Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message

Louise Lincoln Kerr Photographs 1897-circa 1956

CP SPC 183

Biographical Note

Myrtie Louise Lincoln was born to John Cromwell Lincoln (1866-1959) and Myrtle (Humphrey) Lincoln (1866-1913) in Cleveland, Ohio on April 24, 1892. John Lincoln was an engineer, businessman, and entrepreneur who came to Arizona in the early 1930s, settled in the Phoenix area, and was active in mining and real estate. He applied much of the wealth he accumulated from these very successful ventures to community improvement and philanthropic activities.

Louise Lincoln grew up in Cleveland and finished high school there. In 1910, she went to New York City to attend Barnard College. Here, she studied music composition with two prominent Columbia University professors and continued playing the violin, which she had begun studying at the age of seven. She returned to Cleveland in about 1913 to play the violin in the Cleveland Orchestra. She married Peter Kerr (1897-1939) and the couple returned to the East coast. They had eight children: Tamar, Virginia (1923-1936), Anna Louise (1924-1941), Louise, Rosemary W. (Kerr) Dykstra (1927-2008), Peter, William, and Preston (1932-1991). Kerr and her family moved to Arizona in 1936, partly for the health of one of the daughters. They initially settled in Phoenix but later lived in Flagstaff and Los Angeles, California. Louise Kerr returned to Arizona in 1946 or 1947 and split her time between Phoenix and her ranch near Cottonwood.

Kerr's home on Central Avenue in Phoenix became a focal point for local musicians, both student and professional, who gathered for long evenings of chamber music. Phoenix did not have a professional musical organization at the time, so these gatherings provided the musicians with important opportunities. This musical activity was supported by an extensive library of music and Kerr not infrequently provided financial assistance as well. In the mid-1950s, Kerr purchased land in what is now North Scottsdale and began plans to fulfill a lifelong dream of having her own music studio. By 1959, a house and studio were completed, both built of adobe. These structures contributed to the growth of musical activity of the Valley.

In 1960, Louise Kerr co-founded the Phoenix Chamber Music Society. For several years the programs, presented by chamber groups of international renown, were given in the Kerr Studio. She also helped to found the Arizona Cello Society and Monday Morning Musicale and was a charter violinist with the Phoenix Symphony. Her studio, an acoustically excellent structure, was in constant use for rehearsal, performance, and informal music making of all manner. Her financial support of this activity continued to be exceptionally generous.

Kerr left her home and studio to Arizona State University in her will and the structures are now known as the Louise Lincoln Kerr Cultural Center. She also started a scholarship fund for ASU composition majors and left her vast library of music scores and original compositions to the University Library. Louise Kerr died at her ranch in Cottonwood in December of 1977 at the age of 85.

Scope and Content Note

This collection includes portraits of Louise Lincoln Kerr and her family ranging from a studio portrat of Kerr made in Cleveland, Ohio when she was a child through her adulthood. Many of Louise Kerr's portraits show her posed with musical instruments. Also included are scenes from recitals.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.

Related Material

Interested researchers may wish to consult MSS-90: Louise Lincoln Kerr Collection (guide available at http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/kerr.xml.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Louise Lincoln Kerr Photographs, CP SPC 183, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

These photographs were copied from originals in the posession of Judith Kerr (Accession #1978-00039B).

Other Finding Aids

All of the images described in this finding aid have been indexed in the Special Materials Index and can be searched using the interface at http://spmi.lib.asu.edu/.

Container List