Allen Perdue Britton Papers

Umbrella Collection name: MENC Historical Center

Individual Collection name: Allen Perdue Britton Papers

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

Type: Personal and professional papers

Collection dates: 1943 – 2000 (published materials about the University of Michigan dating back to 1904)

Extent: 194 document boxes (0.5 linear ft. each), 10 half-size document boxes (0.25 linear ft. each), 10 record storage boxes (1.5 linear ft. each), and 1 score storage box (2 linear ft.). Total linear feet: 116.5. Total number of boxes: 215.

Description: Allen Perdue Britton’s personal and professional papers

Statement of provenance: Gift: Allen P. Britton, 1992-1999

Governing documents:
Accession Records: 93-32-MENC, 97-31-MENC, 00-73-MENC
Letters in Correspondence File: September 4, 1996; October 13, 1992; September 21, 1992; September 9, 1992; August 27, 1992 (stating papers arrived August 25, 1992); August 1, 1973; July 19, 1973; July 10, 1973
No restrictions on use, according to letter dated October 13, 1992.

Unpublished finding aid available in the repository

Collection-level cataloging record call number: MSCPA 93-32

SCPA shelf location: R4-1-1 through R9-2-1

Names of people who worked on processing and describing the collection: Vin Novara, Laura Seelig, Monica Dyer, Jeni V. Dahmus, Liza F. Vick, Liviu Marinescu, Monica Howell, Jeanne Su, and Tim McKay.

BIOGRAPHY

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 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. 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

1914		Born May 25, Elgin, Illinois
1930-1938		Member of various professional dance bands and orchestras
1937		University of Illinois, B.Sc. with honors (Instrumental Music)
1938		Married Veronica Fern Wallace
1939		University of Illinois, M.A. (Education)
1943-1946		Technical Sergeant, US Army, member of military and dance bands
1949		University of Michigan, Ph.D. (Musicology)
1949-1969		Professor of Music, University of Michigan
1949-1969		Lecturer, School of Education, University of Michigan
1950		PhD dissertation “Theoretical Introductions in American Tune-Books to 1800” published
1953-1972		Founding Editor, Journal of Research in Music Education
1956-1959		Director, the University of Michigan Division of the National Music Camp
1959-1969		Chairman, Department of Music Education, School of Music, the University of Michigan
1960-1962		President, Music Educators National Conference
1960-1962		Assistant Dean, School of Music, the University of Michigan
1961-1969		Chairman, Faculty Council on Doctoral Studies, School of Music, the University of Michigan
1962-1969		Associate Dean, School of Music, the University of Michigan
1962-1975		Member, USO Overseas Tours Screening Committee
1963		Elected to the Council of the American Musicological Society
1963		Participant, Yale Seminar on Music Education
1963-1964		Consultant, Committee on Music Education of President’s Panel on Educational Research and Development (USA)
1964-1969		Consultant, Juilliard Repertory Project
1964-1974		Member, Arts and Humanities panel, U.S. Office of Education
1964-1976		General editor, Prentice-Hall, “Foundations of Music Education”
1964-1984		Board of Directors, Musical Youth International
1966		Director, International Seminar on Teacher Education in Music
1967		Participant, Tanglewood Symposium on Research in Music Education
1967-1970		Member, Museum of American Music executive committee
1967-1970		Member, Advisory Council Institute for Studies in American Music
1969-1971		Acting Dean, School of Music of the University of Michigan
1969-1973		Member, MENC Commission of Teacher Education (1970-1973 Chairman, Task Group V)
1971-1979		Dean, School of Music of the University of Michigan
1971-1985		Board of directors, University Musical Society
1973-1997		Board of trustees, Interlochen Center for the Arts
1980-1981		Acting Dean, Manhattan School of Music
1980-1994		Member, Friends of the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments Board of Directors
1981-1982		Acting Dean, Peabody Conservatory of Music
1982-1985		Founding Editor, American Music
1982-1994		Member, University of Illinois School of Music Alumni Board
1984-2003		Dean and professor emeritus in the School of Music of the University of Michigan
1985-1989		President of the Sonneck Society for American Music
1986		Elected to the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Hall of Fame
1988		Elected to the American Antiquarian Society
1990		Given Senior Researcher Award by the MENC
1990		Published American Sacred Music Imprints, 1698-1810, a Bibliography in collaboration with Richard Crawford and Irving Lowens
1991		Given Distinguished Service Citation by the Sonneck Society
1997		Trustee emeritus, Interlochen Center for the Arts
1997		School of Music named recital hall for Britton
2000		Engraved brick in the MENC “Walk of Fame”
2000		March 6, "The Historians Perspective: A Symposium in Tribute to Allen P. Britton", the University of Maryland, College Park, MD
2003		Died February 17, in DeKalb, Illinois at the age of 88.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

