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Satis Coleman collection

 Collection 0164-SCPA

Satis Narona Coleman (1878-1961) was a music educator who specialized in teaching children. She primarily taught in studios in both Washington, D.C and in New York City. Her belief was that a child's music education should begin at an early age and be an integral part of their life. This collection contains notes written by Coleman, pictures from an event honoring her in 1957, publications, and a Chinese gong set made in 1919 and tuned to the pentatonic scale. Materials date from between 1919 and 1957.

Dates

  • 1919-1957
  • Majority of material found within 1957

Use and Access to Collection

There are no restricted files in this collection.

Extent

3.50 Linear Feet

Scope and Content of Collection

The Satis Coleman collection covers the period of 1919-1957 with the bulk of the materials dating from 1957. The collection consists of one legal-sized letter box containing notes written by Coleman as well as pictures from an event honoring her in 1957. Another box containing a Chinese gong set made in 1919 and tuned to the pentatonic scale is also included in the collection.

Biography

Satis Narona Coleman (1878-1961) was a music educator who specialized in teaching music to children. In 1895, she graduated from Sam Houston Normal Institute and went on to earn her B.S. (1927), M.A. (1928) and Ph.D. in educational psychology (1937) from Columbia University. Coleman also taught widely as a private music instructor before and after completing her studies.

Coleman believed that children should be introduced to and engaged in music at a very young age in order to develop their unique skills and further discover their own talents. Through her own academic studies, Coleman developed a cipher notation system that introduced children to sounds before they were introduced to the symbols used to notate music. Improvisation was key to her teaching philosophy, which was built on the works of Rousseau, Pestalozzi, and Froebel. Coleman also put forth an idea for Walt Disney to produce a motion picture depicting the history of music; this idea is outlined in her "Notes on the Evolution of Music." Disney was already producing short subjects with a similar idea, so Coleman's plan was never fully realized.

Through her research, Coleman developed simplistic instruments that could be played by children and used in full-scale symphonies that she composed. She was a music educator whose philosophy pioneered notions still held in music education today.

Arrangement

The Satis Coleman collection is arranged into three series:

  1. Notes and pictures
  2. Musical instruments
  3. Publications

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The first donation was by Arthur Redner in March 1971. At least two accruals followed, possibly by other donors.

Related Material

- Boston, Sheila C. Satis N. Coleman (1878-1961) : Her Career in Music Education, 1992. (Access Options)

- Coleman, Satis. SCPA biography files collection, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries. Contact SCPA's curator for access to the folder.

- Coleman, Satis. "Creative Experience through Making Musical Instruments." Progressive Education, January-March 1927, SCPA research paper collection, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries. File number 651. Contact SCPA's curator for access.

- Coleman, Satis. "Creative Music for Children." Papers and Proceedings of the Music Teachers National Association, edited by Karl Gehrkens. Hartford, CT: Music Teachers National Association 1926. PA LIB SCPA ML27.U5M8. (Access Options)

- Coleman, Satis. The Psaltery Book, SCPA research paper collection, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries. File number 2345. Contact SCPA's curator for access.

Coleman, Satis and Elin K. Jorgensen. Christmas Carols from Many Countries, Schirmer, 1934. Ginn Music Library collection, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries. (Carols, Box 1) Contact SCPA's curator for access.

- Goodall, Mary Ann. Satis Coleman's Contribution to Music Education: a review, analysis, and reassessment, c. 1975, SCPA research paper collection, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries. File number 475. Contact SCPA's curator for access.

The following books by Satis Coleman are cataloged and available from UMD. Some are located in SCPA's Lowens Room (PA LIB SCPA), others in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library (MSPAL) general stacks or McKeldin Library (MCK).

  1. Another dancing time - MSPAL FOLIO M1990.C65A5
  2. Another singing time - PA LIB SCPA M1997.C68A42 1937
  3. Book of bells - MCK CC205.C62
  4. Children's symphony - PA LIB SCPA ML83.C66
  5. Creative music for children - PA LIB SCPA and PA LIB STACKS MT740.C65
  6. Creative music in the home - PA LIB SCPA MT740.C653 1939
  7. Dancing time; music for rhythmic activities - PA LIB STACKS M1990.C65D2
  8. Drum book P - PA LIB SCPA ML1035.C7
  9. First steps in playing and composing - PA LIB SCPA MT7.C64F5 1930
  10. Gingerbread man and other songs of the child - PA LIB SCPA M1997.C68G4
  11. Little singing time: a book of songs - PA LIB SCPA M1997.C68S424
  12. Master book iii: complement to master scroll - PA LIB SCPA MT740.C655
  13. Singing time: songs for nursery andamp; school - PA LIB SCPA and PA LIB STACKS M1997.C64S8
  14. Songs of American folks - PA LIB SCPA M1629.C687S6
  15. Suggestions to teachers - PA LIB SCPA MT7.C64S9 1930
  16. Your child's music - PA LIB SCPA MT740.C65Y6
Title
Satis Coleman collection
Status
Completed
Author
Bonnie Jo Dopp
Date
March 2, 2000
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

Library Details

Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library

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