Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 16/3/3/7
Iowa State University
Extension and Outreach
Music Program Files, 1926-1993
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Iowa State University. Extension and Outreach |
| title: | Music Program Files |
| dates: | 1910-1993, undated |
| extent: | 2.1 linear feet (5 document boxes) |
| collection number: | RS 16/3/3/7 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections and University Archives Department, Iowa State University. |
| language: | English |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections and University Archives Department |
| preferred citation: | Extension and Outreach Music Program Files, RS 16/3/3/7, Special Collections and University Archives Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Access points
| People, Families, and Corporate Bodies: | Iowa State University. Extension and Outreach |
| Places: | Consult Head, Special Collections and University Archives Department |
| Subjects: | Community music -- Iowa |
| Genres: | Sheet music |
Abstract
In 1906, the Iowa General Assembly appropriated funds to establish a Department of Extension at Iowa State College (University). The Extension Music Program began in 1925 with the hiring of Fannie R. Buchanan as Iowa's first Music Extension Specialist. The Extension Music Program brought music and culture into the lives of many rural Iowans through its short courses, publications, work with 4-H clubs, and the creation of the County Women’s Choruses in 1937. The choruses were phased out in 1993, and the Extension Music Program was discontinued in 1994. The collection contains sheet music, correspondence, photographs, slides, and programs documenting 4-H music programs, rural school music programs, and the County Women’s Choruses. The collection also includes publications sponsored by Extension, many of which were written by Fannie R. Buchanan and Max Exner. |
Historical note
In 1906, the Iowa General Assembly appropriated funds to establish a Department of Extension at Iowa State College (University). Extension work in Iowa began earlier through the pioneering efforts of several people, including Mary B. Welch, James Wilson, and Perry Holden. Holden was appointed the first superintendent of Extension at Iowa State from 1906 to 1912. He focused on three branches of Extension work: demonstration farms, short courses, and education trains. In 1914, the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, creating a nationwide system of cooperative extension services that provide outreach activities through land-grant universities. The Act brought together funding at the national, state, and county levels to support the work of these cooperative extension services, and the program was administered through the United States Department of Agriculture. At ISU, the Department of Extension became Cooperative Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics. In 1966, University Extension was established by merging the short courses service group, farm demonstrations service group, engineering extension service group, and Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS, established in 1962). In 2006, University Extension became Extension and Outreach. The Extension Music Program brought music into the lives of many rural Iowans through its short courses, publications, work with 4-H clubs, and the creation of the County Women's Choruses. In 1925, Fannie R. Buchanan became the first Iowa State Music Extension Specialist (1925-1947) for the Iowa State College (University) Cooperative Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics. Max Exner (1947-1980) and Neil Bjurstrom (1980-1994) were also Music Extension Specialists. The state's 4-H clubs, mainly the girls clubs, would study different types of music, learn songs, and perform at the annual 4-H conventions. In 1934-1935, the clubs studied opera; in particular they focused on the operetta "Bohemian Girl." It was decided that a production of "Bohemian Girl" would be performed by people from across Iowa. Singers totaling 175 from forty-seven counties performed the operetta in June 1935 at Iowa State College in Ames and in January 1936 at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Des Moines. This event made national news. In 1937, the Iowa State College Extension Service and the Iowa