The Life and Times of Mary Louise Curtis Bok
Schedule
Sat Mar 08 2025 at 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL, United States, Florida 33853 | Lake Wales, FL
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To celebrate Women’s History Month, Barbara Benedett, the Senior Archivist at the Curtis Institute of Music will delve into the fascinating life of Mary Louise Curtis (1876-1970), wife of Edward Bok. Mary grew up in a family of hard workers and high achievers. After the death of her mother, Louisa Knapp, the first editor of the Ladies Home Journal, who gave the Curtis Publishing Company its first taste of success, Mary was inspired to a life of philanthropy and a champion of education and culture. Through a friend, she found her calling in support of the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia which led to her realizing her dream of building a world-class music conservatory in the United States, the Curtis Institute of Music, now 100 years old. At a time when no professional musician could establish themselves without a resume that included a European teacher and tour, Mary sought to shift the paradigm by cultivating an American school that would rival any in the world. And she did not stop there—later branching out into support of theater and fine art such as financing the building of the Annie Russell Theater at Rollins College and Maitland Arts Center. Throughout her life, she maintained a humility and balance to her work and home life, complimented by a sense of humor that resonates today with anyone hoping to, in her husband’s words, “make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.”Barbara Benedett is the Senior Archivist at the Curtis Institute of Music where she has worked for 12 years. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Delaware and a Master of Library Science degree from Pennsylvania Western University. Barbara is currently writing a biography on the life of Mary Curtis Bok Zimbalist to be released in 2026. In her spare time, she is a freelance musician and proud pet parent to her dog, Sausage.
Event Date & Time
Saturday, March 8, 2025
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location
Visitor Center Theatre
Price
$10 members/ $30 non-members
Registration required
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Where is it happening?
1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL, United States, Florida 33853Event Location & Nearby Stays:
