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Inventory of the Mildred L. Hendrix Papers, 1951 - 1968

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Descriptive Summary

Title
Mildred L. Hendrix Papers, 1951 - 1968.
Creator
Hendrix, Mildred L.
Extent
6.0 Linear Feet,
6,000 Items
Repository
University Archives, Duke University
Abstract
Mildred Hendrix (1905-1985) was the Chapel Organist and University Organist at Duke University from 1944 to 1967 and Professor of Music from 1944 to 1969. The papers include correspondence, certificates, general subject files, recital materials, photographs, and other programs related to her career as an organist and organ instructor at the University. Major subjects in this collection are music for chapel services, organ instruction and performance, scholarly study of the organ, Duke University Chapel programming, and the Duke University Music Department.
Language
English.
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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is required for use.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Mildred L. Hendrix Papers, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Mildred L. Hendrix Papers were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1976, 1983.
Processing Information
Processed by Emily Glenn
Completed November 2002
Encoded by Jill Katte, August 2003
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
            

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Biographical Note

Mildred Little Hendrix was born in Greensboro, N.C. in 1904. She began studying piano and organ at age 7 and received her first degree in Music from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, N.C. (B.S., 1926). From 1928 to 1929, she took graduate courses in directing and church music at Union Theological Seminary and Brick Presbyterian Church (N.Y.). Also during 1929, Hendrix studied piano at the Philadelphia Conservatory (Pa.). She was a piano soloist and professional accompanist for leading singers, instrumentalists, and conductors during her twelve years in Philadelphia.

Hendrix held positions as organist and choir director at several churches in the Greensboro, North Carolina area. From 1949 to 1952 she spent summers studying at the Organ Institute in Andover, Massachusetts with Ernest White and other organists. From 1953 to 1969 she studied organ with Dr. Arthur Poister at Syracuse University (N.Y.).

In 1944, Hendrix became the Duke University Chapel Organist and the University Organist. At the Chapel, she performed for weddings, funerals, Commencement Recitals and Baccalaureate services, and for all church services. She arranged special performances for Easter and delivered Handel's Messiah every Christmas. She also lectured to groups visiting the Chapel, performed monthly recitals and convocations, and answered all correspondence regarding chapel music. Hendrix worked closely with Rev. James T. Cleland to arrange music for chapel services. Also in 1944, she was also appointed Professor of Music. She taught organ literature, history, and performance, and offered private lessons to students.

In 1963 she was granted a scholarship by the French Government, Division of Cultural Affairs, to study at the International Academy of Music and Art in Nice, France. There she took private lessons with Pierre Cochereau and studied French organ music, instrument history, and music performance. In 1965 she studied in Haarlem, Holland at the International Academy at St. Bavo's Cathedral.

Hendrix was a member of many professional organizations, including the American Guild of Organists, National Guild of Piano Teachers, Pi Kappa Lambda (national honorary music fraternity), the Matinee Music Club of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Music Club, and the Main Line Music Club. She was a frequent recitalist for various state chapters of the American Guild of Organists.

In fall 1967 she became University Organist Emerita in order to devote more time to teaching in the Music Department. She retired from teaching in 1969, but continued to give recitals around the east coast and teach private lessons until her death in 1985.

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Collection Overview

Papers contain personal correspondence, correspondence with organ students concerning practice times and lesson arrangements, records of works played during sermons, clippings and biographical information on organists invited to perform at Duke, photographs, course syllabi, evaluation of potential students, and correspondence and conference material relating to professional organizations. Also contains bulletins and minutes for Music Department faculty meetings (ca. 1960-1967).
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Subject Headings

These and related materials may be accessed under the following subject headings in the Duke University Libraries online catalog.
  • Hendrix, Mildred L.
  • Duke University. Chapel.
  • Duke University. Chapel--Organs.
  • Duke University--Faculty.
  • Duke University. Dept. of Music.
  • Organ Music--20th century.
  • Organ (Musical instrument)--Instruction and study.
  • Organ (Musical instrument)--North Carolina--Durham.
  • Organ (Musical instrument)--Performance.
  • Organ (Musical instrument)--United States.
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Photographic Files: Hendrix, Mildred L.
University Archives, Duke University.

News Service Biographical Files: Hendrix, Mildred L.
University Archives, Duke University.