1. Correspondence: This series consists of personal and professional correspondence, related professional materials, and letterheads dating from 1946-1998. It is divided into three subseries: Chronological, Alphabetical, and Miscellaneous.

1. Chronological: This subseries consists of personal correspondence from the years 1941-1991 to Allen and Veronica Britton, copies of letters that were sent by Allen Britton, photographs from Britton’s presidency in MENC, newspaper clippings, Britton’s personal collection of The Bulletin of Historical Research in Music Education (July 1980-July 1990), and other miscellaneous items. It is made up of 21 boxes.

2. Alphabetical: This subseries consists of letterheads, professional correspondence, and related material from 1949 to 1998. The series is arranged alphabetically, and made up of 57 boxes.

3. Miscellaneous: This subseries contains one folder of unmarked or unlabeled letterheads, unlabeled correspondence, as well as miscellaneous information.

2. Britton File: This series consists of personal materials such as biographies, photographs, correspondences, and various printed materials. Topics covered include possible jobs, consulting work and Britton’s biography. It spans from 1958 to 1991 and is divided into four subseries: Biographical, Consultation, Courses and Conferences, and Job Opportunities. It is made up of three boxes.

1. Biographical: This subseries consists of biographical information and is divided into four sub-subseries: Awards; Biographies, Vita, Bibliographies; and Photographs. The subseries consists of five folders spanning from 1949 to 1991.

1. Awards: This sub-subseries consists of correspondence and announcements for awards given to Britton. It consists of one folder dating from 1991.

2. Biographies, Vitas, Bibliographies: This sub-subseries consists of interviews and biographical and bibliographical information on Britton. It is made up of seven folders dating from circa 1949 to 1992. Additional information can be found in the Awards sub-subseries.

3. Photographs: This sub-subseries consists of photographs of Britton. It is made up of one folder dating from 1986.

4. Miscellaneous Clippings, Personal Items and Other: This sub-subseries is a smaller box of newspaper clippings and like items, as well as items that Britton kept in his desk.

2. Consultation: This subseries consists of materials generated by Britton’s consultation work, some regarding school accreditation and certification. It is made up of eight folders dating from 1964 to 1979.

3. Courses and Conferences: This subseries consists of materials from various courses Britton took and from conferences he attended. It is made up of two folders dating from 1964 to 1970. Conference materials can be found in the series for specific organizations, such as MENC.

4. Job Opportunities: This subseries consists of correspondence and information regarding possible job opportunities. It is made up of nine folders dating from 1965 to 1969.

3. Writings and Speeches: This series contains Britton’s writings and speeches, and also contains materials that he edited. It consists of three subseries: Typescripts/Manuscripts, Publications, and Referencing/Referring to Britton. This series is made up of seven boxes and dates from 1946 to 1991. The series is kept in the order that Britton originally arranged it.

1. Typescripts/Manuscripts, Speaking Trips and Travel: This subseries consists of manuscripts and typescripts of Britton’s writings, correspondence regarding his writings, and information on speaking trips. Some folders also contain published copies of his writings. The subseries consists of six boxes dating from 1946 to 1991.

