Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Clotilde Arias Papers
Arias, Roger
United States. Dept. of State
Arias, Clotilde, 1901-1959
Thompson, J. Walter (advertising agency).
NMAH.AC.1164
Archival Resource Key
3 Cubic feet
8 boxes
1919-1957
2009
This collection documents the life and career of Peruvian musician, composer, and translator Clotilde Arias. Her work includes a Department of State-commissioned translation of "The Star-Spangled Banner" titled "El Pendón Estrellado", advertising jingles, original compositions, and translations of music originally written in English. She also was heavily involved in numerous Pan-American organizations including La Unión de Mujeres Americanas/United American Women.This collection contains correspondence, music manuscripts, photographs,newspaper clippings and printed materials, and four compact discs.
Collection is in English. Some materials in Spanish.
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research.
Arrangement
This collection is composed of six series.
Series 1: Personal Papers, 1923-1956
Series 2. Music Materials, 1921-1953
Series 3. "El Pendón Estrellado"/"The Star Spangled Banner," 1919-1954, 2009
Series 4. "Himno de las Américas"/"Hymn of the Americas," 1939-1945
Series 5. Miscellaneous Printed Materials, 1942-1956
Series 6. Photographs and Scrapbook, 1939-1957
Biographical / Historical
Clotilde Arias was a Peruvian-born musician, composer, and translator who lived in New York City following her migration from Iquitos, Peru, to the United States in the 1920s. Her full name was Maria Clotilde Arias and she briefly took her husband Jose Anduaga's last name during their marriage from 1929 to 1942 but was known most often as Clotilde Arias. With Jose Anduaga, Arias had one son, Roger Arias. While she is known for her Department of State-commissioned translation of "The Star-Spangled Banner" titled "El Pendón Estrellado," Arias worked diligently as a translator and musician in a variety of contexts as well as working with a variety of organizations that promoted Pan-Americanism. Prior to her life in the United States, Arias worked for the Iquitos newspaper
El Oriente writing satirical pieces related to local issues. Arias died in 1959 in New York City.
Acquisition Information
Donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, by Clotilde Arias's son, Roger Arias in 2010.
Preferred Citation
Clotilde Arias Papers, 1919-1957, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Sarah Corona, intern, August 2019.
Scope and Contents
The collection documents the life and career of Clotilde Arias, who was chosen by the U.S. State Department to write a Spanish translation to "The Star Spangled Banner," during the years of the Good Neighbor Policy. In addition to materials related to her translation of the National Anthem, entitled "El Pendón Estrellado," the collection includes music manuscripts, lyrics, composition notebooks, parts for instruments, and correspondence with the State Department. This collection also contains papers related to Arias's work in advertising, her work as a translator, and her own business records. Personal papers include correspondence, immigration and naturalization documents, printed material, and photographs as well as items from a scrapbook. Also included are compact discs containing images from items in the collection.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Immigration records
Music -- Manuscripts
Translations
Translators
Good neighbor policy
National songs
Contracts
Correspondence -- 20th century
advertising
Compact discs
Scrapbooks -- 20th century
Sheet music -- 1920-1960
Parts (musical)
Songbooks
Photographs -- 20th century
Composers
Star-spangled banner (Song)
Women musicians -- 1930-1950
Women musicians
Advertising agencies
Commercial art
Women in the advertising industry
Women -- Peru
Women composers
Music by women composers
Women composers -- United States
Pan-Americanism
Commercial art
Jingles (Advertising songs)
Jingles (Advertising songs) -- Writing and publishing
Minorities in advertising
Music in advertising
Women translators
Naturalization records
Personal Papers
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1923-1956
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials related to Arias's personal life including documents relating to travel and migration, her divorce, and activities associated with her work as a translator. This series is composed of correspondence, personal records, and handwritten notes.
Biographical materials
Archival Resource Key
1940-1945
6
1
Identity and migration documents
Archival Resource Key
1923-1956
6
2
Identity and migration documents
Divorce paperwork
Archival Resource Key
1942
6
3
Petition for name change
Archival Resource Key
1947
6
4
Petition for name change
Jose Anduaga Eguren papers
Archival Resource Key
1953
6
5
Essay on Baha'i faith
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
6
Essay on Baha'i faith
United Nations translator examination
Archival Resource Key
1949
6
7
Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship
Archival Resource Key
1941-1942
6
8
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1947-1953
6
9
Correspondence
Handwritten notes
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
10
Handwritten notes
Drawing book
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
11
Drawing book
Arbrefen correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1947-1951
6
12
Music Materials
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1921-1953
Scope and Contents
This series is composed of papers that reflect Clotilde Arias's musical career including translations, original compositions, jingles for various products, and lyrics that accompany her music. This series contains numerous handwritten drafts and pieces of music as well as published pieces of music. Also included are Arias's business records relating to copyright for her original music as well as her work at a variety of advertising agencies throughout New York City.
