Title: Edward Dickinson Papers, 1870-1946

ID: RG 30/025

Extent: 1.0 Linear Feet

Edward Dickinson, born in West Springfield, MA, on October 10, 1853, was the son of Henry and Angeline Durham Dickinson. Little is known of his parents, or whether he had any siblings. He graduated from Amherst College (B.A. 1876; M.A., 1881). Subsequently, he studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and, then under Phillip Spitta (A Bach Scholar) in Berlin. He also lectured at the University of Berlin (1885‑86, 1888‑89, and 1892‑93). Before coming to Oberlin, Ohio, in 1893 he served as organist and Director of Music at Elmira College in Elmira, NY.

As a new "instructor in musical history and piano forte" he set to work immediately to promote and dignify the study of music history and appreciation. Because considerable antipathy existed to having a full time professor in this specialty, he was also required to teach piano. In time, however, he ceased teaching piano, concentrating only on music history; in the process, Dickinson became the first full time professor of history and criticism of music in the United States. Even at Oberlin's Conservatory this difficult task was achieved despite hurdles. There being no standard texts available for classroom use, Dickinson filled the gap by writing several of them: The Education of a Music Lover (1911), Music and Higher Education (1915), and The Spirit of Music, (1925). They were considered the best in the field into the first half of the 20th century. He was known to use the piano almost exclusively in teaching (before records, tapes, etc.), and began a collection of player-piano rolls of the limited amount of classical music available in that form for use in class. Seminar groups enabled him to concentrate intensively on special areas with students. The latter was regarded as an innovation for the Conservatory.

Although Dickinson never considered himself a critic or historian, he was an educator who championed music in a liberal arts setting. Working with his students he exerted great influence through his courses on the musical taste of the country. He pioneered the teaching of courses in music and fine arts appreciation at the college and university level. A man of great curiosity, familiar not only with music, but also literature, arts, history, and sociology, he could quote generously from many sources, and play music of many composers from memory. He found great joy in teaching and gave generously to his students.

For his valuable contributions to Oberlin College and his specialty of music history, Oberlin College presented to him an honorary doctorate of literature degree in 1911. He retired from the faculty in 1922, leaving a well established department in the Conservatory of Music.

His wife, Jennie Kellogg of Northampton, MA (m. 1882) preceded him in death (d. 1934). They had no children.

Edward Dickinson died on January 25, 1946, after a fall on the stairs in his home in Oberlin. A similar fall six years earlier had severely affected his eyesight.

Sources consulted:

Faculty file of Edward Dickinson (RG 28/3), and the papers of Edward Dickinson (30/25).

Author: Sabra Henke

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Scope and Contents:

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. Title 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)

Includes 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.

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