- unitid
-
{"value"=>"20556", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"Sc MG 92", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b11447981", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1906-1976", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1906/1976"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Melville Charlton collection"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"0.5 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Melville Charlton was the first African-American organist to be admitted to the American Guild of Organists. This collection contains correspondence and memorabilia documenting Charlton's seventy years as a musician."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Charlton, Melville, 1880-1973", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Melville Charlton served as organist for several churches and Jewish synagogues in New York City; he also gave concert tours and wrote the popular piano piece, \"Poem Erotique\". He was the first African-American organist to be admitted to the American Guild of Organists.</p> <p>Born in New York City in 1880, Charlton studied piano as a child and obtained his musical education in the public schools. He undertook additional studies at the City College of New York and graduated from the National Conservatory of Music in 1904. Charlton's professional career included tenures as organist at Union Theological Seminary, 1911-ca. 1940, and for three of New York's largest Jewish synagogues, Temple Emanuel, Sinai Temple, and the Temple of the Covenant. Charlton further served as the organist for St. Philip's Church, St. James Presbyterian Church, and two churches in Brooklyn. In 1915, he became the first African American to pass the examination of the American Guild of Organists, and in 1924, Howard University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Music. During the early twentieth century he played regularly in concerts; over the years his piano piece \"Poem Erotique\" has remained popular with concert pianists. For sixty-six years Charlton maintained a studio in Brooklyn, where he trained over a thousand piano students and one hundred organ pupils. He died in 1973.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Melville Charlton collection includes two letters commending Charlton's playing (1927 and 1959); two letters from the American Guild of Organists that have been mounted onto a plaque; news clippings containing biographical information; and a dismantled scrapbook of congratulatory letters from other musicians honoring him on his 90th birthday celebration. There are also concert programs (1911-1974) of his performances. A certificate from the American Guild of Organists and the Howard University diploma bestowing Charlton's honorary Ph.D. (1924) complete the collection.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Myrtle Charlton, July 1978.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs.</p> <p>Transferred to the Sheet music collection, Sc MG 915, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division : sheet music.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Accessioned by Debra Carter, 1978, and Janice Quinter, 2007.</p>"}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>"Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark.", "date"=>"2021 March 23"}
- date_start
-
1906
- keydate
-
1906
- date_end
-
1976
- date_inclusive_start
-
1906
- date_inclusive_end
-
1976
- extent_statement
-
0.5 linear feet (2 boxes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"[Item], Melville Charlton collection, Sc MG 92, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library"}