View source for Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression

{{Short description|Former music academy in Washington, D.C., United States}}
'''Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression''' was a private [[music school|music academy]] founded by [[Harriet Gibbs Marshall]] in 1903 in [[Washington, D.C.]] to train African Americans in music.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Cultivating Music in America: Women Patrons and Activists Since 1860|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=L4UylL6JGZcC&pg=PA233|publisher = University of California Press|date = 1997-01-01|isbn = 9780520083950|first = Ralph P.|last = Locke|first2 = Cyrilla|last2 = Barr}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|jstor = 1214428|title = Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression|last = McGinty|first = Doris|date = 1979|journal = The Black Perspective in Music|doi = 10.2307/1214428|volume = 7|issue = 1 (Spring 1979)|pages = 59–74}}</ref> The Conservatory remained open until 1960 making it the longest operating music school for African Americans.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==History and productions==
After working teaching music in various places in the country Gibbs, not yet married, came to Washington, DC, initially employed in the public school system.<ref>* {{cite news
| title =Annual May musicale
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =7
| date =May 25, 1903
| url =https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01170608203652011011519137663
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}{{subscription required}}
* {{cite news
| title =The May musicale
| newspaper =The Colored American
| location =Washington, DC
| page =5
| date =June 13, 1903
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595310/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_later/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> She founded the Washington Conservatory of Music in 1903.  It focused on classical European music.<ref name=":0" />
In Spring 1905 the Conservatory was noted in the newspapers with a concert given by its students - enrollment was noted at over 160.<ref>* {{cite news
| title =Mu-so-lits entertain
| newspaper = Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =15
| date = March 13, 1905
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17606764/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
* {{cite news
| title =Washington Conservatory Concert
| newspaper =The Washington Post
| location =Washington, DC
| page =10
| date =14 Mar 1905
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17606211/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> In the Fall of 1905 Gibbs was noted as director of the music among the colored schools of DC as well as president of the Conservatory - and in September Gibbs and friends took a trip to Europe – London, Paris and the countryside of France – joined by her sister, Ida Hunt, noted as the wife of the US consul to Madagascar.<ref>{{cite news
| title =Musical ladies abroad
| newspaper =Cleveland Gazette
| location = Cleveland, OH
| page =1
| date = September 9, 1905
| url =https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01170608203652011011519138996
| access-date = February 21, 2018 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> On return from her 9 month stay in Europe she noted that colored students attending German or French music schools were well received and noted [[Hazel Harrison]] as had a recent debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.<ref>* {{cite news
| title =That the daughter…
| newspaper =The Washington Post
| location =Washington, DC
| page =4
| date =March 18, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595806/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_soon/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
* {{cite news
| title =Indiana student praised
| newspaper =The Indianapolis Star
| location =Indianapolis, IN
| page =3
| date =March 24, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17600410/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_now/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> Newly married in Spring 1906, Gibbs wed Napoleon Bonaparte Marshall, a graduate of [[Harvard University]] (A.B. 1897) and [[Harvard Law School]] (J.D. 1900).<ref>Marshall, Harriet Gibbs. On Captain Napoleon B. Marshall, 1931. W. E. B. Du Bois Papers (MS 312). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries</ref> As was the custom of the time, as a married woman, she at first resigned her employment with the school system,<ref>{{cite news
| title =The resignation of…
| newspaper = The Washington Post
| location =Washington, DC
| page =2
| date = May 24, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595856/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_now/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> however there was an attempt to withdraw the resignation that failed despite vocal support from an unnamed group of people.<ref>* {{cite news
| title =The withdrawal…
| newspaper =The Washington Times
| location =Washington, DC
| page =9
| date =May 30, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595898/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_now/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
*{{cite news
| title =?? Layton vindicated
| newspaper =Washington Bee
| location =Washington, DC
| page = 1
| date = June 2, 1906
| url =https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01170608203652011011519139173