2. Publications Edited by Britton: This subseries consists of published materials that Britton contributed to or edited. It has three sub-subseries: Books and Reports. This subseries is made up of two boxes - the end of box 63, and all of 63A.

4. Professional Activities and Service Organizations: This series consists of materials from Britton’s professional activities and from the service organizations to which he belonged. It has ten subseries: Accreditation and Certification, Interlochen, Juilliard Repertory Project, Musical Youth International, Rotary, University of Illinois Music Alumni Association, International Trumpet Guild, USO Overseas Tours Screening Committee, Yale Seminar, and International Society for Music Education. This series is made up of 11 boxes dating from 1937 to 1991.

1. Accreditation and Certification: This subseries consists of materials on accreditation and certification. It is made up of 15 folders dating from 1937-1980, with the bulk dating from the 1950s and 1960s. See also the Consultation subseries.

2. Interlochen: This subseries consists of materials relating to the Interlochen Center for the Arts. It is made up of six boxes dating from 1937-1980, with the bulk dating from 1975 – 1991. Additional information can be found in the Professional Correspondence subseries.

3. Juilliard Repertory Project: This subseries consists of materials relating to the Juilliard Repertory Project, which selected music from different cultures and time periods to be use in elementary school music classes. Much of the material is scores. The subseries consists of two boxes dating from 1967.

4. Musical Youth International: This subseries consist of information relating to Musical Youth International. It is made up of two folders dating from 1964 to 1989.

5. Rotary: This subseries consists of materials related to Rotary, International, to which Britton belonged. It is made up of two folders dating from 1986 to 1991. Speeches that Britton gave to the Rotary club can be found in the Typescripts/Manuscripts subseries.

6. University of Illinois Music Alumni Association: This subseries consists of material related to Britton’s involvement in the University of Illinois Alumni Association. It is made up of one folder. Other related items can be found in series IB – Professional Papers.

7. International Trumpet Guild: This subseries catalogues all of Britton’s ITG Journals, as well as other ITG items such as brochures, scores, and member directories. This subseries is made up of three boxes.

8. USO Overseas Tours Screening Committee: This subseries consists of materials relating to the USO Overseas Tours Screening Committee. It is made of six folders dating from 1970 to 1974. See also the School of Music Summer Session sub-subseries.

9. Yale Seminar: This subseries consists of materials relating to the Yale Seminar. It is made up of three folders dating from 1963. See also the Typescripts/Manuscripts subseries.

10. International Society for Music Education: This subseries consists of information on a conference Britton attended. It is made up of two folders from 1966.

11. AMSI: This subseries consists of information from Britton’s ASMI collection – four files complete box 11, and box 11b contains two files of ASMI materials.

5. Music Educators National Conference: This series consists of Music Educators National Conference materials, including correspondence, photographs, reports, journals, conference program, minutes, and a manuscript inventory. It has seven subseries: Presidential and General Correspondence; Music Educators National Conference, General; Journal of Research in Music Education; Meetings and Seminars; Regional Conferences; Tanglewood Symposium, and Photographs. It is made up of 30 boxes dating from 1939 to 1990.

1. Presidential and General Correspondence: This series consists of correspondence on a wide range of MENC topics: examples include American Musicological Society, Board of Directors, conferences and meetings, curriculum, divisions, commissions, biennials, and the NEA. It is made up of 21 boxes with materials dating from 1939 to 1990.

2. Music Educators National Conference, General: This subseries consists of materials from committees, meetings, projects, the board of directors, as well as financial information specifically derived from the MENC conferences. It is made up of one box dating from 1953 to 1990.

3. Journal of Research in Music Education: This subseries consists of a manuscript inventory, information from editorial meetings, and various administrative and editorial materials. It is comprised of eleven folders dating from 1952 to 1979. Copies of Britton's journals can be found in series VII in subseries G.