Farm Bureau started the County Women's Choruses. The women gathered in the center of the county, usually at the county seat, and were directed by a volunteer leader, usually a former music teacher or someone interested in music. They practiced regularly, usually two to four times a month, and performed at various functions throughout the year. The highlight of the program was the joint appearance of the county choruses together at the state festival, which traditionally opened the first main evening session of the annual Iowa Farm Bureau meeting in Des Moines. The choruses were phased out in 1993. The Extension Music Program was discontinued in 1994. |
Collection description
This collection (1910-1993) contains sheet music, correspondence, photographs, slides, and programs documenting 4-H music programs, rural school music programs, and the County Women's Choruses. The collection also includes publications sponsored by Extension, many of which were written by Fannie R. Buchanan and Max Exner. Some of the materials in this collection, particularly the rural women’s choruses' files, were donated by the Iowa Women's Archives at the University of Iowa in 2004. |
Related materials
Related collections in the Special Collections and University Archives Department, Iowa State University Library include:
|
Organization
The collection is arranged into two series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Extension Music Program Records |
1910-1993, undated |
| extent: | 0.84 linear feet (2 document boxes) |
|
| description: | This series consists of materials related to the Extension Music Program, including 4-H and rural school music programs. The records contain sheet music, news clippings, reports, photographs, and slides. Included are the programs, sheet music, and correspondence related to the 1935 performance of "Bohemian Girl,"coordinated by Extension. In addition, there are materials relating to the Rural Music History Celebration held in 1986, which include programs, correspondence, photographs, and slides. The series also includes publications sponsored by Extension, many of which were written by Fannie R. Buchanan and Max Exner. This series is arranged alphabetically. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1-3 |
4-H boys and girls programs and songs |
1930-1947, undated |
1 |
4 |
4-H music news clippings, programs, and citations |
1936-1985, undated |
1 |
5 |
4-H music publications: "Dreaming: 4-H Club Songs for Girls," by Fannie R. Buchanan |
1935 |
1 |
6 |
4-H music publications: "Music for Family Festivals" |
1927 |
1 |
7 |
4-H music publications: "Songs of the 4-H Clover," by Max Exner |
1964 |
1 |
8 |
"Bohemian Girl": news clippings |
1935, undated |
1 |
9 |
"Bohemian Girl": photographs |
1935 |
1 |
10 |
"Bohemian Girl": programs, correspondence, stage directions, and set and costume designs |
1935-1936, undated |
1 |
11 |
"Bohemian Girl": sheet music |
undated |
1 |
12 |
Club songs |
undated |
1 |
13 |
District Training Schools: letters to Extension personnel |
1948 |
1 |
14 |
Extension music publications: "Around the World with Folk Music" |
1943 |
1 |
15 |
Extension music publications: "Bridge of Song," by Max Exner |
1957 |
1 |
16 |
Extension music publications: "Half-Hour Studies from Famous Operas," by Fannie R. Buchanan |
1938 |
1 |
17 |
Extension music publications: "Iowa Farm Bureau Chorus, Plan and Song" |
1932 |
1 |
18 |
Extension music publications: "Little Studies in American Music," by Fannie R. Buchanan |
1937 |
1 |
19 |
Extension music publications: "Marching Through History: A Brief Study in Music Appreciation" |
1936 |
1 |
20 |
Extension music publications: "Music Gems," by Fannie R. Buchanan |
1939 |
1 |
21 |
Extension music publications: "Music of One World" |
undated |
1 |
22 |
Extension music publications: "Music of the Soil," by Fannie R. Buchanan |
1941 |
1 |
23 |
Extension music publications: "Musical Moments from Latin America," by Fannie R. Buchanan |
1940 |
1 |
24 |
Extension Publications: "Musical Moments with American Composers" |
undated |
1 |
25 |
Extension music publications: "Singing Time" |
1942 |
5 |
9 |
Extension music publications: "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" |
1951 |
5 |
10 |
Extension music publications: "Vreneli" |
undated |
1 |
26 |
Farm Bureau music publications: "Farm Bureau Sings" |
undated |
1 |
27 |