| access-date = February 21, 2018 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> The closing of the Conservatory school year had its own recital.<ref>{{cite news
| title =The closing pupils’ recital…
| newspaper =The Washington Post
| location =Washington, DC
| page =5
| date =June 10, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595936/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_now/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref>
In the Fall of 1906 advertisements for the Conservatory began calling it the "Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression" with 14 faculty.<ref>{{cite news
| title =The Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression
| newspaper = Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =59
| date = August 19, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17591317/advert_for_later_bahai_harriet_gibbs/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> Newspaper coverage in and beyond DC of the new year noted its history to 1903, that it now had more than 600 students since its founding, and reviewed the faculty in some depth - including staff that would later be officers of the institution as well as her husband.<ref>* {{cite news
| title =For colored youth…
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =59
| date = August 19, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17591337/about_later_bahai_harriet_gibbs/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
* {{cite news
| title =Excellence of Washington Conservatory of Music
| newspaper = The New York Age
| location =New York, NY
| page =3
| date =September 13, 1906
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592258/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> In 1910 Illinois federal Representative [[Martin B. Madden]] handed out the diplomas for the graduates of the Conservancy.<ref>* {{cite news
| title =Musical school graduates
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =20
| date =June 2, 1910
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592366/harriet_gibbs_marshall_has_graduating/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
* {{cite news
| title =Ten graduates in music
| newspaper = Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =7
| date =June 4, 1910
| url =https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01170608203652011011519139709
| access-date = February 21, 2018 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> Several columns of the ''[[Washington Bee]]'' covered the event.<ref>{{cite news
| title =The conservatory for music
| newspaper = The Washington Bee
| location =Washington, DC
| page =5
| date = June 11, 1910
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17600806/later_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshal/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref>
In 1911 advertising for the Conservatory appeared in ''[[The Crisis]]'' as well as St. Paul newspapers.<ref name=1911adverts>*{{cite magazine|magazine=The Crisis|title=The Washington Conservancy and School of Expression|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UloEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 |date=April 1911|publisher=The Crisis Publishing Company, Inc.|pages=34–|issn=0011-1422}}
•  {{cite news
| title =Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression
| newspaper =The Appeal
| location =Saint Paul, MN
| page =2
| date = June 10, 1911
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592442/bahais_and_dc_conservancy/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> Marshall also took a trip around promoting the school including to [[Saint Louis, Missouri]],<ref> {{cite news
| title =Mrs. Harriet Gibbs Marshall…
| newspaper = The Washington Bee
| location =Washington, DC
| page =5
| date =April 29, 1911
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592425/soon_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_on/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> and coverage appeared in ''[[The Pittsburgh Courier]]'' underscoring its students came from all races and sexes and was called unique for doing so and had now had some 1400 students to date coming from many states though only 23 had stayed on through graduating with a diploma.<ref name=TPCJun17-1911>{{cite news
| title =Musical center in Washington |author=Oliver Randolph
| newspaper =The Pittsburgh Courier
| location =Pittsburgh, PA
| page =1
| date = 17 Jun 1911
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592472/already_or_soon_bahais_and_dc/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> The ''Courier'' coverage also noted scholarships had been given and listed the donors who had covered the scholarships.<ref name=TPCJun17-1911/> The officers of the school were noted and included [[George William Cook]] of Howard University, and [[Fisk University]] graduate and past president of the [[Bethel Literary and Historical Society]], [[Louis G. Gregory|"Lewis" (Louis) G. Gregory]], as well as others<ref name=1911adverts/><ref>Note "Lewis" was used for Louis Gregory in various advertisements:
*  {{cite news
| title =Bethel Literary Association
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =20
| date =May 12, 1909
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17601635/bahai_lewis_louis_g_gregory/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
*  {{cite news
| title =Lewis(sic) G. Gregory of Washington DC…
| newspaper =The Topeka State Journal
| location =Topeka, KS
| page =8
| date =March 30, 1922
