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Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird family papers

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us] 3420 Walnut Street, 6th Floor (Monday-Friday, 10 am to 4:30 pm), Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. 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

Call Number:
Ms. Coll. 1758
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Extent:
2 linear feet (1 record center box and 3 oversized flat boxes stored on site )
Language Note:
The bulk of the collection is in English; however there is material in French and German.
Preferred Citation:
Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird family papers, 1884-1991, Ms. Coll. 1758, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania
Date:
1884-1991 (inclusive) and 1900-1940 (bulk)
Creator:
Baird, Maria Uytendale Hendrickson, 1874-1930, Baird, William James, 1874-1924, Caner, Sarah Uytendale Baird, 1896-1991, Marchesi, Mathilde, 1821-1913, and Caruso, Enrico, 1873-1921
Form:
Opera, Photographs, Scrapbooks, and Sheet music
Abstract:
Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird (1874-1930) was an American woman who studied opera under the famous bel canto teacher, Madame Mathilde Marchesi (1821-1913). Her daughter, Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner (1896-1991), was a socialite acclaimed for her fashion and her acting in the 1920s. The collection consists primarily of materials relating to the social and professional lives of these two women, including signed photographs of opera singers and actors, scrapbooks of their performances, theater programs and sheet music from Maria's musical education.

Maria Uytendale Baird née Hendrickson (1874-1930) was born to parents Sarah Wood Noxon (1852-1929) and New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Charles Elvin Hendrickson (1842-1919) in Red Bank, New Jersey. On October 16, 1895 she married William James Baird (1874-1924) and had three children, Sarah Uytendale Baird (1896-1991), William James Baird, Jr. (1899-1963) and Charles Hendrickson Baird (b. 1900). William James Baird's father, Matthew Baird (1817-1877) was a professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. After his death, the "Baird Scholarship" was established at Penn in his memory. William James Baird's mother, Anna Wright (1841-1919) was a member of the board of managers to the Department of Women at the University.

Maria Uytendale and William James Baird spent many years in Europe and lived in Paris, France from 1903 to 1907 where they studied voice. Maria was a student of Madame Mathilde Marchesi (1821-1913), a famous singing teacher whose other students include Nelli Melba (1861-1931) and Emma Calvé (1858-1942).

Maria and William returned to Philadelphia in 1908 where they performed often at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Ballroom, the Orpheus Club, and at Mendelsohn Hall in New York. The couple divorced in 1923. Maria made three demonstration recordings of her rendition of Handel's "Sweet Bird" accompanied by Mr. Clemente Barone, the first flutist in the Philadelphia Orchestra. Copies of these recordings were never issued commercially. In 1924, Maria would begin teaching voice in Philadelphia.

Their daughter, Sarah Uytendale, married Harrison Koons Caner Jr. (1892-1981) on November 14, 1916 and had three children, Uytendale Emily Wayne Caner (Scott) (1917-1991), Katherine Caner (Hare) (1920-2002) and Harrison Koons Caner III (1927-2021). She was a socialite acclaimed for her fashion and her acting in the 1920s and often used the stage name Uytendale Allaire. Her debut was in 1924 when she first appeared on Broadway in The Torch Bearers.

The collection contains material dated between 1884 and 1991 but is primarily from 1900-1940 and is arranged in two series: I. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird papers and II. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner material.

Series I. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird papers dates from 1884 to 1929 and documents the social and professional life of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird in the early 20th century. She was often called Uytendale by her friends and family. The material mostly consists of materials related to opera in Paris and Philadelphia.

Subseries A. Signed photographs of and illustrations by opera stars contains 32 signed images that Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird collected primarily while studying opera in Paris. Of note are several signed illustrated portraits by Italian operatic tenor, Enrico Caruso, as well as 3 signed photographs of Maria's opera teacher, Madame Marchesi. The images are arranged alphabetically by the name of the singer.

Subseries B. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird's social life materials includes chronologically arranged address books, books of engagement, 12 family photographs and a scrapbook containing letters received from Madame Marchesi and menus from events she attended in Paris. It also includes an essay written by Louise Natali-Graham about what it's like to be a student and friend of Madame Marchesi.

Subseries C. Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird and William James Baird's musical performance material is chronologically arranged and contains 3 photographs of William in costume, a scrapbook of clippings related to their performances, and correspondence and announcements relating to Maria teaching bel canto in Philadelphia.

Subseries D. Sheet music contains 26 booklets of lyrics and music from Maria's operatic education. It is arranged alphabetically by song name and features music in English, French and German.

