Leonora Jackson McKim photograph collection

In a country rich with male violin soloists at the turn of the 20th century, few women achieved similar status. Leonora Jackson McKim was one of those female American soloists to do so, both in the United States and Europe.

Leonora Jackson was born in Boston on February 20, 1879. First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland, wife of President Grover Cleveland, recognized Jackson’s talent and became her patron. Another of her well-known patrons was industrialist George Vanderbilt. In addition, she won the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1887, for a prize worth approximately $90,000 in today’s dollars. The Mendelsohn Scholarship was awarded by the Leipzig Conservatory to support foreign students who studied there. These sources of financial support enabled Leonora to study in Chicago, as well as in Paris and Berlin. Future winners included Ernst Toch, Kurt Weill, and Roman Totenberg (Nina’s father). One of Leonora’s European teachers was Joseph Joachim, a Hungarian violinist of international fame who was a close collaborator of Johannes Brahms. He is considered one of the most significant of the 19th century violinists. Leonora toured throughout Europe and the United States as soloist with the Boston Symphony, the London Philharmonic, and other leading orchestras. Having achieved international virtuoso status, Queen Victoria decorated her with the Victorian Star. Leonora is seen wearing the Star in some her photographs.

Her record of performances is impressive. In the 1900-1901 season alone she played 160 concerts. Upon her marriage in 1915 to Dr. William Duncan McKim (1855-1935), however, she retired from performing except for occasional participation in local musical programs in churches and schools. Her 1774 Stradivarius violin is named for her and is now located in Los Angeles. It had belonged at one time to Joachim, her teacher.

Leonora and her husband were avid supporters of the arts. Their home was often a venue for musical programs, where they also displayed many of their works of art. Upon Dr. McKim’s death, Leonora donated many of their art works to the Smithsonian Institution and the Maryland Historical Society. She died on January 7, 1969.