EDWARD DICKINSON

(PAPERS, 1870-1946, n.d.)

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The papers of Edward Dickinson document his student days at Amherst College (1876-81), his career as a teacher of courses in music and fine arts, and his research and writings concerning church music history, art, and nature. Dickinson's teaching and research represent the beginnings of courses and writings in music appreciation at the college level. Dickinson's writings include unpublished titles such as "The Present Social Movement in American Music and Drama" (n.d.), "The Education of a Nature Lover," (n.d.), and "The Conditions and Hopes of Art in America," (n.d.). Dickinson's published titles include syllabi for courses in the history of music (1898) and church music (1896). Dickinson wrote a history of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin College Library, Information Bulletin No. 1, 1923), and articles concerning music in church for the Oberlin Alumni Magazine.

The collection provides limited biographical information, and little documentation about his service to Oberlin College beyond his teaching of courses in piano and music history.

 

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS Series I. Biographical File, 1946 (1f)

Consists of a copy of an article from the Oberlin News-Tribune (31 January 1946) and a typed statement concerning Dickinson's death, two copies of the memorial minute for Dickinson adopted by the General Faculty (12 February 1946), and copies of pages from a publication including information about Dickinson.

Series II. Class Notebooks, 1876-81 (5 vol.)

These notebooks were compiled by Edward Dickinson while he was a student at Amherst College. The notebooks contain lecture notes for courses in literature and philosophy.

Series III. Writings, published and unpublished, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1908-25, n.d. (13f)

This series includes published and unpublished writings of Edward Dickinson. The writings primarily concern music, the history of church music, and art. Titles include "The Aesthetic Study of Nature," "The Education of a Nature Lover," and published syllabi for courses on the history of church music. Also included is a copy of The Student's Book of Inspiration (1919), for which Dickinson wrote the Introduction.

Series IV. Notebooks, 1870, 1896, n.d. (3 vol.)

Consists of notebooks maintained by Dickinson for subjects such as the history of church music, references to publications, opera, and quotes used for research and writing.

Series V. Presentations and Talks, 1931, 1934 (2f) I

ncludes a typed copy of Dickinson's chapel talk concerning art (14 January 1931), and the original handwritten address given at the annual dinner and initiation ceremonies of the Oberlin Chapter of the Pi Kappa Lambda Society (18 June 1934).

Series VI. Miscellaneous Items, 1894, 1921, 1937 (2f, 1 vol.)

This series consists of a vespers book of Edward Dickinson (1894); an original handwritten letter to Dickinson from Faith Nelson Greene (Lhore, India, 2 April 1921) concerning music in India; and, an original handwritten letter from Dickinson (Oberlin, 24 October 1937) to Edith Usury, OC class of 1911, concerning his health and Oberlin.

 

PROVENANCE

The papers of Edward Dickinson were received by the Oberlin College Archives in two lots; in 1968 (accession 69) from Daniel Harris, and in 1998 (accession 1998/124) from Ida Miles.

 

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Last updated: 29 March 1999