Research Catalog

Title

Bertha Des Verney papers, 1929-1977.

Author

Des Verney, Bertha.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

.6 lin. ft. (1 printbox, 1/2 archival box)

Summary

The Bertha Des Verney Papers include programs and flyers for musical events with which Des Verney was involved, such as productions sponsored by Mother A.M.E. Zion Church and its Dramatic Club, and concerts held in Harlem featuring African American singers and musicians that she promoted. Included among her papers are holograph music of her arrangements and compositions, annotated musical texts and incomplete scripts and programs from some of the plays and dramatic productions that she wrote and/or directed. For the Washington Music School there are reports, financial records and a history of the school, 1931. Material for the National Association of Negro Musicians includes programs for conventions. The collection also includes two scrapbooks, one of which contains news clippings and programs for musical concerts, primarily featuring of African-American artists, 1929-1957.

Subjects

• African Americans > Music
• Sheet music
• African American musicians
• Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (New York, N.Y.)
• African American women composers
• African American music teachers
• African Americans in the performing arts
• African American singers
• Programs
• Des Verney, Bertha
• Composers
• Scores
• Arrangers (Musicians) > United States > 20th century
• Harlem (New York, N.Y.)
• Scrapbooks
• National Association of Negro Musicians (U.S.)
• Washington Music School (Albany, N.Y.)
• Black author
• Ministers of Music and Drama League (New York, N.Y.)

Genre/Form

• Scores.
• Sheet music.
• Programs.
• Scrapbooks.

Note

• Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
• Audiotapes, videotapes and films transferred to Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division.
• Books and magazines transferred to General Research and Reference Division.

Source (note)

• Unknown

Biography (note)

• Bertha Des Verney was an African American pianist, composer/arranger, singer, playwright, concert promoter, and music teacher, who devoted much of her time to church and community activities. Des Verney joined Harlem's Mother A.M.E. Zion Church in 1919 and for more than forty years served as the director of several of its choirs and was president of the church's Dramatic Club. Among other educational responsibilities, she was director of the Washington Music School in Albany, New York in the 1930s. Des Verney was a member of the National Association of Negro Musicians, serving as president in 1964. She also organized the Ministers of Music and Drama League, which honored performing artists. She died in 1975 in New York City.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Preliminary finding aid available.

Call Number

Sc MG 449

OCLC

608233079

Author

Des Verney, Bertha.

Title

Bertha Des Verney papers, 1929-1977.

Biography

Bertha Des Verney was an African American pianist, composer/arranger, singer, playwright, concert promoter, and music teacher, who devoted much of her time to church and community activities. Des Verney joined Harlem's Mother A.M.E. Zion Church in 1919 and for more than forty years served as the director of several of its choirs and was president of the church's Dramatic Club. Among other educational responsibilities, she was director of the Washington Music School in Albany, New York in the 1930s. Des Verney was a member of the National Association of Negro Musicians, serving as president in 1964. She also organized the Ministers of Music and Drama League, which honored performing artists. She died in 1975 in New York City.

Indexes

Preliminary finding aid available.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Occupation

Composers.

Local Subject

Black author.

Research Call Number

Sc MG 449