List of Series in Collection
Correspondence, ca. 1951-1968
Department of Music, Duke University
Students, 1962-1968.
Chapel music, 1953-1968
American Guild of Organists, 1954-1965
Recitals, ca. 1962-1968
Personal materials.
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Detailed Description of the Collection

Correspondence, ca. 1951-1968

Contains professional and personal correspondence, including the renovation of the chapel organ in 1966.
Ordered alphabetically and chronologically.

Box 1
   Folder 1
Personal Letters, prior to 1954
   Folder 2
Responses, Personal Letters, 1954-1955
   Folder 3
A, 1960-1968
   Folder 4
B, 1960-1964
   Folder 5
B, 1964-1968
   Folder 6
B Responses, 1953-1959
   Folder 7
Biggs Registration and Program, 1968
   Folder 8
C, 1961-1968
   Folder 9
C Responses, 1953-1959
   Folder 10
Correspondence, Chapel Organ Renovations
   Folder 11
Correspondence, Dr. James T. Cleland
   Folder 12
D, 1961-1968
   Folder 13
D Responses, 1951-1959
   Folder 14
E, 1961-1968
   Folder 15
E Responses, 1955-1956
   Folder 16
Correspondence, Mary Etta Eyler, 1969
   Folder 17
F, 1960-1968
   Folder 18
F Responses, 1956
   Folder 19
G, 1960-1968
   Folder 20
G Responses, 1951-1955
   Folder 21
H, 1960-1966
   Folder 22
H, 1966-1968
   Folder 23
H Responses, 1951-1960
   Folder 24
Correspondence, Holtkamp, 1963-1965
   Folder 25
I, 1960-1967
   Folder 26
I Responses, 1951
   Folder 27
J, 1960-1968
   Folder 28
J Responses, 1951-1955
   Folder 29
K, 1951-1968
   Folder 30
K Responses, 1951-1968
   Folder 31
L, 1960-1968
   Folder 32
L Responses, 1953-1959
   Folder 33
M, 1960-1964
   Folder 34
M, 1960-1968
   Folder 35
M Responses, 1951-1959
   Folder 36
Mc, 1960-1967
   Folder 37
Mc Responses, 1953-1958
   Folder 38
Miscellaneous, 1951-1968
   Folder 39
Correspondence, Murtagh Concert Management, 1964-1966
   Folder 40
N, 1960-1968
   Folder 41
N Responses, 1955
   Folder 42
O, 1960-1967
   Folder 43
Correspondence, "Out of Town" recitals
   Folder 44
P, 1960-1964
Box 2
   Folder 45
P, 1964-1968
   Folder 46
P Responses, 1955-1960
   Folder 47
Poem "The Stone", also Stanza 4 for "For the Fallen"
   Folder 48
Q, 1963
   Folder 49
R, 1960-1967
   Folder 50
R Responses, 1951-1955
   Folder 51
S, 1958-1968
   Folder 52
S Responses, 1951-1960
   Folder 53
T, 1960-1968
   Folder 54
Kimi Tanaka
   Folder 55
Trip, National Academie, Nice, France, Summer 1963
   Folder 56
V, 1966-1968
   Folder 57
W, 1960-1964
   Folder 58
W, 1965-1968
   Folder 59
W Responses, 1951-1955
   Folder 60
Correspondence, Wunderlich's Generals
   Folder 61
Correspondence, Reverend Howard C. Wilkinson
   Folder 62
X,Y,Z, 1960-1967

Department of Music, Duke University

Contains general notes about curriculum, faculty meetings, departmental organization.
Ordered by date.

   Folder 63
General notes prior to 1960
   Folder 64-65
General notes, 1960-1961
   Folder 66-70
Faculty Notes, 1963-1968
   Folder 71-73
Bulletins, 1961-1964, 1967-1968
   Folder 74
Humanities Council

Students, 1962-1968.

Contains correspondence, lesson plans, and job opportunities for organ students of Mildred L. Hendrix.
Ordered by date.

Box 3
   Folder 75
Prospective Organ Students, Fall 1962-Fall 1967
RESTRICTED [Student Information]
   Folder 76
Prospective Organ Students, Spring 1968-Fall 1968
RESTRICTED [Student Information]
   Folder 77
Course outlines
   Folder 78
Job opportunities for students

Chapel music, 1953-1968

Contains materials from organ and choir performances at the Duke University Chapel.
Ordered by topic.

