Finding Aid for the Clair and Collins Families Papers

Title

Finding Aid for the Clair and Collins Families Papers

Rights

Rights Information

Type

Collection

Creator

Evelyn Collins

Dorothy Clair Edwards

Date

1881-1981

Description

This collection consists of correspondence and ephemera for Dorothy Clair (Edwards) and Evelyn Collins including: opera program, report card, certificate of standing, letters, obituary, yearbook, programs, calling cards, follies invitations, envelope, photographs, memorial book, Catholic Girl’s Guide, Christmas card, and prayer book. There are significant gaps from 1904-1913, 1922-1931, 1935-1961, and 1961-1981.

Language

English

Publisher

Midwest Genealogy Center, Mid-Continent Public Library, Independence, Missouri

Extent

4 folders

Identifier

MGC1004

Subject

Musicians

Schools

extracted text

Clair and Collins Families Papers

Collection Summary
Title
Clair and Collins Families Papers
Date
1881-1981
Extent
4 folders
Name and Location of Repository
Midwest Genealogy Center, Independence (Mo.)
Reference code: MCG 1004-CCFP
Processed by: Nicole Pye, 2012; Finding aid created by Amy Luther, 2012

Names of Creator
Collins, Evelyn
Edwards, Dorothy Clair
Biographical History
Dorothy Clair Edwards was born July 29, 1881 in Thayer, Kansas. Her family moved to the
Independence, Missouri area during the early 1900s. Dorothy taught at the Kansas City Conservatory of
Music in the Expression Department. She went on to establish the Clair School of Dance and Drama and
operated the school for 25 years. Dorothy married James Edwards in 1925. She died December 5, 1981
at the age of 100.
Evelyn Collins was born in Jackson County, Missouri in 1893. She lived with her family in Independence,
Missouri until her death and never married.
Scope and Content Element
This collection consists of correspondence and ephemera for Dorothy Clair (Edwards) and Evelyn Collins
including: opera program, report card, certificate of standing, letters, obituary, yearbook, programs,
calling cards, follies invitations, envelope, photographs, memorial book, Catholic Girl’s Guide, Christmas
card, and prayer book. There are significant gaps from 1904-1913, 1922-1931, 1935-1961, and 19611981.

1

Clair and Collins Families Papers

Collection Inventory
System of Arrangement
These records are arranged in 4 series.
Series 1, Dorothy Clair at Kansas City Conservatory of Music, 1917-1981
Item 1, Kansas City Conservatory of Music Yearbook, 1917-1918
Item 2, The 1922 Follies Program, 1922
Item 3, The Village Players Program, Feb 25, 1935
Item 4, Calling Cards, undated
Item 5, Follies: A dancing & dramatic revue Invitation Card, June 16, 1931
Item 6, Follies: A dancing & dramatic revue Invitation Card, May 6, 1932
Item 7, Follies: A dancing & dramatic revue Invitation Card, June 20, 1933
Item 8, Letter to Mrs. Dorothy Edwards from Mayor of Independence, July 1961
Item 9, Letter to Mrs. Dorothy Edwards from White House, July 1981
Series 2, Memorial Book for Dorothy Clair (Edwards), Dec ember 5, 1981
Series 3, Evelyn Collins Ephemera, 1913-1917
Item 1, Piano Recital Program, October 1913
Item 2, The Catholic Girl’s Guide, 1917
Item 3, Christmas card from Evelyn Collins to Mrs. Clair, undated
Item 4, Prayer Book, undated
Series 4, Miscellaneous Ephemera, 1881-1904
Item 1, Wilson’s Opera House Program, 1881
Item 2, Fort Scott report card, 1889
Item 3, Fort Scott Certificate of Standing, 1889
Item 4, Letter to Mrs. John Collins (Katherine Collins), May 1904
Item 5, Scan of Owen McEnany, Jr. obituary, undated

2

Clair and Collins Families Papers

Rights and Access
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use by appointment.
Physical Access
Most records within this collection are housed in file folders. Some documents are in plastic sheets and
pictures are housed in original envelope.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Languages and Scripts of the Material
Materials in the collection are entirely in English.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated to the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected for this collection.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals owned by the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Notes
The following sources were consulted during the preparation of the biographical history:
Ancestry.com. “1940 United States Federal Census.” Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operation Inc., 2012.
Midwest Genealogy Center, complier. Kansas City Star Newspaper Obituaries: 1981 July-December A-G.
Independence, MO: Midwest Genealogy Center.
Missouri Office of the Secretary of the State. “Missouri Digital Heritage: Death Certificates.” Accessed
December 17, 2012. http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/default.asp
Ancestry.com. “Web: Missouri, Find A Grave Index, 1812-2011 [database on-line].” Provo, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

3