4. Meetings and Seminars: This subseries consists of materials from meetings and seminars. It consists of three folders dating from 1965 to 1970. See also the Music Educators National Conference, General subseries B for more information.

5. Regional Conferences: This subseries houses programs and other materials from conferences held by regional divisions within MENC.

6. Tanglewood Symposium: This subseries consists of materials on the Tanglewood Symposium. Materials include an MENC report, a journal issue on “Tanglewood Revisited,” the Declaration, and materials distributed to participants. It is made up of 13 folders dating from 1964 to 1982.

7. Photographs: This subseries consists of photographs during Britton’s tenure as president of MENC. Most of the photographs are from the 1962 National Convention.

6. Sonneck Society: This series consists of materials related to the Sonneck Society. It has four subseries: American Music, Correspondence, Meeting and Board of Trustees Information, and Membership Directories. It is made up of 19 boxes dating from 1975 to 1992.

1. American Music: This subseries consists of materials for the American Music journal. It has two sub-subseries: one of administrative and editorial materials and one of submissions from authors.

1. Administrative/Editorial: This sub-subseries consists of letterheads, permissions, publicity, reviews, style sheets, general mailings, editors’ contact information, and a copy of the Sonneck Society’s articles of incorporation. It is made up of two boxes and 39 folders dating from 1975 to 1988.

2. Author File: This sub-subseries consists of submissions for American Music by various authors. It is made up of six boxes dating from 1980 to 1989.

2. Correspondence: This subseries consists of a letterhead, correspondence with individuals, and general mailings (nos. 1-14). Significant correspondents include Wiley Housewright, Margery and Irving Lowens, Gillian Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, John Cage, and Aaron Copland. The subseries is made up of nine boxes dating from 1980 to 1988.

3. Meeting and Board of Trustees Information: This subseries consists of information on board of trustee meetings. It is made up of four boxes with materials dating from 1976 to 1991.

4. Membership Directories: This subseries consists of Sonneck Society membership lists and directories. It is made up of two folders dating from 1984 to 1992.

NOTE: These are photocopies of the original documents. The archive for this organization, now the Society for American Music (SAM), is located at Library of Congress. For more information please contact Susan Koutsky, SAM Archivist, (301) 405-9346 [as of February 2005].

7. University of Michigan: This series consists of materials related to Allen Britton’s association with the University of Michigan as dean, professor, faculty adjunct and Ann Arbor resident. This is the largest series in the Britton collection. The series has 11 main subseries, which are broken down further into sub-subseries, and in one instance a mini-sub-subseries (subseries G).

1. Records/information on Britton: This subseries is comprised of one box with personal information dealing with Britton’s faculty records, as well as some miscellaneous personal items.

2. Britton Scholarship: This subseries is made up of two boxes consisting of any scholarship/fellowship information from the University of Michigan, such as the Rackham Fellowships, as well as the Britton scholarships.

3. School of Music Administrative: This series consists of materials from Britton’s association with the University of Michigan administration as dean and professor. It made up of five sub-subseries: deanship, graduate school, budgets, executive committee, and summer school/letters.

1. Deanship: This sub-subseries includes any information regarding Allen Britton’s tenure as Dean of the School of Music at Michigan. It is made up of two boxes, and dates from 1959-1986.

2. Graduate School: This sub-subseries consists of any information about the University of Michigan graduate school, dating from 1945-1966. It is made up of one box.

3. Budgets: This sub-subseries consists of information regarding the University of Michigan budget. It deals with annual and monthly budget summaries and statements, accounts, work papers, and budget requests. It is made up of five boxes, dating from 1960-1980.

4. Executive Committee: This sub-subseries consists of any information dealing with the executive process at the University of Michigan. Items include committee meeting agendas and minutes, president reports, and special correspondence. It is made up of 10 boxes dating from 1943-1990.

5. Summer School Information: This sub-subseries consists of all information regarding summer school at the University of Michigan, primarily correspondence. It is made up of one box dating from 1952-1971.

