Clement Clarke Moore

Clement Clarke Moore (July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863) was an American writer, scholar and real estate developer. He is best known as author of the Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas."

Moore was Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, as well as Divinity and Biblical Learning, at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in New York City. The seminary was developed on land donated by Moore and it continues on this site at Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square. Moore gained considerable wealth by subdividing and developing other parts of his large inherited estate in what became known as the residential neighborhood of Chelsea. He also served for 44 years as a member of the board of trustees of Columbia College (later University), and was a board member of the New York Society Library and the New York Institution for the Blind.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas," which later became widely known by its opening line, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," was first published anonymously in 1823. Moore publicly claimed authorship in 1837, and this was not disputed during his lifetime, but a rival claimant emerged later and scholars now debate the identity of the author, calling on textual and handwriting analysis as well as other historical sources.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 15, 1779 (New York City), Died July 10, 1863 (Newport)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1901 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: author

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1106 7-in. 11/23/1901 The night before Christmas Gilbert Girard ; Len Spencer Recitation, with vocal effects author  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1106 10-in. 11/23/1901 The night before Christmas Gilbert Girard ; Len Spencer Recitation, with vocal effects author  
Victor B-8158 10-in. 8/19/1909 The night before Christmas Edgar L. Davenport Recitation author  
Victor C-13090 12-in. 4/7/1913 The night before Christmas Robert C. Hilliard Recitation author  
Victor B-13735 10-in. 9/8/1913 A visit from St. Nicholas Harry E. Humphrey Recitation author  
Victor C-14984 12-in. 6/23/1914 The night before Christmas Cora Mel Patten Recitation author  
Victor CVE-35981 12-in. 9/10/1926 The night before Christmas Georgene Faulkner Recitation, with traps author  
Victor CVE-46155 12-in. 8/23/1928 The night before Christmas Sally Hamlin Recitation, with traps and recorded music author  
Victor BS-030335 10-in. 12/1/1938 The night before Christmas Ted Malone Recitation author  
Victor BS-042940 10-in. 10/11/1939 The night before Christmas Milton Cross ; Victor Salon Orchestra Recitation, with orchestra author  
Columbia 1905 10-in. ca. 1904 The night before Christmas Len Spencer Recitation, with chimes and sleigh bell effect author  
Columbia 39045 10-in. 10/16/1913 A visit from St. Nicholas Harry E. Humphrey Recitation author  
Brunswick 4563-4565 10-in. approximately Nov. 1920 Night before Christmas Ernest Hare Monologue author  
Brunswick E28466 10-in. 10/11/1928 Twas the night before Christmas Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra author  
Brunswick E25073-E25075 10-in. 11/5/1927 Night before Christmas Ernest Hare Recitation author  
Edison 3969 10-in. 7/14/1915 Night before Christmas Harry E. Humphrey Recitation author  
Edison 4095 10-in. 9/7/1915 The night before Christmas Edna Bailey Recitation author  
Edison 4619 10-in. 3/30/1916 The night before Christmas Edna Bailey Recitation author  
Edison 11988 10-in. 10/27/1927 The night before Christmas Vaughn De Leath ; Hanna Van Vollenhoven Female vocal solo, with orchestra author  
Edison [Unknown] 17-in. 1923-1928 The night before Christmas Theodore Whitfield Edwards Recitation author  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Moore, Clement Clarke," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102596.

Moore, Clement Clarke. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102596.

"Moore, Clement Clarke." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102596

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