Texts, 1888-1903

The Tracy J. Swanson papers, 1888-1903, contains Swanson's letters home to her parents, a report card, and five books related to Swanson's music studies. Swanson's letters to her parents in Calumet, Michigan (1901 and 1903), recount her studiousness and dedication, her budgeting of limited funds, and a trip to Chicago, among other topics. One report card from her first term is also included. The texts in the collection (1888, 1897, 1899, 1902, and 1903) relate to Swanson's musical studies. The titles suggest that her pursuits at the Conservatory were not limited to practice or the technical aspects of the piano, but rather a greater appreciation for the art and philosophy of music. The books themselves have been separated from the collection and cataloged as Special Collections books. Photocopies of the title pages and ephemera found in the texts remain with the manuscript collection.