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William Dodd Chenery Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0037

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the personal papers of William Dodd Chenery relating to his work as a playwright and composer. It includes partial sheet music, librettos, programs, and posters for his operas “Egypt, The Wondrous Story of the Nile,” “Elijah,” and “Joseph.” Also includes sheet music for Chenery’s anthem “Flag Every Glorious.” Arranged chronologically.

Dates

  • 1893-1942

Creator

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the University of Illinois- Springfield (UIS).

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by UIS.

Biography

William Dodd Chenery was born on December 31, 1862 to John William Chenery and Elinor Mary Hallihan Chenery, and named after his grandfather William Dodd Chenery (1796-1873). He was born in the Chenery House, a famous hotel in Springfield operated by his grandfather and father.

Chenery was educated in Springfield schools and began his music career as a choir boy in the local Presbyterian church. Having once been asked to conduct rehearsal in absence of the leader, he planned out an elaborate song service which led to him being selected as director of the choir. Chenery moved to Chicago in 1893 where he worked in the store of Field, Leiter and Co. Chenery became nationally known as a composer of pageant and Biblical dramas. He conducted his first cantata “Egypta, Wondrous Story of the Nile,” in 1891 in a Springfield orphanage. Larger performances followed in Peoria and Springfield, and in 1910 the work was staged at a Chautauqua in Winona Lake, Indiana for seven consecutive weeks. This work was followed by “Elijah,” a dramatization of the oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn, “Xerxes,” and “Joseph.”

In addition to his biblical dramas, Chenery worked as a critic of music and the arts, writing for newspapers and periodicals. As his fame grew, he was solicited to arrange dedication programs for buildings in various cities, including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the municipal auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee in 1925. He supervised the centennial celebration held in Buffalo, New York from July 1 to July 10 in 1932.

Chenery was one of the founders of Springfield’s mid-day lunch club and the Springfield civil orchestra, and was involved with other local organizations including the municipal band, municipal chorus, St. Paul’s masonic lodge No. 500, and the Scottish Rite Masons.

William Dodd Chenery died on November 17, 1942.

Extent

.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Provenance

Gifted to the library by Elizabeth Graham in 1970, transferred to the archives in 1973.

Property Rights

UIS owns the property rights to this collection.

Processing Information

This collection was reprocessed in August 2025.

Title
Finding Aid to the William Dodd Chenery Papers
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the UIS Archives/Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Archives/Special Collections LIB 144
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield IL 62703-5407 US
217-206-6520