Bessie Herbert (Bartlett) Frankel was a founder of the California Federation of Music Clubs and established the Chamber of Music Series at Scripps College. She was also active in various music organizations in Southern California, such as the Friday Morning Club and Young People Concerts and a founder of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hollywood Community Chorus. The collection consists of photographs, music, and scrapbooks.

Bessie Bartlett Frankel was born in an unknown year. At home she studied voice, piano and composition and dramatics at the Cumnock School. In 1909, she went to New York to study voice with David Bispham and Herbert Witherspoon. Later she underwent two years of study in Europe, specifically oratorio in England and opera in Italy under Carlo Sbastaino. In 1912 she married Cecil Frankel, an insurance executive associated with Equitable Life and also known to be an accomplished cellist. Mrs. Frankel went on to become a music composer, vocalist, music patron, business executive, and dramatic narrator.

16 boxes

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This collection is open for research with permission from Ella Strong Denison Library staff.