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17602657/bahai_lewis_louis_g_gregory_gives/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name=TPCJun17-1911/> An [[elocution]] program was added.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title = Cultivating Music in America: Women Patrons and Activists Since 1860|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=L4UylL6JGZcC&pg=PA233|publisher = University of California Press|date =January 1, 1997|isbn = 9780520083950|first = Ralph P.|last = Locke|first2 = Cyrilla|last2 = Barr|page = 233}}</ref> That year's commencement gained additional coverage around the country.<ref>*  {{cite news
| title =Graduates in music
| newspaper = Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =12
| date =June 17, 1911
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17603991/soon_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshal_and/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
*  {{cite news
| title = Graduates give musicale
| newspaper = The Washington Herald
| location =Washington, DC
| page =5
| date =June 17, 1911
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592494/soon_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_and/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
*  {{cite news
| title =Musical center in Washington
| newspaper =Franklin's paper the Statesman
| location =Denver, CO
| page =7
| date =July 1, 1911
| url =https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91052311/1911-07-01/ed-1/seq-7.pdf
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> A Conservatory recital was held in February, 1912.<ref> {{cite news
| title =The Melville Charlton Recital
| newspaper = The Washington Bee
| location =Washington, DC
| page =5
| date =February 17, 1912
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592846/soon_bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> In September Marshall took a trip in the West again,<ref> {{cite news
| title =Miss Harriet Gibbs Marshall…
| newspaper =The New York Age
| location =New York, NY
| page =6
| date =September 5, 1912
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592866/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_on_trip/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> this time including Chicago and Detroit.<ref> {{cite news
| title =Mrs Harriet Gibbs Marshall…
| newspaper =Washington Bee
| location =Washington, DC
| page =5
| date =September 7, 1912
| url =https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01170608203652011011519141476
| access-date = February 21, 2018 }}{{subscription required}}</ref>
The Conservancy produced Gilbert and Sullivan's ''[[The Mikado]]'' in the [[Howard Theater]] in February 1913.<ref> {{cite news
| title =The nation's capital; The negro to make showing in inaugural parade
| newspaper =The Freeman
| location = Indianapolis, IN
| page =1
| date =February 22, 1913
| url =https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01170608203652011011519141821
| access-date = February 21, 2018 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> That spring the Conservatory produced a commencement performance where most of the compositions were from the pupils themselves many of whom were colored.<ref>*  {{cite news
| title =Graduates in music entertain friends
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =4
| date =May 23, 1913
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592945/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_school/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}
{{cite news
| title =Crescent theatre
| newspaper = The New York Age
| location =New York, NY
| page =6
| date = May 29, 1913
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17592980/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_school/
| access-date = February 21, 2018}}</ref> In December a [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]] meeting was hosted at the conservancy - attending included [[Laura Clifford Barney]] and her husband, [[Charles Mason Remey]] and others.<ref>{{cite news
| title =Parisians address Bahai (sic) meeting
| newspaper = Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =17
| date = 11 Dec 1913
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17688482/bahais_dreyfusbarneys_and_charles/
| access-date = Feb 22, 2018}}</ref>
In 1917 Marshall and Gregory were mentioned giving some scholarships.<ref>{{cite news
| title =The Washington Conserbvatory…
| newspaper = The New York Age
| location =New York, NY
| page =5
| date = 28 Jun 1917
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17593095/bahais_louis_g_gregory_and_harriet/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref>
In 1920 Marshall began a campaign to raise funds for a national conservancy which would include negro music.<ref>{{cite news
| title =To establish a national conservatory…
| newspaper =The Nebraska State Journal
| location =Lincoln, NE
| page =28
| date =5 Dec 1920
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17593141/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_on/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> In April 1921 the Conservancy produced a program for a fundraiser that covered periods of "negro music and drama" in New York.<ref>{{cite news
| title =JA Jackson’s page; Three periods represented
| newspaper = The Billboard
| location =New York, NY
| page = 45
| date =May 14, 1921
| url =http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2024/New%20York%20NY%20Billboard/New%20York%20NY%20Billboard%201921/New%20York%20NY%20Billboard%201921%20-%203758.pdf
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> Marshall returned to the pursuit of a national conservancy in April 1922, calling together various leaders in black music and a followup production of the "negro music and drama" was scheduled for May.<ref>{{cite news
