Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1822-1994 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
11 boxes of textual records and graphic material with 1 envelope of oversized graphic material
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Leona Riggs devoted her life to music, first as a performer in musical shows, then as a music teacher, choir director, and patron of the arts in her adopted city of Belleville, Ontario. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 17th, 1903 to Leo Bates Riggs, an accomplished pianist and organist, and Mabel Kathleen (nee DeGurre) Riggs, a vocal teacher.
Leona Riggs spent her early years in Indianapolis before moving to New York City, where her father was appointed organist at the Astor Hotel. After graduating from Yonkers High School, she studied at the Institute of Musical Art (later named Julliard School of Music) in New York, followed by attendance at the American Conservatory at Fontainbleu, France, ca. 1924-25. Another period of post graduate study followed at the Julliard School of Music in 1928-39. Subsequent to her studies in France, but before she returned to the Julliard School of Music, Leona Riggs toured the United States as a singer in the musical shows "The Vagabond King" and "Golden Dawn," from 1926-28.
In 1929, due to effects of the Depression, Leona Riggs moved to Belleville to join her parents and family, who had moved to Belleville from New York in 1924 so that her father could assist her ailing grandfather in his automobile business. In Belleville, Leona Riggs taught piano and vocal lessons from her home for many years. In addition, she was the choral director at John Street United Church from September 1933 until the church was destroyed in October of 1936. A year later, in 1937, Leona Riggs became the choral director at Bridge Street United Church, a position she held until 1951.
Leona Riggs expended great effort over the years in support of the Arts in the Quinte region; many concert artists were brought to perform before local audiences through the Community Concerts Association. She established a continuing scholarship fund that provides awards for graduating high school students in the Belleville area who plan to continue their musical studies.
Leona Riggs remained single throughout her life, leaving no immediate family behind upon her death in Belleville, on August 11th, 1994.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection consists of financial papers, genealogy books, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, postcards, business cards, music books, horoscope, poll book, address books, ledgers, notebooks, birthday cards, letters, photos/photo album, cartoons, highschool entrance exam, recipe book, stamp book, programs/brochures/concerts, dance cards, yearbooks, certificates, reciepts, invitations, membership cards and text book/teaching book.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Riggs, Leo Bates (Subject)
- Riggs, Mabel (Subject)
- Riggs, David (Subject)
- Riggs, Lester David (Subject)
- Riggs, Mary Priscilla (Subject)
- Riggs, William Bates (Subject)
- Riggs (family) (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Entered by Heather Malcolm
23/06/2015
Language(s)
- English