Robert Choate Papers

Umbrella Collection name: Music Educators National Conference Historical Center

Individual Collection name: Robert Choate Papers

Repository name: Special Collections in Performing Arts, Performing Arts Library, University of Maryland

Type: Presidential Papers, Tanglewood Symposium Papers and Discussion Tapes

Collection dates: 1951-1970

Extent: 6 linear feet

Description: MENC presidential and committee papers and materials from the Board of Directors, MENC State Presidents National Assembly, MENC Commissions Committee, Publications Planning Committee, the Music Educators Journal Editorial Board, the Selection and Nominating Committees, and the Tanglewood Symposium Project, including papers and discussion tapes.

Statement of provenance: Gift of papers and discussion tapes deposited by Robert Choate on April 21, 1972.

Governing documents: Deposit Data Sheet (71-59-MENC) and acknowledgement letter June 12, 1973.

Finding Aid: An unpublished finding aid (Stephanie Keller, January 2002) is available in the repository.

SCPA shelf location: Collections Room, MENC aisle J

Biography: Robert A. Choate (1910-1975) was president of MENC from 1954 to 1956. His contributions to MENC include a number of professional activities. Before his presidency, he was Chairman of the Editorial Board from 1950 to 1954. While president, he is credited for organizing and directing ten commissions for the study of music education in the United States. Later he became Chairman of the States Assembly from 1956 to 1958, a member of the Editorial Board for the Music Educators Journal in 1962, chairman of the Publications Committee in 1964, and director of the Tanglewood Symposium Project in 1967. In addition to his professional career with MENC, he is also known for his work as professor of music and dean of the School of Fine and Applied Arts at Boston University.

Life Chronology:

1910	Born October 22, Anna-Jonesboro, Illinois
1935	Received B.S.M. from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa
1935-1936	Teacher of Music, Public Schools, Toledo, Iowa
1935-1946	Organist and Choral Director, First Methodist Church, Toledo, Iowa
1936-1938	Supervisor of Music, Public Schools, Polo. Illinois
1939-1942	Director of Music Education, Public Schools, Spokane, Washington
1939-1942	Minister of Music, First Presbyterian Church, Spokane, Washington
1940	Received M.M. from Northwestern University
1940-1942	President, Washington Music Educators Association
1941	Chairman, Northwest Music Educators Conference
1941-1942	Editor, Washington Music Bulletin, official publication of Washington Music Educators Association
1942-1950	Director of Music Education, Public Schools, Oakland, California
1942-1950	Minister of Music, St. John's Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, California
1943-1944	Chairman, Committee on Inter-American Education, University of California
1944-1945	Chairman, Committee on Latin American Education, University of California
1944-1948	Chairman of Committee on Music Education, California School Supervisors Association
1946-1948	Member of the MENC Board of Directors
1948	Member of the MENC Editorial Board, later becoming Chairman in 1950
1948-1950	Member of the MENC Executive Committee
1950	Received Education Degree from Stanford University
1950-1952	Head Chairman of the Music Education Department at Northwestern University
1950-1952	Director of Music Education, Public Schools, Evanston, Illinois
1952-1954	Appointed Dean of Boston University College of Music
1954-1956	National President of MENC
1954-1956	Organized and directed ten commissions for study of music education in U.S.
1956-1958	Chairman, State Presidents Assembly
1962	Editorial Board, Music Educators Journal
1964	Chairman, MENC Publications Committee
1967	Director of the MENC Tanglewood Symposium Project
1975	Died January 29, 1975, Boston, Massachusetts

Series Arrangement:

Series I: MENC Board of Directors
Series II: MENC State Presidents National Assembly (SPNA)
Series III: MENC Commissions Committee
Series IV: MENC Publications Planning Committee
Series V: Other MENC Committees
Series VI: Music Educators Journal Editorial Board
Series VII: MENC Related Organizations
Series VIII: Tanglewood Symposium Project

Series Description:

Series I: MENC Board of Directors
Series I is divided into two subseries spanning the years 1955 through 1959 and includes material relevant to the MENC Board of Directors including reports, letters, and memorandums, specifically regarding the Executive and National Cabinet Meeting in 1955 and the MENC 50th Golden Anniversary observance.

Series II: MENC State Presidents National Assembly (SPNA)
This series includes agenda items, memorandums, correspondence, and reports from various SPNA meetings between 1956 and 1960.

Series III: MENC Commissions Committee
Series III is a collection of papers regarding the ten commissions for study of music education in U.S. organized and directed by Robert Choate. These include letters, memorandums, reports, and committee plans which span the years 1954 through 1957. The items are divided into subseries by general commission papers and the ten commission plans by title.

Series IV: MENC Publications Planning Committee
Series IV spans the years 1964-1970 and includes correspondence, reports, manuscripts, meeting minutes and agendas having to do with the MENC Publications Planning Committee (PPC). It is divided into three subseries according to select publication titles, committee member folders, and committee papers arranged by year.

Series V: Other MENC Committees
Series V is divided into three subseries, the MENC Selection Committee, the MENC Nominating Committee, and the Study Committeee on Goals and Purposes. The content of these subseries span the years 1951 through 1968 and includes reports, meeting minutes, letters, and correspondence regarding each committee.

Series VI: Music Educators Journal Editorial Board
Series VI includes agenda items, book reviews, source listings for major articles, and Choate's personal notes specifically regarding the MEJ Editorial Board Meeting in March 1964.

Series VII: MENC Related Organizations
Series VII is a collection of materials regarding three related organizations to MENC. The three organizations are divided into subseries and include the Untied Natioanl Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Pan American Union Organization, and the Joint Council for the Arts in Education.

Series VIII: Tanglewood Symposium
Series VIII is a collection of Choate's materials as director of the Tanglewood Symposium Project which took place in August 1967. The materials are divided into nine subseries and include letters, correspondence, public relations documents, programs, speeches, writings, participant materials, pre and post session materials, and discussion tapes.

Materials from this collection must be used in the Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10 to 5, Monday through Friday. Please make an appointment with the curator.

Or for a specific question about the collection feel free to ask the curator.

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