Edith Mote SMITH was born June 11, 1891, Lafayette, IN. Tippecanoe Co. 

She and her family which consisted of her Father Marcellus L. SMITH and Rosa B. MOTE moved from Lafayette to Placerville, CA. El Dorado Co in 1899. Edith was eight years old when they moved to Placerville.  

From various newspaper clippings, I can only guess that she went to grammar and perhaps Jr. High School in Placerville, but went to High School in Santa Cruz. From there she went to Snell’s Seminary, School for Girls, in Oakland, CA. She graduated in 1909. One clipping says that her singing voice was discovered while living in Placerville. She said, “I only sang as a past time”. “Her voice so sweet they say…” 

In 1908, Edith belonged to Von Meyerinck School of Music, located in San Francisco, CA.  In the newspaper it was referred to as, “Die Probe”, the music club. Die Probe a musical club, consisting of advanced students of the Von Meyerinck School of music gives recitals once a month at 818 Grove St.

Edith Mote Smith, a pupil of Madam Von Meyerinck, made her public debut at Sherman, Caly & Co.’s Assembly Hall on Tuesday afternoon, February 16, 1908. She continued to sing at Die Probe into 1909. 

The melody you are listening to, is from one of the songs that Edith sang in that recital. 

In one of the clippings, it says that her Mother was her manager. Edith did concert singing all over the Bay Area.  Eventually, her concert  singing  took her all over the United States.

transcribed by Jean Hehn Oct 2000

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