William O. Fuller papers, 1849-1968

(bulk 1849-1859)

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	William O. Fuller papers
Date range:	1849-1968, (bulk 1849-1859)
Creator:	Fuller, William O., 1828-1910
Extent:	0.25 linear feet
Abstract:	The Fuller papers consist of 58 items for the period 1849-1968. The papers include letters from Fuller to his family, as well as several letters to Fuller from Franz Liszt, Carl (Charles) Mayer, and others. Fuller (1828-1910) was a music teacher in Providence, Rhode Island.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	Ms.Fuller

Scope & content

The Fuller papers consist of 58 items from 1849-1968 (bulk 1849-1859). The items include letters from Fuller to his brother, Frederic, from Leipzig, Dresden, Frankfurt, and Paris, describing his musical and social experiences in Germany and briefly, France. While some of his correspondence describes his musical experiences a great deal more of it concerns family matters, especially finances and their relationship to Fuller's continuing ability to remain in Europe pursuing his studies. A useful supplement to Fuller's correspondence is William Mason's Memories of a musical life (New York: The Century, 1902) which recounts the same period and some of the same places from the reminiscences of Fuller's fellow American student. Both Fuller's letters and Mason's experiences pre-date by twenty years the more famous published experiences of the American pianist Amy Fay ( Music study in Germany. New York: Macmillan, 1896; reprinted New York : Da Capo, 1979).

The collection also contains correspondence to Fuller from Emil Kade (a physician friend in Vienna), Theodore Kullak, Franz Liszt, and Carl [i.e. Charles] Mayer. Finally, there are miscellaneous manuscript items, including a drawing (caraicature of Fuller) and photograph (of Fuller at his house on 59 Charlesfield St. in Providence), some clippings announcing Fuller's qualifications for teaching music, and an account by Margaret A. Fuller of her Uncle William's trip to Germany.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Fuller, Frederic
• Fuller, Margaret Ames
• Fuller, William O., 1828-1910
• Kade, Emil
• Kullak, Theodor, 1818-1882
• Liszt, Franz, 1811-1886
• Mayer, Charles, 1799-1862

Subject Topics

• Music teachers--Correspondence
• Musicians--Correspondence

Occupations

• Music teachers
• Musicians
• Organists

Document Types

• Clippings
• Letters (Correspondence)
• Manuscripts
• Photographs
• Programs

Subject Topics

• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Arrangement

The collection consists of 3 series:

• Series 1. Correspondence from William O. Fuller
• Series 2. Correspondence to William O. Fuller from others
• Series 3. Miscellaneous manuscripts and printed items

Series 1 is arranged chronologically. Series 2 is arranged by the name of the letter writer.

Biographical note

William O. Fuller (1828-1910), an organist, pianist and music teacher, was the son of Frederic Fuller, founder of the Fuller Iron Foundry (est. 1837) in Providence, Rhode Island, and the only one of six children to pursue a career in music. After receiving some early lessons in Boston, Fuller traveled with Bostonians William Mason (1829-1908) and William Sherwood to Europe. There between 1848 and 1851 he received his musical education. He studied in Leipzig, Dresden, Frankfurt and Paris with Ignaz Moscheles, Theodore Kullak, Carl Czerny and Carl Mayer, among the most famous and influential pianists of their day.

Returning to Providence in 1851 he became organist at the Central Congregational Church on Benefit Street, a post he held until 1865. He was an active music teacher until at least 1894 and according to his niece Margaret Ames Fuller (the donor of this collection), was also an agent for the Boston piano company Chickering. Fuller married Harriet Ward Goodhue (1831-1856) with whom he had one son, William Ward Fuller, and then Sarah Hale Goodhue (1834-1905) with whom he had one son, Robert Goodhue Fuller. William O. Fuller died April 18, 1910 in Dover, Massachusetts.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	William O. Fuller papers, Ms. Fuller, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The William O. Fuller papers were a gift from Miss Margaret A. Fuller in 1971.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-02-25

Additional Information

Other information:

Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: William O. Fuller papers

Inventory

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