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Frances Elliott Clark papers

 Collection 0025-SCPA

Frances Elliott Clark (1860-1958), born near Angola, Indiana, taught in the public schools of Illinois and Iowa until 1903, when she became the supervisor of the Milwaukee public schools. In 1911, she became the director of the Education Department of the Victor Talking Machine Company, where she promoted the use of the phonograph in music education. A founding member of the Music Educators National Conference (now the National Association for Music Education), she presided over the annual Founder's Breakfasts, served on the executive committee, and chaired at various times the archives, necrology, and the Lowell Mason Sesquicentennial Committees. She was an officer of the NEA music section and was active in the Music Teachers National Association and the National Federation of Music Clubs. The collection consists of both personal and professional papers including published and unpublished writings, correspondence, addresses, programs, reports, memorabilia, clippings, and articles related to Clark's work as a music educator.

Dates

  • 1890-1963
  • Majority of material found within 1911-1957

Use and Access to Collection

The collection is open for research use.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact

Extent

7.25 Linear Feet

Scope and Content of Collection

The Frances Elliot Clark papers cover the period from 1890 to 1963; the bulk dates of the materials date from 1911 to 1957. The papers consist of both personal and professional papers including published and unpublished writings, correspondence, addresses, programs, reports, memorabilia, clippings, and articles related to Clark's work as a music educator, including her work with the Victor Talking Machine Company and with various music education organizations such as the National Education Association music section, the Music Teacher National Association, the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the Music Supervisors National Conference for which she was a founding member.

Biography

Frances Elliott Clark (1860-1958), born near Angola, Indiana, taught in the public schools of Illinois and Iowa until 1903. In 1903, she became the supervisor of the Milwaukee public schools. In 1911, she became the director of the Education Department of the Victor Talking Machine Company, where she promoted the use of the phonograph in music education. She was a founding member of the Music Supervisors National Conference, later renamed the Music Educators National Conference and then the National Association for Music Education, where she presided over the annual Founder's Breakfasts, served on the executive committee, and chaired at various times the archives, necrology, and the Lowell Mason Sesquicentennial Committees. She was an officer of the NEA music section and was active in the Music Teachers National Association and the National Federation of Music Clubs. Dr. Clark addressed many groups and wrote numerous articles concerning music education for professional journals and newspapers.

Arrangement

This collection has been divided into six series.

  1. Professional addresses
  2. Professional writings
  3. Personal writings
  4. Correspondence
  5. Programs and memorabilia
  6. Writings on F.E. Clark

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Gift of John F. Clark, grandson of Frances Elliott Clark, received in two shipments on August 1971 and June 1973.

Related Material

This collection is part of the National Association for Music Education Historical Center (formerly the Music Educators National Conference Historical Center).

Additional information on F.E. Clark is located in the Clifford V. Buttelman Papers also located in the NAfME Historical Center.

Processing Information

Processing supported by the Rose Marie Grentzer Fund.

Title
The Frances Elliott Clark papers
Status
Completed
Author
Heather Jackson and Colleen McKnight
Date
June 2007
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English
Sponsor
Processing supported by the Rose Marie Grentzer Fund.

Library Details

Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
8270 Alumni Drive
College Park MD 20742 United States