While Charles Ives is known mostly as a composer, he was also a successful life insurance agent. He and Julian Myrick started their own life insurance agency in 1907, “Ives and Myrick”, which was owned by Mutual Life Insurance Company. Ives held firm beliefs about the purpose and value of life insurance. Although he was rather reserved, Ives played an active role in training their insurance agents.
The AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company Papers Related to Charles Ives, were transferred to the Gilmore Music Library from the AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company archives in 2018. The newly processed collection contains correspondence, company memos, and insurance documents. Also included are programs, biographical information, clippings and press releases. Of particular interest is Charles Ives' own life insurance policy, and training materials that Ives created for his employees. The collection is now open for research.