npv_dannreuther_family Guide to the Dannreuther Family Papers, 1836-1988 (bulk 1875-1925) Inventory prepared by Laura Streett Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries
Box 20, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY, 12604-0020
July 2009 Finding aid encoded by Laura Streett, 2009. Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Dannreuther Family Dannreuther Family Papers 1836-1988 1875-1925 6.75 cubic feet (16 boxes) Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries Correspondence, date books, sheet music, programs, clippings and scrapbooks relating to the Dannreuther Family, especially the musical careers of Gustav and Nellie Dannreuther. Biographical Note

Gustav Dannreuther (21 July 1853 - 19 Dec 1923) was a violinist, instructor and founding member of the Dannreuther String Quartet. He was the son of Abraham Dannreuther and Sophie Fischbacker. His brother was the pianist Edward Dannreuther.

Ellen "Nellie" Morton Taylor Dannreuther (25 May 1858 - 3 July 1942), Gustav's wife, was also a noted musician. She was a pianist who performed on her own as well as with her husband. She was also an instructor, teaching privately and also for a period at Wells College. She was the daughter of Martin Taylor and Martha Gooding. Gustav and Nellie married 12 July 1882 and had three children: Walter Taylor Dannreuther, Martin Taylor Dannreuther, and Gustav Dannreuther, Jr.

 Scope and Content Note

Correspondence, date books, sheet music, programs, clippings and scrapbooks relating to the Dannreuther Family, especially the musical careers of Gustav and Nellie Dannreuther. Of particular note are the letters from Nellie Dannreuther to her parents while she was studying in Leipzig from 1875-1876. Related letters can be found in the correspondence of Nellie Morton, Nellie Dannreuther's aunt who served as chaperone for her and two other Buffalo girls during the trip.

 Access

This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.

 Restrictions on Use

Permission to quote (publish) from unpublished or previously published material must be obtained as described in the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library.

 Related Materials

The chamber music belonging to the Dannreuther String Quartet was given to Vassar College by Gustav Dannreuther in 1919-1920. Much of the practical performing material was absorbed into Vassar's George Sherman Dickinson Music Library collection.

 Subject Headings Names: Dannreuther, Gustav Dannreuther, Ellen Organizations: Dannreuther String Quartet Subjects: Musicians--Correspondence Music--Instruction and study--Germany Music--Germany--Leipzig--19th century Places: Leipzig (Germany)--Description and travel Document Types: Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Photographs Printed ephemera Scrapbooks VCL Categories: Family Music Vassar College Encoding Information

Encoded by Laura Streett, August 2009. Updated by Emma Gronbeck, October 2025.

 Processing Information

Processed by Laura Streett, August 2009.

 Acquisition Information

15 Dannreuther scrapbooks were transferred from the Vassar College Music Library in 2009. They were loaned to that library by Nellie Dannreuther, presumably after Gustav died in 1923. The rest of the collection was given by Susan Dannreuther, July 2009.

 Preferred Citation

Dannreuther Family Papers, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.

 Series List Series I. Gustav Dannreuther's Diaries and Date Books, 1871-1922 (Boxes 5-10)

The dates and the contents of the date books in this series overlap. One set is mostly personal while the other two are primarily professional.

 Series II. Correspondence, 1858-1988 (Box 11)

Correspondence of significance in this series includes Nellie Dannreuther's letters home while she was studying in Leipzig, Gustav Dannreuther's letters to Nellie while he was away from home, and letters from "Auntie" Dickson, the Dannreuther's nanny, to Nellie as well as the children. Other correspondents include Nellie's aunt, Nellie Morton, and her granddaughter (Alice and Martin Taylor Dannnreuther's daughter) Susan Dannreuther.

 Series III. Scrapbooks and Clippings, circa 1865-1963 (Boxes 11-15)

Several volumes as well as loose material, most documenting the musical careers of Nellie and Gustav Dannreuther.

 Series IV. Ephemera, 1878-1940 (Boxes 9-11)

Programs from musical performances as well as other miscellany.

