidentified "Docteur," nicknamed "divin Indra,"; one letter to "Mademoiselle et amie," dated March 3, 1930; one letter to an unidentified member of the Vacaresco family in English; one menu card; and one unidentified letter.
Physical Description1 folder
L.A.S., Rome [février 1900, à l'écrivain René Peter]; 8 pages in-8 à en-tête et vignette du Grand Hôtel Quirinal (dealer's description).
Physical Description1 folder
L.A.S., [février 1900], à Paul Hervieu; 4 pages in-8 (dealer's description).
Physical Description1 folder
L.A.S., [juin 1923, à Daniel Halévy]; 2 pages in-8 (dealer's description).
Physical Description1 folder
L.A.S. "Reynaldo", Lundi [avril 1931, à Julia Alphonse Daudet]; 5 pages petit in-4 (dealer's description).
Physical Description1 folder
L.A.S "Rdo", [vers 1938, à Lucien Daudet]; 2 pages in-8 (un peu froissée); (dealer's description).
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of about nineteen autograph letters signed ("Reynaldo Hahn"; "RH."), including to the columnist Robert Brussel and committee of the "Quarante-Cinq" praising the violinist Jacques Thibaud, mentioning Saint-Saëns and Madame de Béarn, discussing his ballet Le bal de Béatrice d'Este, offering lengthy advice to Brussel as to how he should approach his craft, and other matters (auction lot description).
Physical Description1 folder
Alphabetically.
Includes few non-correspondence materials.
Physical Description1 box
Cards include five autograph notes. Two are signed with Hahn's initials.
Physical Description1 folder
Signed by Hahn.
Physical Description1 folder
Folder includes sheet of doodles and notes in Hahn's hand.
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscrit autographe signé par le journaliste René Brest, La musique et le cinéma, avec corrections et ajouts autographes de Reynaldo Hahn, [1931]; 3 pages in-4 sur papier jaune (dealer's description).
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscrit musical autographe signé, La Nuit, [1898]; 4 pages et demie in-fol (dealer's description).
Physical Description1 folder