Farm Bureau music publications: "Official Farm Bureau Songs" |
undated |
1 |
28 |
General music publications: Band Shed Music, by Joe Berryman |
undated |
1 |
29 |
Iowa church choir workshop festivals |
1956-1958 |
1 |
30 |
Iowa Rural Young People's Group, Music for Wartime Programs, Pamphlets I, II, VIII |
1914 circa |
5 |
6 |
Loan Kit AG-89: adult choir anthems, general |
1978-1979 |
5 |
7 |
Loan Kit Ins-89 |
1978-1979 |
5 |
8 |
Loan Kit J-89: junior choir anthems |
1978-1979 |
1 |
31 |
"Memory Contest": short course |
1926, 1928 |
2 |
1 |
Music sub-project arranged in four lessons |
undated |
2 |
2 |
National music available on records for broadcasting from WOI |
undated |
2 |
3 |
News clippings |
1937-1993, undated |
2 |
4 |
Overview of activities |
1981 |
2 |
5 |
Photographs of 4-H and Extension Music: groups and individuals including Max Exner |
1954-1978, undated |
2 |
6 |
Program Service for Township Meetings |
1926,1935 |
2 |
7 |
Report: final |
1993 |
2 |
8 |
Rural Music History Celebration: correspondence |
1985-1988 |
2 |
9 |
Rural Music History Celebration: photographs (1 8x10 b/w; 17 3x5 and 52 5x7 color) |
1986 |
2 |
10 |
Rural Music History Celebration: slides (49 color) |
1986 |
2 |
11 |
Rural Music History Proclamation: photograph (1 8x10 b/w) |
1987 |
2 |
12 |
Rural School Music: annotated songbook, New Song Book and Music Reader, by Charles Fullerton |
1910 |
2 |
13 |
Rural School Music: Charles A. Fullerton, news releases and clippings |
1931-1941, undated |
2 |
14 |
Rural School Music: "Personality Development Through Music," by Florence George |
1947 |
2 |
15 |
Rural School Music: Educational Bulletin excerpts relating to rural music |
1930-1931 |
2 |
16 |
Slides: Extension personnel involved in the music program and an image of the 4-H Girls Convention (12 b/w) |
undated |
Description of series
| Series 2 | County Women's Choruses Records |
1934-1993, undated |
| extent: | 2.26 linear feet (3 document boxes) |
|
| description: | This series contains materials pertaining to the County Women's Choruses that were fostered by the Extension Music Program. The records include programs, correspondence, news clippings, and photographs relating to individual county choruses and to the annual state festivals and other events. The series also contains sheet music used by the choruses. Some files came from the Iowa Women's Archives at the University of Iowa. This series is arranged alphabetically. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
3 |
1-4 |
Annual State Festivals: correspondence, programs, budgets, suggestion forms, and sheet music |
1977-1993 |
3 |
5 |
Correspondence between Extension personnel and members |
1936-1989, undated |
3 |
6 |
County Choruses: Allamakee County: news clippings |
1960-1981, undated |
3 |
7 |
County Choruses: Howard County: news clippings |
1986 |
3 |
8 |
County Choruses: Jasper County: news clippings |
undated |
3 |
9 |
County Choruses: Linn County: news clippings |
1937-1983 |
3 |
10 |
County Choruses: Marshall County: correspondence and songbooks |
1950-1953, undated |
3 |
11-12 |
County Choruses: Marshall County: sheet music |
undated |
3 |
13 |
County Choruses: Muscatine County: news clippings and programs |
1935, undated |
3 |
14 |
County Choruses: Paige County: programs |
1956-1990 |
3 |
15 |
County Choruses: Poweshiek County: reports |
1937 |
3 |
16 |
County Choruses: Shelby County: programs |
1948 |
3 |
17 |
County Choruses: Sioux County: news clippings and programs |
1939-1983 |
3 |
18 |
County Choruses: Tama County: news clippings, membership lists and correspondence |
1979-1984, undated |
3 |
19 |
County Choruses: Webster County: news clippings |
1972, undated |
4 |
1 |
County Choruses: Winneshiek County: news clippings and photocopies of photographs |
1976-1985, undated |
4 |
2 |
County Choruses: Worth County: news clippings and correspondence |
1937-1980 |
4 |
3 |
Directors and officers lists |
undated |
4 |
4 |
Photographs: group images (1 8x10 and 8 5x7 b/w) |
1949-1980s, undated |
Map |
Case |
Photographs: choruses at Washington D.C. |
1950 |
4 |
5 |
Plan for activities |
1964 |
4 |
6-10 |
Sheet music for choruses used 1930s-1993 |
1934-1988, undated |
5 |
1-3 |
Sheet music for choruses used 1930s-1993 |
1934-1988, undated |
5 |
4 |
Silver Anniversary Banquet: program |
1956 |
5 |
5 |
Slides of unknown group performing (12 color) |
1982 |