Born: 15 May 1904, United States
Died: 25 August 1986
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Merle Campbell
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
1904, May 15 Born Merle Campbell, Davidson, Okla.
1924 Married Pleasant Parx Montgomery (died 1929). BFA, Piano, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
circa 1924 Adopted son Milton
1929-1931 Studied privately with Nadia Boulanger and Isidore Philipp
1929-1933 (Summers) Studied at the American Conservatory of Music, Fontainebleau, France
1931-1933 Extension teacher, Music Theory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
1933 Diploma, American Conservatory of Music, Fontainebleau, France
1933-1934 Private teacher, Oklahoma City, Okla.
1934-1938 Head, Piano and Theory, Southwestern Oklahoma College, Weatherford, Okla.
1936 Composed 17 Songs for Children. Chicago, Ill.: Scott Foresman and Co.
1937 M.M., Music Theory, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y.
1938-1943 Assistant state supervisor and state supervisor, Federal Music Project for Oklahoma
1939 Composed Song for Child for Jack and Jill Magazine. Composed 8 Songs for Children
1940 Editor, Oklahoma Music News
1943-1945 Teacher, Piano and Theory, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y.
circa 1945-1954 Lecturer for Schillinger System of Musical Composition and national educational representative, Carl Fischer Inc., New York, N.Y.
1946-1948 Completed dissertation A Comparative Analysis [and translation] of Vincent D’Indy’s “Cours de Composition Musicale.” Ph.D., Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y.
1951-1953 President, New York Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon
circa 1955 Producer, writer, and host, Let’s Go to Musicland! (series of thirteen fifteen-minute films), University of Oklahoma Educational Service Division
1956 Selected Oklahoma Woman of the Year by Soroptimist International of Oklahoma
1956-1966 Assistant manager and educational consultant, Music Department, Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y. Teacher, piano and music theory, Turtle Bay Music School and Westchester Conservatory, N.Y.
1957 Married A. Walter Kramer (died 1969)
circa 1958 Published Music Theory Papers. New York: C. Fischer
1958-1960 President, New York Federation of Music Clubs
1959 Published Music Composition Papers. New York: C. Fischer
circa 1963-circa 1972 Compiler, editor, two volumes in the Scribner Music Library
1964 Named Outstanding Alumna for Distinguished Service, University of Rochester
Elected to Trustees’ Council of Alumni Advisors, University of Rochester
1964-1966 National vice-president in charge of public relations and governor of Atlantic Province, Mu Phi Epsilon
circa 1965 Charter member, New York City Opera Guild
1967 Received National Citation from Mu Phi Epsilon
1967-1971 Coordinator of symphonic repertoire and vice-president in charge of public relations, Carl Fischer Inc. Manager, Ford Foundation Recording-Publication Program, Carl Fischer Inc.
1971 Founding member, Board of Directors, New York Philomusica Chamber Ensemble
1971-1975 President, National Federation of Music Clubs
1974 Elizabeth Mathias Award from Mu Phi Epsilon
1975-1976 Chairperson, Bicentennial Parade of American Music, National Music Council
1975-1979 President, National Music Council
1976 Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
1977 Given Distinguished Service Citation, University of Oklahoma
circa 1977 Vice-president, Musicians Club of New York
1979-1980 Project director, National Black Music Colloquium and Competition
circa 1982 National Federation of Music Clubs representative to the United Nations
1986, Aug. 25 Died, Chantilly, Va.