 Series V. Photographs, circa 1910-1940 (Boxes 2-4, 10, 16) Series VI. Miscellaneous, 1884-1918 (Boxes 1, 10-12, 16) Container List Series I. Gustav Dannreuther's Diaries and Date Books Box 5 Diaries, 1905-1914 (8 volumes and 2 folders) Box 6 Diaries, 1915-1922 (8 volumes) Box 7 Date books, 1901-1914 (5 folders of loose sheets) Box 8 Date books, 1877-1901 (15 volumes) Box 9 Date books, 1902-1912 (11 volumes) Box 8 Notebook, circa 1871-1872 (1 volume with enclosures) Box 10 Notebook, circa 1901 (1 volume) Series II. Correspondence Folder 11.1 Dannreuther, Alice Evans to Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Evans, 1918-1921 Folder 11.2 Dannreuther, Gustav to Nellie Dannreuther, 1881, 1889 Folder 11.3 Dannreuther, Gustav to Nellie Dannreuther, 1909-1910 Folder 11.4 Dannreuther, Gustav to Nellie Dannreuther, 1920 Folder 11.5 Dannreuther, Gustav to miscellaneous, 1889, 1904, 1920, 1923 Folder 11.6 Dannreuther, Gustav, Jr. to Gustav Dannreuther, 1920 Folder 11.7 Dannreuther, Martin Taylor to Nellie and Gustav Dannreuther, 1899-1904 Folder 11.8 Dannreuther, Martin Taylor to Nellie and Gustav Dannreuther, 1912-1923 Folder 11.9 Dannreuther, Martin Taylor to Susan Dannreuther, 1926-1933, undated Folder 11.10 Dannreuther, Martin Taylor to Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Evans, 1916-1929 Folder 11.11 Dannreuther, Martin Taylor to and from miscellaneous, 1904-1965 Folder 11.12 Dannreuther, Nellie to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1870-1875 Folder 11.13 Dannreuther, Nellie to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1876 Jan - Feb Folder 11.14 Dannreuther, Nellie to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1876 Mar - May Folder 11.15 Dannreuther, Nellie to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1876 June - Aug Folder 11.16 Dannreuther, Nellie to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1878-1890 Folder 11.17 Dannreuther, Nellie to miscellaneous, 1874-1875, undated Folder 11.18 Dannreuther, Susan to Taylor and Alice Dannreuther, 1927-1966, undated Folder 11.19 Dannreuther, Susan to and from miscellaneous, 1966-1988 Folder 11.20 Dickson, "Auntie" to Nellie Dannreuther, 1888, 1890 1892 Folder 11.21 Dickson, "Auntie" to Nellie Dannreuther, 1893-1894 Folder 11.22 Dickson, "Auntie" to Walter and Taylor Dannreuther, 1893-1906 Folder 11.23 Morton, Ellen "Nellie" to Nellie Dannreuther, 1882, undated Folder 11.24 Morton, Ellen "Nellie" to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1864-1866 Folder 11.25 Morton, Ellen "Nellie" to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1867-1874 Folder 11.26 Morton, Ellen "Nellie" to Martha and Martin Taylor, 1875-1880, undated Folder 11.27 Morton, Ellen "Nellie" to miscellaneous, circa 1875-1876 Folder 11.28 Taylor, Martin to his family, 1858-1859, 1875-1880 Folder 11.29 Miscellaneous to Alice Dannreuther, 1950-1962, undated Folder 11.30 Miscellaneous to Gustav Dannreuther, 1876-1922 Folder 11.31 Miscellaneous to Nellie Dannreuther, 1873-1896, 1907, undated Folder 11.32 Miscellaneous Dannreuther Family concerning Gustav's death, 1923 Folder 11.33 Miscellaneous Evans/Dannreuther Family, 1916-1949 Folder 11.34 Miscellaneous Taylor Family, 1836-1891 Folder 11.35 Miscellaneous, 1914-1945, undated Series III. Scrapbooks and Clippings Box 12 Scrapbook of Gustav and Nellie Dannreuther family material, 1882-1963 (includes list) Box 12 Scrapbook ofBerkshire Gleanerclippings as well as earlier family-related clippings and ephemera, 1881-1910 Boxes 13-15 Scrapbooks of clippings and ephemera related to the Dannreuther's musical careers, including the Dannreuther Quartet and the Beethoven String Quartet, ca 1865 - 1922 (15 volumes) Box 12 Scrapbook of Chamber Music Club material, 1889-1900 Box 12 Scrapbook of Yale University Chamber Music concerts, 1888-1896 Box 12 Loose scrapbook of material about Edward Dannreuther and other composers, undated Folder 11.36 Loose clippings regarding the Dannreuther Quartet — research photocopies, undated Folder 11.37 Loose clippings regarding the Dannreuther Quartet — originals, undated Series IV. Ephemera Folder 11.38 Programs, 1878-1912, 1940 Folder 11.39 Programs — laminated, 1908, 1923, undated Box 10 Programs — oversized, undated Box 9 Gustav Dannreuther's calling cards, undated (3 cards in a leather sleeve) Folder 11.40 Booklets, etc., undated Folder 11.41 Miscellaneous, undated Series V. Photographs Boxes 3-4 Gustav Dannreuther, undated Boxe 16 Gustav Dannreuther, undated Boxes 3-4 Nellie Taylor Dannreuther, undated Boxes 3-4 Dannreuther Children, undated Boxes 3-4 Other Family and Friends, undated Boxes 3-4 Musicians (including Dannreuther String Quartet), undated Boxes 10, 16 Dannreuther String Quartet, undated Box 2 Miscellaneous negatives, circa 1910-1940 Series VI. Miscellaneous Folders 11.42-11.44 Family and genealogical material, undated Folder 11.45 Nellie and Gustav Dannreuther, undated Folder 11.46 Nellie and Gustav Dannreuther — Finances, undated Box 10 Gustav Dannreuther — Publishing contract for his violin studies book, 1892 Box 12 Gustav Dannreuther — Bound, annotated sheet music, undated (2 volumes) Box 12 Gustav Dannreuther — Address book, undated Folder 11.47 Martin Taylor Dannreuther — Death, undated Folders 11.48 - 11.49 Martin Taylor Dannreuther — Business records, undated Folder 11.50 Edward Dannreuther, undated Folder 11.51 Dannreuther Quintet — Finances, undated Box 12 Dannreuther Quartet — Account book for "Orchestra Engagements," 1901-1910 Folder 11.52 Dannreuther piano sale, undated Box 10 William C. Cornwell's Book of the Programmes of the Buffalo Philharmonic Society, 1884-1885 (2 copies) Box 1 Musical Mutual Protective Union directories, 1891-1918 (23 volumes) Box 10 Philharmonic Society of New York, 1890-1906 (1 folder) Box 10 Painting of Walter Dannreuther's home in Lee, MA, undated Box 16 Miscellaneous musical manuscripts, undated Folder 11.53 Miscellaneous, undated