Zona Maie Griswold (December 19, 1889 – November 26, 1961) was an American soprano singer from Texas.
Zona Maie Griswold | |
|---|---|
 Zona Maie Griswold, from a 1917 publication. | |
| Born | December 19, 1889 Mulhall, Oklahoma |
| Died | November 26, 1961 Des Moines, Iowa |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Zona Griswold, Zona Maie Fimmen (after marriage) |
| Occupation(s) | opera singer, concert |
Early life and education
editZona Maie Griswold was born in Mulhall, Oklahoma and raised in Dallas, Texas,[1] the daughter of John Nelson Griswold and Florence Belle Young Griswold. Her father worked as a railroad freight agent;[2] her mother was a song composer.[3] Zona Maie Griswold studied voice at the New England Conservatory of Music, with further training in Berlin.[4]
Career
editIn 1914 Griswold was one of the soloists at the Texas State Saengerfest.[4][5] She also sang with the Grand Saline Band and the Apollo Chorus of Fort Worth.[6][7]
During her time in New York, Griswold was soloist at Glen Ridge Congregational Church in New Jersey, and sang regularly at other churches and clubs,[8][9][10] and often on radio in the 1920s.[11][12] "Her limpid, clear, vibrant tone quality, her excellent musicianship, and her serious devotion to artistic ideals have gained for her a widespread demand to sing more songs more frequently," according to a 1924 report.[13]
She appeared (as an opera singer) on Broadway in The Guardsman (1924-1925). She also taught singing in New York.[14]
Personal life
editZona Maie Griswold married businessman Edward August Fimmen in 1916. They had daughters, Zona Maie (born 1917) and Florence Lilly (born 1919).[15] She was widowed when Edward died in 1947.[16] She died from Parkinson's disease in 1961, aged 71, while living with her daughter in Des Moines, Iowa.[17] She was buried in Dallas.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Zona Maie Griswold" Music News (May 25, 1917): 27.
- ^ "Made Traffic Manager" Santa Fe Employes' Magazine (April 1910): 64.
- ^ E. D. B., "Two New Organizations Formed in Dallas, Tex." Musical America (July 24, 1915): 8.
- ^ a b Sinclair Moreland, The Texas Women's Hall of Fame (Biographical Press 1917): 246-247.
- ^ "German Singers Win Praise of Critics" Galveston Daily News (May 13, 1914): 5. via NewspaperArchive.com
- ^ "Zona Maie Griswold Winning Success in Texas" (January 25, 1917): 36.
- ^ "Zona Maie Griswold Scores in Dallas" Musical Courier (March 22, 1917): 50.
- ^ "Zona Maie Griswold, Soloist at Century Theater Club" Musical Courier (May 24, 1917): 49.
- ^ "Zona Maie Griswold Sings Springtide Songs" Musical Courier (Jun 7, 1917): 39.
- ^ "Woman's Club Starts Season" The Record (October 29, 1918): 5. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Artists at New York Station JWZ" Radio Broadcasting News (November 18, 1922): 10.
- ^ "Operatic Soprano On Program of WOR" The Central New Jersey Home News (August 24, 1923): 5. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Secure Soprano" Battle Creek Enquirer (December 14, 1924): 11. via Newspapers.com
- ^ The Musical Blue Book of America, Volume 4 (Musical Blue Book Corporation 1919): 216.
- ^ Edna Waugh Townsend, The Griswold family, England-America, volume 4 (Griswold Family Association of America 1962): 20. via Internet Archive
- ^ "Edward A. Fimmen, I. W. C. Alumnus, Dies" The Mt. Pleasant News (October 13, 1947): 1. via NewspaperArchive.com
- ^ "Mrs. Fimmen Services Set" Des Moines Tribune (November 27, 1961): 17. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Fimmen" Des Moines Tribune (November 27, 1961): 19. via Newspapers.com