| title =National negro music center |author= Frank Dambrosch
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =56
| date = 16 Apr 1922
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17603521/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_and/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> [[Walter Damrosch]] was listed as specifically supporting the idea of the national conservatory.<ref>{{cite news
| title =National negro music center
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =56
| date = 16 Apr 1922
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17603521/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_and/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> A Conservancy student recital followed in May.<ref>* {{cite news
| title = A students’ recital will…
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =39
| date =21 May 1922
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17593493/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_school/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}
* {{cite news
| title =Musical mention
| newspaper =Evening Star
| location =Washington, DC
| page =31
| date =28 May 1922
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17593527/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_school/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> Broader recognition of respect for negro music was summarized including Marshall's work in 1922.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Story of negro music woven rough courage, sorrow, hope
| newspaper = Livingston Democrat
| location = Geneseo, NY
| date =Aug 30, 1922
| url =http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252017%2FGeneseo%2520NY%2520Livingston%2520Democrat%2FGeneseo%2520NY%2520Livingston%2520Democrat%25201921-1922%2FGeneseo%2520NY%2520Livingston%2520Democrat%25201921-1922%2520-%25200697.pdf
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> Marshall was approaching having something for a national conservancy set up in New York by May 1924,<ref>{{cite news
| title =Study Jewish music
| newspaper = The Orlando Sentinel
| location =Orlando, FL
| page =3
| date =21 May 1924
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17593660/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_on/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> but instead she went to Haiti with her husband's work, making a brief return trip in August,<ref>{{cite news
| title =Mrs. Harriet Gibbs Marshall…
| newspaper =The Pittsburgh Courier
| location =Pittsburgh, PA
| page =16
| date =30 Aug 1924
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17593685/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_on_visit/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> as he was appointed to a commission to investigate abuses during the [[United States occupation of Haiti]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title = Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music and Cultural Nationalism|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=BevX9ATCxZQC&pg=PA154|publisher = University of Chicago Press|date =May 1, 2006|isbn = 9780226468655|first = Michael|last = Largey|pages = 154–155}}</ref> They returned by February 1927.<ref name=NYAFeb26-1927>{{cite news
| title =The Haitian Brotherhood…
| newspaper =The New York Age
| location =New York, NY
| page =5
| date = 26 Feb 1927
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17594245/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_talk/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref> By 1934 Marshall was acknowledged as director of the Conservancy again.<ref>{{cite magazine
| title =Memorial services to S. Coleridge-Taylor
| magazine =The New York Age
| location =New York, NY
| page =5
| date =11 Aug 1934
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17603762/bahai_harriet_gibbs_marshall_at_dc/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref>
Marshall died on February 21, 1941, in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Notable Black American Women|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ssMBzqrUpjwC&pg=PA431|publisher = VNR AG|date = 1996-01-01|isbn = 9780810391772|first = Jessie Carney|last = Smith}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title = Lights of the Spirit: Historical Portraits of Black Baháʼís in North America, 1898-2004 |url =https://books.google.com/books?id=L2KVX4mx1xEC&pg=PA58 |publisher = US Baháʼí Publishing Trust |date =January 1, 2006|isbn = 9781931847261|first = Gwendolyn|last = Etter-Lewis|first2 = Richard|last2 = Thomas|first3 = Richard Walter|last3 = Thomas}}</ref> She bequeathed all her inheritance to the Washington Conservancy.<ref>{{cite magazine
| title =Woman bequeaths all property to DC music school
| magazine =The Pittsburgh Courier
| location =Pittsburgh, PA
| page =2
| date =22 Mar 1941
| url =https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17603935/obitbequest_of_bahai_harriet_gibbs/
| access-date =Feb 21, 2018 }}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{coord|38.949467|-77.101746|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-DC|display=title}}
[[Category:Music schools in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Defunct schools of the performing arts in the United States]]
[[Category:African-American culture]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1903]]
[[Category:1960 disestablishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 1960]]