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Special Collections in Performing Arts
Will Earhart Biography and Life Chronology Series Arrangement and Description |
Will Earhart Papers
Umbrella Collection name: Music Educators National Conference Historical Center
Individual Collection name: Will Earhart Papers
Repository name: Special Collections in Performing Arts, Performing Arts Library, University of Maryland
Type: Papers
Collection dates: 1895-1960
Extent: 3 linear feet
Description: Published and non-published typescripts, articles, addresses, books and pamphlets by Earhart, musical manuscripts, arrangements, and published sheet music by Earhart, personal and professional letters and correspondence collected by Earhart, and photographs of Earhart.
Statement of provenance: Gift of papers and materials from William C. Earhart, son of Will Earhart, was received in 1971.
Governing documents: Letter dated August 23, 1977 confirming gift of books and letters made to the MENC Historical Center in 1971.
Finding Aid: An unpublished finding aid by Stephanie Keller
(July 2001) is available in the repository.
SCPA shelf location: Collections Room, MENC aisle J
Biography: Will Earhart, a member of the Music Educators National Conference for nearly half a century,
was born in Franklin, Ohio. He began his musical career with the study of violin, piano, counterpoint and harmony. At the age of 17, he began his professional teaching career in Miamisburg, Ohio and later became music supervisor in the public schools of Greenville, Ohio in 1888. Upon moving to Richmond, Indiana he then became Director of the Richmond High School Orchestra, one of the first in the nation to achieve symphonic proportions. During this time, he also aided in
establishing The Richmond Civic Orchestra. In 1912, Earhart left Richmond and assumed the position of Director of Music in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, a position he held until his
retirement in 1940. Within a year he began affiliating with the University of Pittsburgh where he founded and administered the Department of Public School Music between 1913 and 1920. As an active
member of the Music Educators National Conference for nearly half a century, Earhart held several offices including vice president of the conference in 1910 and president in 1915. He served as chairman on the conference's National Research Council between 1919 and 1944 and was also head of the Book and Music Reviews for the Music Educators Journal. In addition to developing a fundamental basis for American public school music, Earhart's contributions also include many writings, printed addresses, published articles, and books. Throughout his career, he produced several books including The Eloquent Baton (c.1931), Music to the Listening Ear (c.1932), The Meaning and Teaching of Music (c.1935), and Choral Technics (c.1937).
Life Chronology:
| 1871 | Born April 1, Franklin, Ohio |
| 1888 | Began his professional teaching career in Franklin and Miamisburg, Ohio |
| 1898 | Moved to Richmond as supervisor of music where he became director of the Richmond High School Orchestra |
| 1900 | Organized a course in harmony and a course titled "a critical study of music" |
| 1910 | Elected vice president of the Music Educators National Conference |
| 1912 | Assumed the position of Director of Music in the Pittsburgh Public Schools |
| 1915 | Elected president of the Music Educators National Conference and head of Book and Music Reviews for Music Educators Journal |
| 1919 | Served as member of the MENC's Research Council | 1940 | Retired from the position of Director of Music in the Pittsburgh Public Schools |
| 1960 | Died April 23, Portland, Oregon |
Source: Simpson, Edwin L., "Some Dynamic Personalities in Indiana Instrumental Music" (Indiana Musicator, September 1976)
Series I: Writings
Series II: Addresses
Series III: Reviews
Series IV: Correspondence
Series V: Letters
Series VI: Notes
Series VII: Publications
Series VIII: Music
Series IX: Collected Articles
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I: Writings
Series I includes a collection of professional writings by Earhart including published and non-published articles and typescript from 1901 to 1958.
Series II: Addresses
This series is a collection of addresses and their
original typescripts by Earhart between the years 1934 and 1944. They are arranged chronologically and by organization or subject addressed.
Series III: Reviews
Series III includes reviews published in journals and newspapers of Earhart's books and one musical composition.
Series IV: Correspondence
Series IV, spanning the dates 1928-1938, includes Earhart's correspondence divided into two subseries arranged chronologically and by subject.
Series V: Letters
Series V, spanning the dates 1895-1958, includes personal and professional letters. The letters are divided into two subseries arranged chronologically and by subject.
Series VI: Notes
Series VI includes Earhart's handwritten, musical, and literary notes.
Series VII: Publications
Series VII, spanning the dates 1895-1958, is made up of Earhart's collection of published materials including periodicals, books, and pamphlets featuring writings by or about Earhart.
Series VIII: Music
Series VIII includes a compilation of a capella graded choral song arrangements compiled as a companion to Earhart's book Choral Technics, manuscripts of compositions and arrangemetns by Earhart, and published sheet music written or arranged by Earhart.
Series IX: Collected Articles
Series IX comprises articles collected by Earhart including biographical articles written about him.
Series X: Photographs
Series X includes two photographs, a portrait of Earhart and one of him at his desk.
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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