Subseries E. Advertisements and programs for operas and theaters includes Maria's collection of playbills and opera programs from London, Berlin, and the United States.

Series II. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner material includes her personal papers as well as material collected about her life by her family members. The series mostly consists of material relating to her life as a socialite and her theatrical career in the 1920s and 30s. She is referred to as Sarah Uytendale Baird, Mrs. Harrison Caner and her stage name, Uytendale Allaire, throughout.

Subseries A. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner's social life materials primarily contains letters she received as well as commemorative pamphlets for notable events she attended in the city, arranged chronologically.

Subseries B. Signed photographs of actors contains 4 autographed portraits of male theater performers addressed to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner. They are arranged chronologically by actor's name.

Subseries C. Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner's theatrical performance materials includes playbills and newspaper clippings relating to her performance in different plays. These clippings appear to have been collected by Sarah, herself, and the materials are arranged chronologically.

Subseries D. Collected material about Sarah and her family consists of material from other members of the Baird family. It includes a cookbook that was likely started by Sarah. It also includes hundreds of Xeroxed newspaper clippings primarily about Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner arranged in reverse-chronological order. Finally, it contains a genealogy book compiled and edited by William Powell Scott, Jr. about the Baird family with detailed descriptions of the family's history, photographs and family tree.

Gift of William Scott, 2024.

Subject
Place

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Finding Aid Author
Madeleine Schirber
Finding Aid Date
2026 April 15
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Collection Inventory

