Memoirs, circa 1936-1941
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes the draft of McCormack’s memoirs entitled “Them Was the Days”: The Story of a Singer. Portions of the memoirs are handwritten and portions are typescript. McCormack did not publish his memoirs, but portions were used by McCormack biographer L.A.G. Strong and by Lily McCormack for her own memoir, I Hear You Calling Me.
There are no corresponding handwritten pages for pages 1-17 (typescript). Pages 21-45 (manuscript) include McCormack’s insertions and emendations, possibly written for L.A.G. Strong. Pages 46-238 include McCormack’s manuscript memoirs and some typescript pages. Page 46 (manuscript) corresponds with page 18 of the typescript. Page 239 is a chronology of McCormack’s life in the artist’s handwriting followed by 14 pages (manuscript) of quotations.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1936-1941
Creator
- From the Collection: McCormack, John, 1884-1945 (Person)
- From the Collection: Manning, Frederick M., 1938-1999 (Person)
Language of Materials
Primarily English with some French, Japanese, and Chinese.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Some audio materials may not be available immediately for use as they will require reformatting; please contact the Burns Library in advance for access to audio materials. McCormack's sheet music cabinet is not available for access at this time due to structural instability.
Full Extent
0.5 Linear Feet (2 containers)
Processing Information
For reference purposes, research copies of McCormack’s memoirs have been assigned page numbers to indicate the arrangement in which they were received at the Burns Library. Box and folder order reflects this arrangement. In cases where leaves had smaller sheets attached and/or writing on the back, the pages have been assigned numbers in the following order: (1) the front side of the smaller taped sheet, (2) the back side of the smaller taped sheet, (3) the front side of the larger sheet, and (4) the back side of the larger sheet. This order may or may not reflect McCormack’s narrative order. Also found in the memoirs is a small yellow slip of paper that reads “Records highest year.” The processor cannot determine who wrote this slip or where it was originally placed. Therefore, it has been placed at the end of the 253 pages.
Repository Details
Part of the John J. Burns Library Repository
John J. Burns Library
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
617-552-4861
burns@bc.libanswers.com