Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1987 Lena Milam, 1884-1984: Music Educator and Pioneer in the Development of Community Music in Beaumont, Texas. Louis Randolph Babin Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Babin, Louis Randolph, "Lena Milam, 1884-1984: Music Educator and Pioneer in the Development of Community Music in Beaumont, Texas." (1987). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 4434. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/4434 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. 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LENA MILAM, 1884-1984: MDSIC EDUCATOR AND PIONEER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY MUSIC IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Mill SlAAk a m • a a I 1 avwa vwk ux a n uncwmqiiawoa VV/AXOjC in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The .Schobl of Music by Louis Randolph Babin B.M.Ed., Louisiana State University, 1965 M.M.Ed., Louisiana State University, 1968 December 1987 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ©1988 LOUIS RANDOLPH BABIN All R ights R eserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the members of my doctoral committee for their support through­ out this study. I would like to thank Dr. Cornelia Yarbrough for her scholarly guidance and encouragement, and Dr. Robert F. Shambaugh for his aid in the formulation of the study. Particular thanks is due Eloise Milam, Doris Morrison, and Edna Brocks for their kind assistance in gathering data, and Delores Black for her help in collating the data. Special acknowledgement is given to my wife, Janie, for the many hours she spent typing the text, and for her advice, support, and encouragement, without which this project would not have been possible. I would also like to thank my sons David and Brent, for their understanding and patience during the writing of this study, and my parents, Willard and Joan Babin, for their love and support. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................... ii ABSTRACT ........................................... vi INTRODUCTION ....................................... 1 Chapter I. THE FORMATIVE PERIOD, 1919-1930 ............. 10 Music Education in the Schools .............. 1 c The Elementary Schools ................... 15 The Junior High Schools ................... 17 Beaumont High School ..................... 23 School Music Clubs ....................... 30 Community Involvement ....................... 31 The Music Study Club ..................... 31 The Woman's Club ......................... 36 Other Clubs and Organizations .............. 40 The Schubert Ensemble ..................... 41 Music Week ............................... 44 The Beaumont Music Commission .............. 48 Private Teaching ............... ..... 56 State and National Influence ................ 58 The Texas Federation of Music Clubs ........ 58 Membership in Professional Organizations . 60 Summer Teaching and Study ................. 61 II. DEPRESSION AND RECOVERY, 1931-1941............ 63 Music Education in the Schools .............. 68 The Elementary and Junior High Schools . 68 Beaumont High School ..................... 70 Participation in Annual School and Community E v e n t s ................ 80 The School Music Festival ................ 81 The Jefferson County Music Festival . 82 The Community Christmas Program .......... 83 The South Texas State Fair .............. 84 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Participation in State Organizations and Contests •••••« ........... So Special Projects and Curriculum Development . 86 Community Involvement ........................ 88 The Music Study C l u b ........................ 88 The Woman’s C l u b ............................ 91 Other Clubs and Organizations................ 96 The Schubert Ensemble ...................... 98 The First Methodist Choir and Orchestra . 102 The Beaumont Music Commission .............. 105 Private Teaching .......................... Ill State, National, and International Influence. Ill The Texas and National Federation of Music C l ubs............................... Ill Memberships in Professional Organizations . 114 Summer Teaching and Study .................. 117 Honors and Awards........................... 119 III. THE WAR YEARS, 1942 - 1945 123 Music Education in the S c h o o l s ............... 127 The War E f f o r t ............................. 127 The Elementary and Junior High Schools . 129 Beaumont High S c h o o l ....................... 130 Participation in Community Events .......... 131 Participation in State Organizations and C o n t e s t s ................................. 133 Other Activities........................... 134 Community Involvement ........................ 135 The Music Study C l u b ....................... 135 The Woman’s C l u b ........................... 139 Other Clubs and Organizations............... 141 The Beaumont Music Commission .............. 142 Private Teaching .......................... 146 State and National I n f l u e n c e ................. 147 The Texas and National Federation of Music C l u b s ..................................... 147 Membership in Professional Orgnaizations . 149 Honors and Awards........................... 150 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. IV. POSTWAR TO RETIREMENT, 1946-1955 1 5 2 Music Education In the S c h o o l s ............ 158 The Elementary and Junior High Schools .