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Campanari, G., signed photograph to William James Baird, 1899 March 27.
Box 2 Folder 1
Caruso, Enrico, signed illustration, 1906.
Box 1 Folder 1
Caruso, Enrico, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1907.
Box 1 Folder 1
Caruso, Enrico, signed illustration to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 1
Caruso, Enrico, signed illustration to William James Baird, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 1
Caruso, Enrico, signed illustration to William James Baird, 1908.
Box 2 Folder 2
Cremonini, Giuseppe, signed photograph to William James Baird, 1907.
Box 1 Folder 2
Dalmorès, Charles (1871–1939), signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 2
Dalmorès, Charles (1871–1939), signed photograph to William James Baird, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 2
Dalmorès, Charles (1871–1939), signed photograph to William James Baird, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 2
Garcia, Manuel, portrait from Mathilde Marchesi to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 2
Greenwood, Charlotte, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, undated.
Box 2 Folder 3
Gulbranson, Ellen, signed photograph as Brünnhilde at the Bayreuth Festival, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 3
Hinckley, Allen C., signed postcard, undated.
Box 1 Folder 3
Kraus, Ernst, signed photograph to William James Baird, 1907.
Box 1 Folder 3
Mangin, Edouard, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 3
Marchesi, Mathilde, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1904.
Box 1 Folder 4
Marchesi, Mathilde, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 4
Marchesi, Mathilde, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 4
Melba, Nelli, photograph, undated.
Box 2 Folder 4
Merlin, E., signed photograph, maybe 1900.
Box 1 Folder 5
Merlin, Jane, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1911.
Box 1 Folder 5
Merlin, Jeanne, signed photograph, undated.
Box 1 Folder 5
Mitchell, Grant, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1923.
Box 1 Folder 5
Mitchell, Grant, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1926.
Box 1 Folder 5
Parkina, Elizabeth, photograph on postcard, undated.
Box 1 Folder 5
Scotti, Antonio, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 6
Scotti, Antonio, signed photograph to William James Baird, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 6
Tosti, Francesco Paolo, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1906.
Box 1 Folder 6
Wood, Peggy, signed photograph to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, undated.
Box 1 Folder 6
Photograph of unknown woman with harp, undated.
Box 1 Folder 7
Signed photograph of unknown woman, illegible signature, to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1906.
Box 1 Folder 7
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird and William James Baird wedding, 1895.
Box 1 Folder 8
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird and William James Baird in Venice, 1895.
Box 2 Folder 5
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1895.
Box 1 Folder 9
Engagements book of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, circa 1903-1908.
Box 1 Folder 10
Scrapbook of letters from Madame Marchesi, photographs of Paris and menus and invitations from social events, circa 1900s.
Box 2 Folder 6
Address books of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird (1 of 2), circa 1900-1920s.
Box 1 Folder 11
Address books of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird (2 of 2), circa 1900-1920s.
Box 1 Folder 12
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird with Sarah Uytendale Baird, William James Baird Jr., and Charles Elvin Hendrickson, circa 1903.
Box 1 Folder 13
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1904.
Box 1 Folder 13
Photograph of the Baird apartment in Paris, 1906.
Box 3 Folder 1
"Madame Marchesi as a Woman," essay by Louise Natali-Graham, 1908 April 20.
Box 1 Folder 14
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1908.
Box 3 Folder 2
Photograph of the Baird apartment at 1715 Locust Street, 1910.
Box 3 Folder 3
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, 1927.
Box 3 Folder 4
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, maybe, undated.
Box 3 Folder 5
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, undated.
Box 1 Folder 15
Photograph of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, undated.
Box 1 Folder 15
Photograph of William James Baird at the Orpheus Club, Philadelphia, 1910.
Box 3 Folder 6
Photograph of William James Baird and his cast at the Orpheus Club, Philadelphia, 1910.
Box 3 Folder 7
Scrapbook of clippings about Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird and William James Baird's performances, circa 1910s.
Box 3 Folder 8
Letter from Frances Anne Wister to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird about introducing her to Cyrus H. K. Curtis, around 1924.
Box 1 Folder 16
Letter from Frances Anne Wister to Cyrus H. K. Curtis, introducing him to Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird, around 1924.
Box 1 Folder 16
Announcement of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird's bel canto studio, 1925.
Box 1 Folder 16
Scrapbook of clippings about opera and mentions of Maria Uytendale Hendrickson Baird and William James Baird, 1927-1929.
Box 1 Folder 17
Photograph of cast of performers in costume, Philadelphia, undated.
Box 4 Folder 1
"L'Allegro, il Pensieroso ed il Moderato" sheet music by George Frideric Handel, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
"Amate!" sheet music by F. Paulo Tosti from Melodie di F. Paulo Tosti, 1906.
Box 4 Folder 2
"At Parting" sheet music by James H. Rogers, 1886.
Box 4 Folder 2
"Belle Nuit" sheet music by J. Offenbach from Favorite French and Italian Vocal Duets, 1903.
Box 4 Folder 2
"Cadenza Allegro ed il Pensiero" sheet music by George Frideric Handel, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
"La Chanson des Baisers" sheet music by H. Bemberg, 1901.
Box 4 Folder 2
"Chanson Indoue" sheet music by N. Rimsky-Korsakow, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
"Cosi fan tutte (So machen es alle)" sheet music by W. Mozart, German songbook, undated.
Box 1 Folder 18
"Die Lorelai" sheet music by Franz Liszt, undated.
Box 4 Folder 3
"Faust" songbook by Charles Gounod, 1903.
Box 1 Folder 19
"Happy Song" sheet music by Tereza Del Riego, undated.
Box 4 Folder 4
"Hindoo Song" sheet music by H. Bemberg, from H. Bemberg Compositions, 1888.
Box 4 Folder 4
"If No One Ever Marries Me" sheet music by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, undated.
Box 4 Folder 4
"In a Persian Garden" sheet music by Liza Lehmann, 1896.
Box 4 Folder 4
"In the Forest" sheet music by Isadore Freed, 1927.
Box 4 Folder 4
"It Was a Lover and His Lass" sheet music by R. H. Walthew, 1892.
Box 4 Folder 4
"The Last Rose of Summer" sheet music by Edward F. Rimbault, 1906.
Box 4 Folder 4
"Love in Springtime!" sheet music by Luigi Arditi, 1890.
Box 4 Folder 4
"Oh! Si Les Fleurs Avaient Des Yeux!..." sheet music by J. Massenet, 1903.
Box 4 Folder 4
"Récitatif l'air du Rossignol" sheet music by Handel, undated.
Box 4 Folder 4
"Song Album" songbook by Adolf Jensen, 1884.
Box 1 Folder 20
"Spring Song" sheet music by F. Paulo Tosti, 1905.
Box 4 Folder 5
"Sweet Bird" sheet music by Handel, undated.
Box 4 Folder 5
Loose sheet music, undated.
Box 4 Folder 5
Loose sheet music, undated.
Box 4 Folder 5
Untitled lyric sheet of short songs, undated.
Box 4 Folder 5
Veronique program at the Apollo Theatre, London, probably 1904.
Box 1 Folder 21
Matinée de Gala program at the Palais du Trocadéro, by l'Association des Artistes Dramatiques, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 21
Theater-Zeitung für die Königlichen Schauspiele, German theater newspaper, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 22
Association des Concerts Lamoureux program, 1906.
Box 1 Folder 23
Probably Les Huguenots advertisement at Théâtre Royal, unknown Dutch newspaper, undated.
Box 1 Folder 23

