Name/Title
Letter: Howard Brockway to Gertrude SeiberlingEntry/Object ID
A 2025.12.b1.f8.2abDescription
The writer states that he is breaking a long silence sending this letter. He explains that he will be in Cleveland in April for a recital and is gauging interest in the potential of doing a performance in Akron before traveling up to Cleveland. He asks about the construction of Stan Hywet. He then explains his fateful summer the previous year, in which during the time he was traveling in Italy with his wife, both his mother and his wife's father suddenly passed away and then war broke out. He wishes both Gertrude and Frank well.Subject Person/Organization
Brockway, Howard, Seiberling, Gertrude PenfieldSubject Place
City
AkronState/Province
OhioCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaCollection
PERMANENT COLLECTIONCataloged By
Katrina NeffAcquisition
Accession
A 2025.12Source or Donor
UnknownAcquisition Method
FoundLetter Details
Letter Date
Mar 29, 1915Postmark
Date and Time of Postmark
March 29, 1915 at 4:30 PMPostmark Place
City
New York CityState/Province
New YorkCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaStamp
Red, depicts George Washington, cost 2 centsSender
Name
Howard BrockwayAddress
317 West 92nd St.
New YorkAddressee
Name
Mrs. Frank SeiberlingAddress
Akron, OhioPrimary Language
EnglishTranscription
Transcription
317 West 92nd st.
New York
Dear Mrs. Seiberling:
A long long silence is about to be broken! I have thought many times of you, but never broke into written speech. When I was engaged a few weeks since to play a recital in Cleveland on April 30th with Pablo Casals, the idea occurred to me to see if you thought Akron would care to hear me do one of the two sensations of the operatic world within recent years! Namely “Boris” or “L’Amore dei tre Re”. They are both wonders as you doubtless know by experience. Being in Cleveland anyway, I would cost less, and I thought I would put the question, although I find it very hard to make the move to suggest myself! But to you, I can do it very easily. I could play in Akron a few days before I play in Cleveland, if it suited best.
How often I have thought of the wonderful new home I saw beginning to appear, and I wonder whether it is now an old story to you?
Mrs Brockway and I went to Italy early in May of last year and while I was in Florence my beloved mother died very suddenly! Less than six months later Mrs Brockway’s father died, equally and dearly, and then the war broke on us! A fateful summer!
My heartiest greetings to Mr. Seiberling and to your good self.
Ever faithfully,
Howard Brockway
March 29, 1915Transcriber
Barb Vargo, Roberta SearleLanguage
EnglishResearch Notes
Research Type
Content ResearchPerson
Katrina NeffDate
Oct 16, 2026Notes
Pablo Casals, mentioned in the letter, was a well-known cellist, composer, and conductor in the early 20th centuryCreate Date
February 27, 2026Update Date
October 16, 2026
