Nellie von Gerichten Smith facts for kids
Nellie von Gerichten Smith (born April 24, 1871 – died May 15, 1952) was a very talented American artist. She was a writer, a composer, a pianist, and a violinist. She even wrote two operas!
Nellie was born in Sierra County, California. Her parents were Cecelia Meta Horeis and Philip Gerichten. We don't know much about her early education. In 1893, she married Barnaby Hathaway Smith. They moved to Prescott, Arizona. While living in Arizona, Nellie created many beautiful quilts. Some of these quilts are still kept in collections there today. Later, she moved back to California, where she passed away in 1952.
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Nellie's Creative Works
Nellie von Gerichten Smith was very creative. She composed music and played the violin with an orchestra in San Francisco. She also wrote an essay about women in early Arizona. This essay was part of a book called Women of the West, published in 1928.
Operas by Nellie Smith
Nellie wrote two operas. Operas are plays where most of the words are sung to music.
- Lily of the Mohawks: Kateri Tekakwitha (The words for this opera were written by Edward C. La More)
- Twins of Bistritz
Piano Music by Nellie Smith
She also composed several pieces for the piano.
- Calizona
- Montezuma
- Song of the Pines
- Storm in the Grand Canyon
Vocal Songs by Nellie Smith
Nellie wrote songs for singers too.
- Back to the West
- My Happy Home Away Out West
- Wait, My Little Darling