   Folder 79
Choir Hymns, ca. 1963-1968
   Folder 80
Choir Presentations
   Folder 81
Preludes and Postludes, 1965-1967
   Folder 82
Wedding Services, 1953-1961
   Folder 83-84
Weekly Organ Music, 1961-1968

American Guild of Organists, 1954-1965

Contains correspondence, brochures, student activity reports, and conference planning materials for the 1965 conference held at Duke University.
   Folder 85
General materials, 1954-1961
   Folder 86
General materials, 1960-1968
   Folder 87
Small brochures
   Folder 88
Southeastern Regional Convention
   Folder 89
Students, 1964-1965
   Folder 90
Organists, Summer Academy, 1968
   Folder 91
Visiting organists

Recitals, ca. 1962-1968

Contains correspondence, programs, and notes regarding recitals at Duke University and elsewhere. Also contains planning and correspondence related to the "Quiet Music" nights held on Sundays in Baldwin Auditorium.
Ordered by date.


Recitals of Mildred L. Hendrix
   Folder 92-96
Recitals, 1954-1967
   Folder 97
Recitals not performed, 1965-1966
   Folder 98-99
Baldwin Auditorium, "Quiet Music", ca. 1964-1966
   Folder 100-102
Commencement Recitals, 1961-1968
   Folder 103
Palm Sunday, Organ and Strings Program, Mildred Hendrix, Organ; Allan H. Bone, Conductor, 22 March 1964
   Folder 104
Easter Music, 14 April 1968
   Folder 105
Christmas Music, 10 December 1967

Student Recitals
   Folder 106
Elender G. Dennis, Senior Organ Recital, 19 November 1961
   Folder 107
Jere T. Farrah, Senior Organ Recital, 16 April 1967
   Folder 108
Richard B. Fuller, Senior Organ Recital, 21 April 1968
   Folder 109
J. Samuel Hammond, Senior Organ Recital, 11 February 1968
   Folder 110
Catherine Frances Little, Senior Organ Recital, 17 March 1963
Box 4
   Folder 111
William K. Stuart, Senior Organ Recital, 10 March 1968
   Folder 112
Advanced, Chamber Music with Organ, 8 May 1964
   Folder 113
Advanced, 18 April 1967
   Folder 114
Voice and Organ Recital, Students of Hendrix and Hanks, 1962
   Folder 115
Group recital, Methodist Student Center, 1963-1966
   Folder 116
Advanced Organ, Baldwin Auditorium, 5 May 1968

Recitals of Visiting and Guest Organists
   Folder 117
Dr. Nelson F. Adams, 13 February 1966
   Folder 118
Arnold Briggs, Jr., 14 February 1965
   Folder 119
Cochereau, Pierre, 17 April 1966
   Folder 120
Fernando Germani, 20 November 1966 (cancelled)
   Folder 121
Anton Heiler, 14 October 1962
   Folder 122
George R. Hicks, 9 January 1966
   Folder 123
Robert Burns King, 2 February 1964
   Folder 124
LaVahn Maesch, 8 November 1964
   Folder 125
Andre Marchel, 5 November 1961
   Folder 126
Marilyn Mason, 26-27 April 1965
   Folder 127
Karel Paukert, 14 November 1965
   Folder 128
Vincent Persichetti, 6-11 April 1966
   Folder 129
Arthur Poister, 12-13 November 1966
   Folder 130
Preston Rockholt, 5 February 1967
   Folder 131
Carl E. Stout, 4 February 1962
   Folder 132
Carl Weinrich, 3 February 1963
   Folder 133
Gillian Weir, 15 October 1967
   Folder 134
Gordon Wilson, 19 April 1964
   Folder 135
Edward B. Wright, 6 January 1963
   Folder 136
Heinz Wunderlich, 10 November 1963
   Folder 137
Potential guest organists

Personal materials.

Contains resume, family notes and genealogy, and publicity samples from Hendrix and other organists. Publicity samples include performance announcements and general public relations and advertising material created for professional organists to gain employment.
   Folder 138
Rsum
   Folder 139
Family Genealogy
   Folder 140-141
Publicity samples