Charles B. Fowler papers

Charles B. (Bruner) Fowler (1931-1995), American writer and consultant in the arts, was noted for his activity and commentary in the field of arts education. A prolific author, he wrote more than two hundred articles as well as books, reports and other works. Fowler frequently spoke at arts and arts education gatherings, providing insightful views on the state of the arts nationally. For fifteen years (1974-1989) he served as Education Editor of Musical America Magazine, reporting "On Education" across the country. From 1966 to 1971 he was editor of Music Educators Journal. His last publications were Sing!, a textbook for secondary school choral classes (Hinshaw, 1988), the widely acclaimed sequel to Coming to Our Senses: Can We Rescue the Arts for America's Children (American Council for the Arts, 1988) and Music! Its Role and Importance in Our Lives, a textbook appropriate for high school and introductory college courses (Glencoe/ Macmillan/McGraw Hill, 1992). From 1989 until 1993, Dr. Fowler served as director of National Cultural Resources, Inc.

As a practitioner of several arts and with an extensive background in teaching on every level, Dr. Fowler championed the cause of arts education as an essential part of every person's education. He was a guest professor at a number of American universities, participated in numerous educational projects and symposia, and lectured on the subject of arts education throughout the United States and abroad. His degrees included a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the Crane School of Music, SUNY at Potsdam, a Master of Music from Northwestern University and a Doctor of Musical Arts (with a minor in fine arts) from Boston University. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University in 1990 and an honorary doctorate from the Crane School of Music in 1995. Dr. Fowler wrote educational materials for the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was the writer for the grand opening of Epcot Center for Walt Disney Productions, the grand opening of Knoxville World's Fair, the annual Christmas pageant at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, and several National Public Radio programs. He prepared scripts for Jose Ferrer, Richard Thomas, Gregory Peck, President Gerald Ford, and Dinah Shore, among others.