Correspondence regarding Letter from President Kennedy
In the summer of 1963, President Kennedy sent a letter to schools across the country requesting a report on their implementation of non-discriminatory admission policies. William Marbury, Charles Kent, and U.S. Commissioner of Education Francis Keppel exchanged correspondence about this letter.
William Marbury, Charles Kent, Francis Keppel
Letter from William Marbury to Francis Keppel, 1963 July 22, Folder 8 (M), VII.A.10, Conservatory of Music Series A: Office of the Director Subseries 6: 1962-63 General Files H-R, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
Letter from Charles Kent to William Marbury, 1963 July 24, Folder 8 (M), VII.A.10, Conservatory of Music Series A: Office of the Director Subseries 6: 1962-63 General Files H-R, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
Letter from Francis Keppel to William Marbury, 1963 August 15, Folder 2 (M), VII.A.14, Conservatory of Music Series A: Office of the Director Subseries 6: 1963-64 General Files M-R, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
Letter from William Marbury to Charles Kent, 1963 August 20, Folder 2 (M), VII.A.14, Conservatory of Music Series A: Office of the Director Subseries 6: 1963-64 General Files M-R, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1963 July 22, July 24, August 15, August 20
Dedication of the Peabody Institute
Photograph of the grand opening of the Peabody Institute in 1866.
PIRG.12.01, Peabody Institute photographs, https://cdm16613.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16613coll13/id/197/rec/69.
1866
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Discrimination in Administrative Policies correspondence
In 1952, Conservatory Dean Virginia Carty received a letter from Walter E. Hager, President of Wilson Teachers College in Washington, D.C., as a follow up to a 1950 Regional Conference on Discrimination in College Administration. Hager asked for a report on any change in discriminatory policies, enrollment of minority students, and creating a more inclusive culture. Conservatory Director Reginald Stewart told Carty, “We have nothing to report,” and Carty responded by saying that “our policy is to accept students for regular work in the Conservatory whenever they are ready to undertake the course. This is done regardless of race, religion or creed.” This statement is significant because no discussion of this policy had been recorded since the determination in 1949 that African-American students would be accepted to the Conservatory on a case-by-case basis only.
Walter E. Hager, Virginia Carty, Reginald Stewart
Discrimination in Administrative Policies correspondence, 1952 November 10, 17, December 19, Regional Conf. on Discrimination...Nov. 1952, 40-53 Dean’s Correspondence, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1952 November 10, 17, December 19
Ellis Larkins Juilliard Scholarship
Although he studied with Peabody faculty members off campus, pianist Ellis Larkins could not officially enroll at Peabody because of his race. He received this acceptance and scholarship letter from the Juilliard School of Music during the summer before his eighteenth birthday.
George A. Wedge
Ellis Larkins Juilliard Scholarship, 1941 June 19, Ellis Larkins corres, documents, clippings, programs 1930s, Box 2, Ellis Larkins papers, PIMS.0075 Series I: Photocopied Scrapbooks & Personal Papers, Arthur Friedheim Library Special Collections, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1941 June 19
Ellis Larkins Peabody Enrollment
Pianist Ellis Larkins, a Baltimore native and child prodigy, was never allowed to enroll at the Peabody campus. This enrollment record from the 1939-1940 school year notes his studies with Peabody faculty member Pasquale Tallarico who taught him at home. The record includes a note by his name that reads “(colored)” and information about his lesson time: 4-5 on Saturdays at his home of 1519 W. Lanvale St.
Peabody Institute
Ellis Larkins Peabody Enrollment, 1939-1940, Ellis Larkins correspondence (professional) 1973-1985, Box 2, Ellis Larkins papers, PIMS.0075 Series I: Photocopied Scrapbooks & Personal Papers, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1939-1940
Ellis Larkins portrait
Ellis Larkins was a childhood piano prodigy from Baltimore, MD. He was famous within Baltimore at a very young age, making his debut with the City Colored Orchestra in 1934 at the age of six. Although taught by Peabody faculty members, Larkins was never allowed to enroll at the school because of his race. He later received an honorary Bachelor's Degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 1985.
Ellis Larkins portrait, Photographs, Folder 1, Box 1, Ellis Larkins papers, PIMS.0075, Arthur Friedheim Library Archives, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
Ellis Larkins Recital Program for Peabody Benefit
In 1936, young pianist Ellis Larkins performed this recital at the Phipps Auditorium (likely at Johns Hopkins Hospital) for the benefit of the Peabody Institute. Larkins was used to raise funds for Peabody despite their refusal to accept him to the school because of his race.
Ellis Larkins Recital Program for Peabody Benefit, 1936 April 21, Ellis Lane Larkins, 1933-1941, Box 1, Ellis Larkins papers, PIMS.0075 Series I: Photocopied Scrapbooks & Personal Papers, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1936 April 21
Interview about Summer Youth Project 1967
This is an interview involving Peabody and non-Peabody affiliates, in which the purpose and other details of the Summer Youth Program are discussed.
Interview about Summer Youth Project, May 1967, Special Youth Project 1967 Proposal Original and Final, VII.P.1, Conservatory of Music Summer Youth Project 1967, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1967
Letter from Crystal Larkins to Anne Garside
Crystal Larkins sent this letter to Peabody Public Relations Director Anne Garside following Ellis Larkins’ receipt of an honorary Bachelor’s Degree from Johns Hopkins the month before.
Crystal Larkins
Letter from Crystal Larkins to Anne Garside, 1985 May 4, Ellis Larkins correspondence (professional) 1973-1985, Box 2, Ellis Larkins papers, PIMS.0075 Series I: Photocopied Scrapbooks & Personal Papers, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1985 May 4
Letter from Crystal Larkins to Robert Pierce
In 1984, the year before Ellis Larkins received an honorary Bachelor's Degree from The Johns Hopkins University, his wife, Crystal Larkins, sent this letter to Robert Pierce, Director of the Peabody Conservatory.
Crystal Larkins
Letter from Crystal Larkins to Robert Pierce, 1984 August 20, Ellis Larkins correspondence (professional) 1973-1985, Box 2, Ellis Larkins papers, PIMS.0075 Series I: Photocopied Scrapbooks & Personal Papers, Arthur Friedheim Library, Peabody Institute, The Johns Hopkins University.
1984 August 20