Collection inventory

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Gustave and Leora Fougeray Papers

An inventory of their papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Kyle C. Wilson
Date: 2007

Revision history:

Biography

Gustave Pierre Fougeray (1882-1962) taught French at Syracuse University, and Leora McChesney Fougeray (1890-1980) was a vocalist and voice teacher at Syracuse University.

Gustave Pierre Fougeray was born in Savigny, France in 1882. Though he wanted to become a teacher, after he graduated from the University of Paris, Fougeray joined the French Line, a French shipping company of ocean liners and freighters. In 1912, he was stationed in the United States, where his work with the French Line encompassed registering immigrants with the United States government. When World War I broke out in 1914 he returned to France.

Fougeray returned to the United Stated in 1917 and became a naturalized citizen. For several years he taught French at Goodyear-Burlingame School in Syracuse, New York, before taking a teaching position at Middlebury College in Vermont. In 1923, he married Leora McChesney, and they moved to Pennsylvania where he took a position as director of the Pennsylvania State College Institute of French Education. He returned to the Syracuse area in the late 1930’s and took teaching positions at Syracuse University and Pebble Hill School. After 1950, Fougeray became a private teacher authorized by the State University of New York. He continued to teach out of his studio until his death in 1962.

Leora McChesney Fougeray was born in Syracuse, New York on February 7, 1890. She started her musical career in high school where she sang contralto. She attended Syracuse University and received the first scholarship offered by Civic Morning Musicals. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1915. After her graduation she was awarded a graduate scholarship in voice from the Syracuse University School of Music, which enabled her to study under vocal instructors in New York City and Chicago.

In 1925, Fougeray entered the American Music Festival and won first prize. She toured and sang in concert halls throughout the East Coast of the United States, and critics and press alike praised her vocal skills. In 1940, she stopped performing in order to teach music at the Syracuse University School of Music. She still continued to sing as a contralto soloist for the First Presbyterian Church and the Temple Society of Concord. She retired from teaching in 1961 but served as a governing board member of Civic Morning Musicals. Leora McChesney Fougeray died in 1980.

Scope and Content Note

The Gustave and Leora Fougeray Papers contain material dating from 1922 to 1928, though much is undated.

The bulk of the papers are Gustave Fougeray's. These materials include printed materials (such as Pennsylvania State College Institute of French Education bulletins and a brochure from his personal teaching studio in Syracuse, New York), writings (published books and unpublished manuscripts), and miscellaneous class materials. The monographs are instructional French language books, and much of his papers are written in French.

There is only one item from Leora Fougeray, an unpublished manuscript she wrote entitled Dissonance.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Archives holds clipping files on Gustave and Leora Fougeray. In addition, there is a portrait file of Leora Fougeray.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Fougeray, Gustave Pierre, 1882-
Fougeray, Leora.
Pennsylvania State College.
Syracuse University -- Faculty.
Syracuse University -- Alumni and alumnae.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

French language -- Study and teaching -- United States.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Gustave and Leora Fougeray Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The Gustave and Leora Fougeray Papers were donated to the Archives by Leora Fougeray in 1963.

Processing Information

All materials were placed in acid-free folders and an archival box.

Table of Contents

Gustave Fougeray

Leora Fougeray

Inventory