Hobart, Claire William.  Collection of Music and Poems, 1922-1981.CAMC Collection 19



Hobart, Claire William.  Collection of Music and Poems, 1922-1981.  CAMC Collection 19.  1 ½ Hollinger boxes and 2 flat boxes.


ABSTRACT:

The Claire Hobart collection consists of manuscript and published versions of Hobart’s hymns, song books, and music along with poems, letters, and observations.  Hobart wrote Christian themed songs and hymns and served as director of La Luz del Mundo, a school for the blind.  Hobart and his wife Norma founded the school in Laredo, Texas during 1949.  Hobart helped fund the school in part with money that he raised by traveling around the country as a concerteer playing for church groups.  Many hymns and scores were published by Hobart, but dozens are unpublished.  Letters in the collection were written primarily from Hobart to his mother.  Poems date from the 1930s and concern Hobart’s world and various Christian themes.


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:

Claire William Hobart was born prematurely to Fred and Bergine Hobart in St. Peter, Minnesota on 19 January 1914.  Although born a twin, his sibling died shortly after birth.  Hobart lost his eyesight at three-months of age.  His mother taught him to play piano as a toddler, and he was able to play “America” by the age of two.  From 1st through 6th grade, Hobart was tutored by Lydia Adolfson.  At the age of ten, Hobart’s mother died.  His father married Adolfson approximately 1 ½ years later.  Hobart graduated high school in 1931 and went on to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter Minnesota where he graduated during 1935.

He married Norma Lien on 29 August 1948.  Shortly after their wedding they opened La Luz del Mundo, a school for the blind, in Laredo, Texas.  The Hobarts strived to spread the Christian faith and were active in the Latin American Lutheran Mission.  To help raise money for the school, Claire and Norma traveled around the country providing gospel concerts to various church congregations.

In 1993, the Gustavus Adolphus College Associations of Congregations honored Hobart with The Service Award.  The honor is given to those “who have made distinctive commitments and contributions to the service of others."

Claire Hobart died on 4 December 1993.  Norma Hobart died on 22 November 2000.


RESTRICTIONS:

There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.


COLLECTION CITATION:

Hobart, Claire William.  Collection of Music and Poems, 1922-1981. CAMC Collection 19.  Gustavus Adolphus College Archives, St. Peter, Minnesota.


PROCESSED BY:

Jeff A. Jenson processed this collection and developed the finding aid during April 2008.


SUBJECT HEADINGS:

Hobart, Claire William, 1914 January 19-1993 December 4.
Piano--music.
Hymns, English.
American poetry.
Christian poetry, English--20th century.
Gustavus Adolphus College--Alumni and alumnae.
Gustavus Adolphus College--Students.


CAMC Collection 19

Box

Folder

Concert Bulletins, c. 1970s (Includes Biographical Information)

1

1

Correspondence, Claire Hobart to his Mother, 1948-59

1

2

Correspondence, Claire Hobart to his Mother, 1960-65

1

3

Correspondence, Publishing and Copyright, 1922 and 1946-81

1

4

Correspondence, Miscellaneous concerning publishing and printing costs, 1954-77

1

5

Poems, Prayers, and Observations, unpublished, 1930-39

1

6

Hymns and Songs, unpublished, 1932-63

1

7

Published Music, Follow the Master, 1939; Forward with Christ, 1962; The Lord Reigneth, 1965; Christ is Lord, 1977; Sing Unto the Lord, undated

1

8

Published Music, Sheet Music, undated (includes Easter Dawn, Let the Bells Ring On, Perhaps Today, Rhapsody on Six Rare Hymn Tunes, Song of the Oriole, The Bells of Peace, and The Waterfall includes a manuscript copy)

2

1

“All the Way with Jesus,” Rough Draft or Preface and Layout for Christ is Lord, c. 1977

1

9

“Follow the Master,” Author’s Proof, 1939

1

10

“Sing Unto the Lord a Song,” Author’s Proof and Manuscript, 1952

1

11

Unpublished Music, undated (NOT TO BE PUBLISHED)

2

2

Christ is Lord, Manuscripts of Lyrics and Music, 1960s and 1970s (Includes other unpublished works)

2

3

Forward with Christ, Manuscripts of Lyrics and Music, c. 1962

2

4

Sing Unto the Lord a Song, Manuscripts of Lyrics and Music, 1952

2

5

Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1922, 1924, 1935, 1941 and undated

Newspaper Articles, 1963

Journal entry from San Francisco, 1939

Permit to leave the U.S., 1943

Biography, 1967

2

6

Poems and Hymns, unpublished, 1930-1938

3

-

Poems and Hymns, unpublished, 1938-1951

3

-

Poems and Hymns, unpublished, 1952-1974

4

-

Poems and Hymns, unpublished, 1974-1984

4

-