This Woman’s Christian Temperance Union program from Mt. Vernon, Illinois contains psalms, a schedule of meetings, and a roster of the...
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Selections from the Tanner Papers
Allen C. Tanner (1898-1987) was an Illinois-born pianist. At fifteen he was awarded a scholarship to study music in Chicago where he met Margaret Anderson, founder of the Little Review. Tanner then moved to New York City where he performed in musical salons and accompanied many musical greats of the era. In 1922, Tanner left for Berlin, where he met Russian artist Pavel Tchelitchew and the two men became lovers. In 1924 the pair moved to Paris to pursue their artistic careers, and became great friends with Gertrude Stein and Edith Sitwell. When Tanner and Tchelitchew ended their relationship in 1934, Tanner returned to the United States. In 1967 he released the album Allen Tanner Plays Bach, Debussy, Scriabin, Granados, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Steinert.
The collection contains correspondence, writings, programs and publicity, news clippings, financial documents, sheet music, sound recordings, photographs, and books. Some of that material has been digitized and is available below. For more information about Tanner and the entire collection, please see this post and the collection inventory.
Browse Selections from the Tanner Papers
1907
Location: MC 2013.3, B6, F26
Subject: Religion and Spirituality, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Books and Pamphlets
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: 
Woman’s Christian Temperance Union program
1909
This is a reproduced image of opera singer Mary Garden as Salome.
Location: MC 2013.3, B6, F12
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: "Mary Garden as Salome" clipping from unknown publication
May 7, 1915
This brochure contains the roster of participants and the order of track and field events for the seventh Southern Illinois Interscholastic...
Location: MC 2013.3, B6, F14
Subject: Sport and Recreation
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: Southern Illinois Interscholastic Athletic Contest program
December 4, 1915
In this newspaper clipping, Hanna Butler, prima donna of the Auditorium Hotel, offers advice for how singers can test their tone using their thumb...
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F8
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: "Thumb Better Than Candle for Testing Out Voices" clipping from unknown newspaper
January 2, 1916
This program is for Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski's recital at Orchestra Hall in Chicago in 1916.
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F5
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: I. J. Paderewski recital program
December 1918
This bulletin for the Mt. Vernon First Methodist Episcopal Church advertises prayer meetings and worship services at the church, including the...
Location: MC 2013.3, B6, F13
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: Mt. Vernon, Illinois First Methodist Episcopal Church bulletin
March 23, 1919
This is a concert program for a performance Marguerite Namara and Allen Tanner gave to raise money for the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund for the...
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F22
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: Concert for the benefit of the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund program
March 23, 1919
This is the cover of a program for a concert to support the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund for the Soldiers and Sailors of the Allies.
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F50
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1900-1919
View Item: Permanent Blind Relief War Fund program
February 2 [c.1920]
This program is for Allen Tanner and Harold Barton's joint recital at the Provincetown Players' Theatre-Club on February 2nd. The year is unknown...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F58
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Provincetown Players’ Theatre-Club program
March 18 [c.1920]
This program is for the Grand Ballet on March 18th. The year is unknown, but approximated. Pavel Tchelitchew is listed as the decor and costume...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F60
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Grand Ballet program
March 28 [c.1920]
This program is for a song recital by Marguerite d'Alvarez, accompanied by Allen Tanner, at the Provincetown Theatre on March 28th. The year is...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F59
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Provincetown Theatre recital program
June 20, 1920
This program is for a concert in which Allen Tanner, Marguerite Namara, and others performed at the Globe Music Club in New York City.
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F51
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Globe Music Club concert program
1922
This partial newspaper clipping offers a brief biography of singer Alice Miriam.
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F15
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: "whole story, either, although…" clipping from unknown newspaper
March 23, 1922
This is an obituary for Alice Miriam of the Metropolitan Opera.
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F22
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: "Miss Alice Miriam, Opera Singer, Dies" clipping from unknown newspaper
July 1922
This is an obituary for Alice Miriam, Metropolitan Opera soprano.
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F15
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: "Opera Singer Dies After Operations" clipping from unknown newspaper
July 24, 1922
This is a brief obituary, with photo, of soprano Alice Miriam.
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F15
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Alice Miriam obituary clipping from unknown newspaper
December 2, 1922
This item is pianist Allen Tanner's passport.
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F55
Subject: Travel and Tourism
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Allen Tanner passport
circa 1925
This advertisement is for Allen Tanner's piano lessons.
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F52
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Cours de Piano advertisement
circa 1925
This brochure offers a brief biography of pianist Allen Tanner, and advertises his services as a piano teacher and singing coach.
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F52
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Allen Tanner Pianiste brochure
April 26, 1929
This program is for one of Allen Tanner's piano concert performances.
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F53
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: "Allen Tanner Pianiste"
1931
This brochure advertises Russian ballet dancer Laurent Novikoff's services as a coach for classes and private lessons in ballet training,...
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F4
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Laurent Novikoff brochure
April 28, 1935
This news clipping describes a recital by Allen Tanner after his return from Europe.
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F23
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: "Allen Tanner the young pianist…" Chicago Herald and Examiner newspaper clipping
November 4, 1937
This program is for Mrs. McAllister's First Musical Morning at the Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts. Allen Tanner is listed as Marguerite d'...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F57
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
circa 1938
This brochure offers a brief biography and reviews of Allen Tanner's student Howard Gartner. Contact information for performance booking purposes...
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F2
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Howard Gartner, Baritone brochure
April 7, 1938
This program is for a recital by Howard Gaertner, with Allen Tanner as accompanist, at the Columbia Damen Club.
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F55
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: Columbia Damen Club program