4. Teaching and Advising: This subseries revolves around Allen P. Britton’s career as professor with the University of Michigan, and is divided into three sub-subseries accordingly: Courses and Class Notes, Dissertations, Papers, Reviews and miscellaneous Music Education articles and clippings. Series D is made up of 16 total boxes.

1. Courses and Class Notes: This sub-subseries is made up of four boxes containing Britton’s class notes, schedules, and other teaching aids.

2. Dissertations: This subseries is made up of seven record storage boxes of doctoral dissertations of students and colleagues of Britton. These dissertations were edited or reviewed by Britton.

3. Papers: This sub-subseries contains papers written by Britton’s students and as well as professional papers by Britton’s colleagues. It is made up of four boxes.

4. Reviews and Misc. Music Education Articles: This sub-subseries is made up of one box containing Britton’s reviews of specific books and articles and the correspondence relating to those reviews, as well as miscellaneous articles and thoughts on music education.

5. Federal Grant Information: This subseries consists of information on federal grants that were given and/or were available to the school, staff, or students. Most of these materials were originally gathered by Emil Holz and were then selected by Britton to keep in 1979. The subseries is made up of 12 folders (one box) dating from 1966 to 1969.

< LI>

Midwest Music Conference: This subseries is made up of two boxes having to do with the Midwest Music Conference, a music conference that Britton participated in annually. The series is broken down into two sub-subseries: Program Files and Programs. Each sub-subseries has its own box.

1. Program Files: This sub-subseries is made up of three file folders with information concerning the Midwestern Music Conference, such as correspondence.

2. Programs: This sub-subseries includes programs from the MMC for most years dating from 1947-1992.

7. Publications: This subseries features two main publications that Britton collected, wrote for and also edited – Music at Michigan and the Journal of Research in Music Education (JRME). This subseries also includes a general collection of Britton’s books, journals, and periodicals.

   1. Books/Journals: This sub-subseries includes copies of American Music, the Sonneck Society Bulletin, the Quarterly Journal of Music Teaching and Learning, Journal of Band Research, and Gasbag. Also included are general music books and other publications Britton collected. There are four boxes in this sub-subseries.

   1. Music at Michigan: This mini sub-subseries contains issues and information on the publication Music at Michigan. It is comprised of two boxes.

   2. Journal of Research in Music Education: These four boxes consist of Britton’s copies of the publications of the JRME.

   2. Publicity: This sub-subseries is made up of two boxes that consist of any publicity that Britton earned in any of the publications he collected. There are articles, clippings, and photocopies of references to Britton and his work.

   8. Arnold Schoenberg Archives: This subseries consists of papers/materials from the Schoenberg archives at the University of Michigan. The dates span from mid-1970 to 1973.
      
      

   9. Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments: This subseries consists of materials related to the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments, which was housed at the University. It is made up of one folder. Additional materials can be found in the Professional Correspondence subseries.
      
      

   10. University Musical Society: This subseries consists of three boxes from Britton’s affiliation with the University Musical Society. Materials include UMS Committee information, meeting agendas and minutes, reports on UMS and special benefits. It dates from 1940 to 1987.
       
       

   11. Band Tours: This subseries holds any travel records and information regarding University of Michigan band tours while Britton was affiliated with the school of music.
       
       

   1. Las Palmas/Canary Islands: This sub-subseries consists of information on a tour the University of Michigan band took to the Canary Islands. Britton coordinated the tour. It is made up of one box dating from 1975 to 1976.

8. Datebooks: This series is made up of three boxes containing Britton’s personal pocket diaries, memo books, weekly day-timer calendars, visible week calendar, and date books. The dates span from 1955 through 1990.
   
   

9. Oversized Items: This series is made up of one large box containing some larger items that could not fit in regular doc boxes. Some of the items include larger magazines and newspapers, and framed documents and photographs.

Materials from this collection must be used in the 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.

return to top