Atwill, Lionel, signed photograph to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, undated.
Box 1 Folder 24
Kelly, George, signed photograph to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, undated.
Box 1 Folder 24
Mitchell, Grant, signed photograph to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, 1923.
Box 1 Folder 24
Mitchell, Grant, signed photograph to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, 1928.
Box 1 Folder 24
Commemorative pamphlets for the visit of Queen Marie of Romania, 1926 October 21.
Box 1 Folder 25
Commemorative pamphlets for the visit of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, 1927 October 22.
Box 1 Folder 26
Letter from Leopold Stokowski of the Philadelphia Orchestra to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, 1929 May 3.
Box 1 Folder 27
Letter from Sean O'Casey to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, 1934 December 13.
Box 1 Folder 27
Letter from [C. Degeveurs] with enclosed receipt to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, in French, 1936 June 23.
Box 1 Folder 27
Postcard from Carl and Nella to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner and Harrison Koons Caner Jr., 1937.
Box 1 Folder 27
Excerpts from unknown social and fashion newspaper, 1938.
Box 1 Folder 28
The Philadelphia Junior League Dinner Dance and "Burlesque" magazine and invitation, 1938.
Box 1 Folder 29
Photograph of Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, Harrison Koons Caner Jr., and Harrison Koons Caner III, in Philadelphia, 1938.
Box 4 Folder 6
Letter from Mae Desmond to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner about press notices, 1942 March 29.
Box 1 Folder 30
Letter from [A. Binet] to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, in French, 1948.
Box 1 Folder 30
Letter from [A. Binet] to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, in French, 1952 March 30.
Box 1 Folder 30
Letter from [A. Binet] to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, in French, 1952.
Box 1 Folder 30
Letter from the cast of The Way of the World to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, undated.
Box 1 Folder 31
The Cape Playhouse postcard from [Sciuti] to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, undated.
Box 1 Folder 31
Card from [S. E. Lewis] to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, undated.
Box 1 Folder 31
Letter from Geo Kelly to Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, undated.
Box 1 Folder 31
Letter written by unknown author on score cards, undated.
Box 1 Folder 31
The Public Ledger newspaper, including photograph of Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner in Au Clair de Lune, 1922.
Box 4 Folder 7
The Artist by A. A. Milne, script with notes in margins, 1923.
Box 1 Folder 32
The Globe Trotters and the Maremin Dancers playbill, the Academy of Music, 1926 May 12.
Box 1 Folder 32
The Gloss of Youth playbill, performed by the Franklin Inn Players, 1927 May 11.
Box 1 Folder 32
The Elitch Gardener weekly newsletter, including various mentions of Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, 1927.
Box 1 Folder 33
The Cape Playhouse playbills, 1928 July-August.
Box 1 Folder 34
Service for Two playbill, 1931.
Box 1 Folder 34
Threats of Danger review in unknown newspaper clipping, 1932.
Box 1 Folder 34
The Man in Possession playbill and newspaper clippings from unknown newspaper, Cape May Playhouse, 1932 July.
Box 1 Folder 34
Art and Mrs. Bottle playbills and newspaper clippings from unknown newspapers, Cape May Playhouse, 1932 July.
Box 1 Folder 34
Original Sinning playbill, Cape May Playhouse, 1932.
Box 1 Folder 34
Actor's Equity Association membership cards, 1932-1934.
Box 1 Folder 34
The Taming of the Shrew cast list, 1933.
Box 1 Folder 34
Iolanthe or the Peer and the Peri playbill, Academy of Music, 1937.
Box 1 Folder 34
Locust Street Theatre playbill with a cast list for The Circle, undated.
Box 1 Folder 35
Sawdust and Spangles playbill, Junior League of Philadelphia, undated.
Box 1 Folder 35
The Torch-Bearers advertisement, Garrick Theatre, undated.
Box 1 Folder 35
An Evening in the Gay Nineties playbill, at the Barclay, undated.
Box 1 Folder 35
A Doll's House playbill, at the Playhouse, undated.
Box 1 Folder 35
Newspaper clippings about Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, unknown newspaper, undated.
Box 1 Folder 35
Baird family cookbook, including clippings and letters containing recipes, circa 1910-1940.
Box 1 Folder 36
Xeroxed newspaper clippings about the Baird family, primarily Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, 1896 June 25-1990 July 11.
Box 1 Folder 37
Xeroxed newspaper clippings about the Baird family, primarily Sarah Uytendale Baird Caner, undated.
Box 1 Folder 38
The Ancestors and Descendants of William James Baird and Maria Uytendale Hendrickson, genealogy book, compiled and edited by William Powell Scott, Jr., 1991.
Box 1 Folder 39

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