Allen Perdue Britton (1914-2003) was a prominent figure in American music educator. Britton served as a professor of Music at the University of Michigan, eventually serving as Dean of the School of Music. Britton was the founding editor of the Journal of Research in Music Education and American Music, and served on the Board of Directors and Trustees of numerous musical societies, and President of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), now known as the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Sonneck Society for American Music. The collection consists of both personal and professional correspondence, copies of Britton's writings and speeches, documents relating to his involvement with MENC and Sonneck Society, professional and service activities, and documents relating to his career as a music educator.
There are no restricted files in this collection.
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. Please make an appointment with the curator: Tel: 301.405.9220, Email: scpa@umd.edu
115.75 Linear Feet
English
The Allen Perdue Britton papers cover the period from 1943 to 2000. The collection consists of personal and professional correspondence, biographical materials, published and unpublished writings and speeches, materials related to his involvement in professional organizations including MENC and the Sonneck Society, datebooks, and materials related to his work as a music educator, including his work at the University of Michigan.
Allen Perdue Britton (1914 – 2003), a prominent figure and pioneer in American music education and musicology, served as president of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), now known as the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Sonneck Society for American Music, as well as committee member of the Museum for American Music, the University Musical Society, and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Britton graduated from the University of Illinois in 1937 with a Bachelors in Instrumental Music, followed by a Masters in Education in 1939 and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Michigan in 1949. A dean and professor for the University of Michigan School of Music, Britton was named dean and professor emeritus in 1984. Britton also served as Acting Dean for the Manhattan School of Music, as well as the Peabody Conservatory of Music. His accomplishments include authoring several books and being the founding editor of the Journal of Research in Music Education and American Music.
Life Chronology
This collection is organized into nine series.
Gift of Allen P. Britton, 1992-1999
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library