Arrangement
This series is composed of 5 subseries.
Subseries 2.1: Commercial Compositions, 1952-1955
Subseries 2.2: Published Music Manuscripts, 1926-1947
Subseries 2.3: Early Manuscripts, 1921-1956
Subseries 2.4: Lyrics, 1945-1953
Subseries 2.5: Business Materials, 1940-1952
Commercial Compositions
2.1
Archival Resource Key
1952-1955
Commercial manuscripts
Archival Resource Key
1954-1955
Spanish; Castilian.
2
1
Commercial manuscripts
Advertisements
Archival Resource Key
1952
6
13
Advertisements
Alka-Seltzer commercial storyboard
Archival Resource Key
undated
8
2
Alka-Seltzer commercial storyboard
Published Music Manuscripts
2.2
Archival Resource Key
1926-1947
Published music manuscripts A-C
Archival Resource Key
1926-1945
2
2
Published music manuscripts A-C
Published music manuscripts E-H
Archival Resource Key
1942-1946
2
3
Published music manuscripts E-H
Published music manuscripts M-P
Archival Resource Key
1945-1947
2
4
Published music manuscripts M-P
Published music manuscripts R
Archival Resource Key
1944-1945
2
5
Published music manuscripts S
Archival Resource Key
1943-1953
2
6
Published music manuscripts T-Z
Archival Resource Key
1945-1949
2
7
Latin American Catalog
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
8
Latin American Catalog
Early Manuscripts
2.3
Archival Resource Key
1921-1956
Early manuscripts untitled
Archival Resource Key
1921-1939
2
9
Early manuscripts A-F
Archival Resource Key
1921-1935
3
1
Early manuscripts G-I
Archival Resource Key
1931-1940
3
2
Early manuscripts J-L
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
3
Early manuscripts M-P
Archival Resource Key
1934-1946
3
4
Early manuscripts R-S
Archival Resource Key
1921-1938
3
5
Early manuscripts R-S
Early manuscripts T-V
Archival Resource Key
1936-1938
3
6
Early manuscripts W-Y
Archival Resource Key
1930-1938
3
7
"Come to Me"
Archival Resource Key
1925-1926
3
8
"Huiracocha"
Archival Resource Key
1952
3
9
Huiracocha
"Vem Cá Minina"
Archival Resource Key
1939
3
10
Counterpoint book
Archival Resource Key
1926
6
14
Counterpoint book
Untitled notebook
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
15
Song book
Archival Resource Key
1924-1925
6
16
Lyrics
2.4
Archival Resource Key
1945-1953
Lyrics untitled
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
17
Lyrics A-C
Archival Resource Key
1945-1948
6
18
Lyrics D-G
Archival Resource Key
1946
6
19
Lyrics D-G
Lyrics H-M
Archival Resource Key
1946-1953
6
20
Lyrics N-Y
Archival Resource Key
1944-1946
6
21
"Sing a Song of Safety" lyrics
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
22
Business Materials
2.5
Archival Resource Key
1940-1952
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains correspondence, publicity materials, and documents relating to Arias's career as a lyricist and composer as well as her work with advertising agencies in New York City.
Manuscripts by other musicians
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
1
General business correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1941-1956
6
23
J. Walter Thompson papers
Archival Resource Key
1951-1952
6
24
Interviews and radio programs
Archival Resource Key
1940-1952
6
25
Copyright papers
Archival Resource Key
1944-1945
7
1
Copyright papers
Newspaper clippings
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
2
Advertising Women of New York directory
Archival Resource Key
1951-1952
7
3
Advertising Women of New York directory
Finance notebook
Archival Resource Key
1946-1947
7
4
"Huiracocha" contract
Archival Resource Key
1941
8
1
"El Pendón Estrellado"/"The Star Spangled Banner"
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1919-1954, 2009
Scope and Contents
This series reflects Arias's experieces preparing for and writing "El Pendón Estrellado." Included are drafts of the music and lyrics as well as publications of the final version. Materials in this series also document the use of "El Pendón Estrellado" and Arias's knowledge of Portuguese to aid in the creation of a Portuguese version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" entitled "O Pendão Estralado". This series is comprised of newspaper clippings, printed materials, handwritten notes, correspondence, and four compact discs. The compact discs were created by Arias's son, Roger Arias, and contain images of items in the collection and other items related to Clotilde's life, links to websites relating to Clotilde's music, and brief descriptions of some of the included images written by Roger.
