Scan 89
Peoria of to-day with Peoria blue book directory, 1915, 1915
17 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 83. See the scan on archive.org.
1MUSIC AND ART IN PEORIA
3Topography, shaded streets, well paved avenues, handsome boulevards, spacious home places, well trimmed lawns, schools, churches, parks, contribute to beautiful Peoria, but other elements must be considered. Song and verse exert an influence and create inspirations that are vital.
5Peoria is a music center. Four conservatories are the hubs around which revolve musical activities. Aided by two musical societies and the proposed Municipal Fine Arts Center it is destined to be a leading factor in the musical world and already is exerting its influences in Central Illinois.
7THE AMATEUR MUSICAL CLUB
8By Mrs. Bessie Curran Smith
10Away back in the summer of 1906 the need of association of people with a common interest became evident to Miss Katherine Hart, who was meeting her piano pupils, individually, each week. So they agreed to meet regularly together to give programs and to study music for the love of it and the benefit to be derived from such association. The mothers came when they could and in the fall, when school work must be resumed, the older ones decided to meet in the mornings and continue the work. This was done from September to May, when Miss Hart decided that, as a club, it must handle its own affairs and have regularly appointed officers, as her work would not permit her to manage these affairs any longer.
12That was eight years ago, when Mrs. Hinckle became the first official president of the Amateur Musical Club. The next year the club attained the dignity of a printed year book, and step by step it has grown until it has now become a magnificent institution with over one thousand members. After five years of service, Mrs. Hinckle retired and the work, so well begun, has been carried forward under the direction of Mrs. Wellington Housworth and later by Mrs. H. M. Brown. Each year the club has financed some of the best attractions available in America.
14The club is indeed fortunate in securing Mrs. D. C. Chaffee for president during the coming year. Her long experience with musical affairs assures a series of artistic events. The other officers, who are just entering on their duties for the new year, are: Mrs. Jacques Bloom, first vice-president; Mrs. Frank T. Miller, second vice-president; Mrs. Arthur G. Smith, recording secretary; Mrs. Walter Thede, corresponding secretary; Miss Helen Nixon, press secretary; Miss Anna Resor, financial secretary; Mrs. David Lackey, federation secretary; Mrs. W. S. Parry, treasurer; Mrs. Leonard Hillis, auditor. Directors: Miss Emma Frances Martin, Miss Harriet Kidder, Mrs. Alonzo Wookey, Mrs. Rosa Kahn, Mrs. M. L. Houser, and Mrs. Leroy Bird.
16In thinking of the object of the Amateur Musical Club, the whole spirit of it is incorporated in the name itself. In its purest sense, an amateur is one who follows an art for the love of it—not a superficial or defective person. So the Amateur Musical Club is an association of people who are banded together by their love for music, so that in a united effort this love may become so strong that it will fill our whole city.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.