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Collection Overview
Title: Llewellyn L. Cayvan Collection, 1950-1966
ID: COLL/036
Primary Creator: Cayvan, Llewellyn L. (1879-1966)
Extent: 1.0 Box. More info below.
Arrangement: Folder level description
Subjects: Calvin College. Department of Music, Saturday Night Student Musicals (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Seely De Waard, Harriet, 1932-1986, Smith Liepitz, Arlene, 1933-1991, String orchestra music
Forms of Material: Music
Abstract
Chemist with the Hekman Biscuit Company, musician, and benefactor to the music department of Calvin College. The collection includes annotated listings of music for stringed instruments, harmony workbook, annotated music, clippings, biographical files, documents, letters to Harriet (De Waard) Seely and Arlene (Liepitz) Smith in which Cayvan shares his love for music and tells about the Saturday Night Student Musicals.
Biographical Note
Food chemist and music enthusiast, Llewellyn L. (Leo) Cayvan was a generous benefactor to the Calvin College music department. A native of Boston, Cayvan was born in 1879. Cayvan’s interest in music began at 4 years old when he began to play the violin. He played in the Boston Symphony Orchestra and later in life in the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a food chemist. In 1900, Cayvan started his career in the baking business in Chicago. By 1925, Cayvan accepted a position at the Hekman Biscuit Company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While living in Grand Rapids, Cayvan became interested in Calvin College’s music program. He became very involved with the music students, even holding Saturday afternoon chamber music sessions at his home. He also donated his instruments and his extensive collection of recordings and sheet music. His late wife, Alice, was also very fond of music playing the viola and timpani. Cayvan passed away in 1966, leaving behind his second wife, Winona.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Alternate Extent Statement:
0.50 cubic ft.
Acquisition Source:
Gift of L.L. Cayvan.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Benefactor to Calvin College Music Department],
[
Series 2: Book],
[
Series 3: Photographs],
[All]
- Series 1: Benefactor to Calvin College Music Department
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Biography of Uncle Leo Cayvan 1879-1966; presented to Calvin, October 20-21 --- 1966
- Folder 2: Boston Melodeon, a collection of secular melodies with four-part harmony
- Folder 3: Cayvan's "Harmony" workbook
- Folder 4: Complete Method for Violin, by Julius Eichberg --- 1876
- Folder 5: Letters to Arlene Liepitz, former student
- Folder 6: Letters to Harriet --- 1950-1966
- Folder 7: List of records donated to Calvin College by Winona Cayvan --- 1981
- Folder 8
- Item 1: News clippings --- 1966
- Item 2: Copy of his bequest
- Item 3: Annotated string bibliography
- Item 4: Grand Rapids Press editorial at Cayvan's death
- Item 5: Funeral home folder
- Item 6: Calvin Prism, dedicated to Mr. Cayvan --- 1960
- Folder 9: Two personal stamps, "L. L. Cayvan"
- Folder 10: Calvin Spark Summer 2008, "Llewellyn L. Cayvan", "Now, Strings Attached"
- Folder 11: Letters from Ellis B. Porter --- 1913, 1915
- Folder 12: Letter to Mrs. Cayvan
- Series 2: Book
- Item 1: The Violin Makers of Bohemia by Karel Jalovec placed in Calvin College Music Department, Fine Arts Center.
- Series 3: Photographs
- Item 1: Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra with Mr. Cayvan, first chair cello
- Item 2: Calvin College Orchestra, Cayvan as assistant
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Benefactor to Calvin College Music Department],
[
Series 2: Book],
[
Series 3: Photographs],
[All]
