Lucile Yahr, 1944-1967
Scope and Contents note
The approximately thirty scrapbooks were created by campers to help them remember their time at the summer arts camp. The scrapbooks provide information that is not normally captured by official administrative means, such as diaries, photographs made by campers, and mementos of the friendships between campers - as shown through signatures and written messages. The campers also collected other ephemera that they found important to assist in remembering their time at camp. Many of these items were of a disposable nature, and do not survive elsewhere. The scrapbooks in this collection are from the first year the camp opened in 1928 until about 1955 and provide an in-depth look at student life. The whole range of the camper's experiences are reflected in these scrapbooks; their friendships, dances, sports, Sunday services, and artistic endeavours are all found in this material, which helps to develop a deeper understanding of the camper's time here. The majority of the scrapbooks were disassembled and their pages and photographs placed in protective archival plastic sheets for preservation purposes, though a few of the scrapbooks are essentially untouched and placed in archival housing.
Dates
- 1944-1967
Biographical / Historical Note
Lucile Yahr lived in the Traverse City area, in Grawn and, later, in Frankfort, Michigan. She worked in Dining Services for the National Music Camp each summer from 1944 to 1951. She held positions such as a dishwasher and, eventually "Head Salad Girl" for the camp and the hotel. Yahr collected employment and camp-related documents, newspaper clippings, and other mementos during and after her time at NMC. She went on to attend Michigan State University's early education program, but continued to stay in touch with her summer employers.
Extent
From the Fonds: 8 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
General Physical Description
Nearyl 100 pieces total. Scrapbook includes 23 newspaper clipplings, 7 photographs, 5 postcards (used), 11 correspondences from various NMC staff members, and additional papers and ephemera from the duration of Yahr's employment with the National Music Camp. All pieces were placed within Scrapbook binder, though the pages had been removed at some point in the object's history.
Repository Details
Part of the Archives of Interlochen Center for the Arts Repository
Bonisteel Library
4000 Highway M-137
Interlochen MI 49643 USA
231-276-4384
leo.gillis@interlochen.org