- unitid
-
{"value"=>"Sc MG 82", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20547", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1941-1980", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1941/1980"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1941
- date_inclusive_end
-
1980
- keydate
-
1941
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Edward Boatner papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"2.4 linear feet (6 boxes)"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\"> The New York Public Library Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture</span>"}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Boatner, Edward", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Edward Hammond Boatner was born November 13, 1898 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was active as a composer, choral conductor and singer. He was also the author of plays, stories and music instruction materials, as well as essays concerning African-American history.</p> <p>Boatner's father, Dr. Daniel Webster Boatner, was an itinerant minister who took his family with him on his travels from church to church. Impressed by the singing he heard in those churches, Boatner began to collect spirituals at an early age. He was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri, where his family lived during his childhood. He also attended the public schools of Kansas City, Kansas, where his family later moved. Upon graduation in 1916, Boatner took lessons in voice and piano at Western University in Quindaro, Kansas, for a short time. Later that year Boatner sang for the famous tenor Roland Hayes, who encouraged the young baritone to continue his vocal studies in Boston. Boatner followed Hayes' advice, and moved to Boston in 1917.</p> <p>During his first year in Boston, Boatner studied with instructors at the New England Conservatory of Music. In 1918, at the age of 20, he published his first arrangement of a spiritual, entitled <span class=\"title\">Give Me Jesus.</span>The Boston Conservatory of Music awarded Boatner with a one-year scholarship in 1921. Continuing his studies at the Longy School of Music the following year, Boatner met composer and pianist Robert Nathaniel Dett, who became a mentor and coach. The two musicians performed a sucessful series of concerts together throughout the New England states.</p> <p>In 1925, Boatner moved to Chicago, in order to complete his formal education. He earned his Bachelor's degree in music from the Chicago College of Music in 1932. During his student years in Chicago, Boatner directed the choirs at Olivet Baptist Church, and concertized widely as a singer. His reputation grew during the years 1925-1933, when he was director of music for the National Baptist Convention.</p> <p>In 1933, Boatner was appointed director of music at Samuel Huston College in Austin, Texas. He later taught at the Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where he was appointed Dean of Music. During the late 1930s, he settled permanently in New York City, where he opened the Edward Boatner Studio. Through the studio, he organized and trained choral groups, and gave private instruction in piano and voice to young musicians and actors. His students included Metropolitan opera tenor George Shirley, as well as performers Josephine Baker, Clifton Webb, and Libby Holman. Boatner was also director of music at the Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York.</p> <p>Boatner arranged nearly three hundred spirituals, including <span class=\"title\">Oh, What A Beautiful City,</span><span class=\"title\">On Ma Journey,</span><span class=\"title\">Plenty Good Room,</span><span class=\"title\">Soon-a Will Be Done,</span>and <span class=\"title\">Tramping.</span>His arrangements have been performed and recorded by such artists as Roland Hayes, Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, Leontyne Price and Nelson Eddy. His collections of arrangements include <span class=\"title\">Thirty Afro-American Choral Spirituals,</span>and <span class=\"title\">Spirituals Triumphant, Old And New.</span>One of his original compositions, <span class=\"title\">Freedom Suite,</span>was published in 1964, and performed at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., in 1967. His musical plays include <span class=\"title\">The Man From Nazareth</span>and <span class=\"title\">The Origin Of the Spirituals.</span></p> <p>Boatner wrote thirty textbooks in the areas of music theory, composition, pedagogy and piano technique. Other writings include <span class=\"title\">Great Achievements in Black And White,</span><span class=\"title\">The Damaging Results Of Racism,</span><span class=\"title\">Black Humor,</span>and a novel entitled <span class=\"title\">One Drop Of Blood.</span></p> <p>Throughout his career, Boatner won awards from the National Federation of Music Clubs, the National Association of Negro Musicians, the Brooklyn Lyceum, the Detroit Association of Musicians, and the New York Uptown Musicians, among others. In 1979 he was honored by the Chicago branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians.</p> <p>Boatner's daughter Adelaide, and a son, Clifford became concert artists. Best known was his son, jazz saxophonist Edward “Sonny” Stitt. Boatner died on June 16, 1981, in New York, New York. A memorial service honoring his life and achievements was held at Olivet Baptist Church, in Chicago, on Sunday, February 19, 1984.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Edward Boatner papers, 1941-1980, reflect his activities as composer/arranger, choral conductor, music professor, scholar, playwright, and novelist. The collection consists of six boxes, which are divided into three series: Music, Typescripts, and Articles, Programs, etc. It includes original music manuscripts, as well as published music scores. There are also original typescripts and photocopies of music theory books, musical plays, short stories and treatises.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Edward Boatner papers are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20547#c644147'>Music</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series consists of a published score and solo/chorus score for Boatner's <span class=\"title\">Freedom Suite,</span>which is a classical work for narrator, solo voices, chorus and orchestra. There are also scores for four gospel songs written by Boatner. Another folder contains voice parts for selections to be performed by the fictional Heaven's Gate Choir, in the musical play, <span class=\"title\">He Will Answer.</span>A piano/vocal score for Boatner's musical comedy, <span class=\"title\">Julius Sees Her In Rome, Georgia,</span>and for his opera, <span class=\"title\">Troubled In Mind (Forbidden Love,</span>are also included. String quartet accompaniments for selections from <span class=\"title\">Troubled In Mind</span>can be found here as well.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20547#c644165'>Typescripts</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Nearly one-third of the series are for unpublished instructional materials by Boatner, which cover the areas of music harmony, rhythm and piano technique. Other items include libretti for productions of <span class=\"title\">Julius Sees Her In Rome, Georgia,</span><span class=\"title\">He Will Answer,</span><span class=\"title\">The Man From Nazareth,</span><span class=\"title\">One Drop Of Blood,</span><span class=\"title\">The Origin Of the Spirituals,</span>and <span class=\"title\">Troubled In Mind.</span>In addition, there are drafts for nearly twenty short stories. The original typescript of Boatner's textbook, <span class=\"title\">Great Afro-Americans,</span>and a social commentary entitled <span class=\"title\">The Damaging Results Of Racism</span>are also located here.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20547#c644202'>Articles, Programs, etc.</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series consists of several reviews of the premiere of Boatner's <span class=\"title\">Freedom Suite,</span>and of his production of <span class=\"title\">The Man From Nazareth,</span>also known as <span class=\"title\">The Life Of Christ.</span>Announcements and programs appear here for two productions of this musical play. A <span class=\"title\">Washington Post</span>interview with Boatner's mentor, tenor Roland Hayes, is included here. Finally, there is an article from the <span class=\"title\">New York Times,</span>which focuses on Boatner's career, and his role in the regained popularity of the spiritual.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Sarah Boatner, 1981</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>The following items were removed from: <span class=\"archref\"> Edward Hammond Boatner Papers SCM81-11, MG82</span></p> <ul> <li> Donor: <item>Sarah Boatner</item></li> <li> Gift <item>x</item></li> <li> Date received: <item>1981</item></li> <li> Date transferred: <item>1995</item></li></ul> <p>The item(s) listed below have been sent to the division indicated, either to be retained or disposed of there. Any items that should receive special disposition are clearly marked.</p> <ul> <li>2 photographs, 1 photograph negative, 1 case of 10 color slides</li></ul>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The Edward Boatner papers reflect his activities as composer, choral conductor, music professor and author of music textbooks. The music in the collection consists of scores for \"Freedom Suite,\" his musical comedy \"Julius Sees Her in Rome, Georgia,\" and his opera \"Troubled in Mind.\" There are also scores for four gospel songs written by Boatner, and voice parts for selections from his musical play, \"He Will Answer.\"."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Edward Boatner papers, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Giselle Glover; machine-readable finding aid created by Apex Data Services; revised by Terry Catapano.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1941
- date_end
-
1980