National Anthems of the Twenty-One American Republics
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
2
Portuguese Versions
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
3
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1945-1947
7
5
Correspondence
Banner drafts
Archival Resource Key
1945
7
6
Banner drafts
Final draft
Archival Resource Key
1945-1952
7
7
Newspaper clippings
Archival Resource Key
1954
7
8
Newspaper clippings
"Star-Spangled Banner" post card
Archival Resource Key
1925
7
9
Star-Spangled Banner post card
"O Pendão Estrelado"
Archival Resource Key
1945
7
10
Portuguese translation correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1945
7
11
Other Spanish translations
Archival Resource Key
1919-1944
7
12
National Anthem and Other Documents Disk 1
Archival Resource Key
1 Electronic discs (CD)
September 2009
7
13
National Anthem and Other Documents Disk 2
Archival Resource Key
1 Electronic discs (CD)
September 2009
7
14
National Anthem and Other Documents Disk 1
Archival Resource Key
1 Electronic discs (CD)
October 2009
7
15
National Anthem and Other Documents Disk 2
Archival Resource Key
1 Electronic discs (CD)
October 2009
7
16
"Himno de las Américas"/"Hymn of the Americas"
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
1939-1945
Scope and Contents
This series reflects Arias's experiences with writing and promoting her song "Himno de las Américas" or "Hymn of the Americas" which was originally composed for the 1939 World's Fair. Materials include correspondence relating to the adoption of the piece as the official hymn or song of various organizations including La Union de Mujeres Americanas/United American Women. Also included are newspaper clippings and drafts of manuscripts.
"Himno de las Américas" manuscripts
Archival Resource Key
1940
4
4
Himno de las Américas manuscripts
"Himno de las Américas" plate 1
Archival Resource Key
1940
4
9
"Himno de las Américas" plate 2
Archival Resource Key
1940
4
10
Adoption letters
Archival Resource Key
1939-1940
7
17
General correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1940-1945
7
18
General correspondence
Handwritten notes
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
19
Lyrics
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
20
Newspaper clippings
Archival Resource Key
1940
7
21
Union de Mujeres Americanas program
Archival Resource Key
1941
7
22
Union de Mujeres Americanas program
"Himno de las Américas" cover draft
Archival Resource Key
1939
8
3
Miscellaneous Printed Materials
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
1942-1956
Scope and Contents
This series consists of a variety of printed materials that reflect Arias's interests and career. Materials include magazines, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings.
Caretas
Archival Resource Key
1956
4
5
Movie-Radio Guide
Archival Resource Key
1942
4
6
Look Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1946
4
7
Envelopes from music corporations
Archival Resource Key
1956
4
8
Newspaper clippings
Archival Resource Key
1956
7
23
Materials related to Latin American folklore
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
24
Psychology Associates booklets
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
25
Printed materials about Peru
Archival Resource Key
1956
7
26
Photographs and Scrapbook
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
1939-1957
Scope and Contents
This series contains a scrapook documenting Arias's achievements and activities during the years 1939-1957. Contents relate to the activities of La Unión de Mujeres Americanas/United American Women, with which Arias was heavily involved. Contains photographs, newspaper clippings, and printed material related to performances of her music.
Loose materials from scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
1941-1952
5
1
Loose Materials from scrapbook
Photographs
Archival Resource Key
undated
5
2
Photographs
Scrapbook pages
Archival Resource Key
1939-1946
5
3
Scrapbook pages
Scrapbook cover
Archival Resource Key
undated
5
4
Photo album
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
Photo album
Scope and Contents
Contains photographs of Arias and her family including photos of her son Roger Arias that document her travels across the United States as well as of her family in Iquitos, Peru. This album also includes numerous portraits of Arias and photos of La Unión de Mujeres Americanas/United American Women events.