The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Robert S. Cox Special Collections & University Archives Research Center
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Hicks, Adeline

Adeline Hicks Papers

1917-1987
3 boxes 1.25 linear feet
Call no.: FS 070

Professor of Physical Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst when it was known as Massachusetts Agricultural College who established the physical education program for women and helped to create the women’s gymnasium and athletic field. In her retirement she composed music that was performed by the University of Arizona orchestra.

Includes musical scores, lesson-plan photographs illustrating instruction in modern dance, correspondence, printed programs for performance of the musical compositions, text of an address, a history of physical education for women at Massachusetts State College by Mrs. Hicks, personnel records, and brief biographical items.

Biographical Note

Adeline E. Hicks, a graduate of the Michigan State Normal College in 1909, and B.A., 1925, established the physical education program for women at the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1917, was made a member of the faculty in 1921, and became Physical Director for Women in 1927. She was one of the earliest exponents of modern dance as part of the physical education curriculum. Under her direction the old Drill Hall was renovated into the women’s gymnasium in 1931, and a new athletic field for women was opened in 1936. In 1937 Mrs. Hicks resigned after twenty years of distinguished service, which were marked by a citation from the Board of Trustees. In 1949 she retired to Arizona with her husband, Curry S. Hicks, who was head of the department of physical education of the College from 1911 until 1949.

In retirement Mrs. Hicks’ interest in modern dance turned toward the creation of music, and for ten years she composed in many different forms and for many different instruments and combinations, including symphonic forms. All of her symphonic pieces were performed by the University of Arizona Orchestra between 1970 and 1976, and many of her compositions for smaller groups were also performed there, between 1967 and 1976.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Adeline Hicks Papers consist largely of manuscript musical scores and parts, composed by Mrs. Hicks in the 1960s and 1970s at the University of Arizona. Also included are lesson-plan photographs illustrating instruction in modern dance given by Mrs. Hicks at the University of Massachusetts during 1917-1937. To these have been added brief biographical items, including correspondence and poetry; the text of an address; a history of physical education for women at Massachusetts State College written by Mrs. Hicks in 1936; and printed programs for performances of many of her musical compositions.


Information on Use
Terms of Access and Use
Restrictions on access:

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Adeline E. Hicks Papers (RG 40/11 Hicks). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Additional Formats

Some materials, primarily photographs and biographical materials including correspondence, University reports, poetry and clippings, have been digitized and are available online at:
http://clio.fivecolleges.edu/umass/40-11faculty/hicks/

History of the Collection

Acquired from Adeline Hicks in June 1981.

Processing Information

Processed by SCUA staff.


Additional Information

Sponsor
Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Language
English.


Contents List
Series 1. Biographical and Instructional Materials
n.d.
Biography
Box 1:1
Lesson-plan photos for modern dance instruction
Box 1:2
Series 2. Musical Compositions: Large Forms
1970-1976, n.d.
Autumn For orchestra.
1970
Box 1:3
Note:

Fugue. For orchestra.
1976
Box 1:4
Measured Notes For band.
n.d.
Box 1:5
A Musical Sentence. For band.
n.d.
Box 1:6
A Small Symphony. For orchestra.
n.d.
Box 1:7
Theme and Variations. For orchestra.
1971
Box 1:8
Verses Without Chorus. For band.
1972
Box 1:9
The Wanderer – His Journey. His Song For orchestra.
n.d.
Box 1:10
Note:

Series 3. Musical Compositions: Small Forms
1967-1976, n.d.
At Times, Adrift. For harp.
n.d.
Box 2:11
Autumn For string quartet.
n.d.
Box 2:11
Note:

Away The Night. For woodwind quintet.
n.d.
Box 2:11
Brass Trio. For trumpet, horn, trombone.
n.d.
Box 2:11
Busy Days. For trumpet, horn, trombone.
n.d.
Box 2:11
Calls. For 2 trumpets, trombone.
1967
Box 2:12
Flute Tones. For flute quartet.
n.d.
Box 2:12
Forthreto. For piano.
n.d.
Box 2:12
Fugue (Sax Quartet)
1975
Box 2:12
Gigue. For flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, b’assoon.
1969
Box 2:12
Is It Not So? For solo trumpet, with song.
n.d.
Box 2:13
Maybe So. Piano duet.
1976
Box 2:13
Minuet. For string quartet.
n.d.
Box 2:13
Modern Armada. For solo oboe, w. piano acc.
n.d.
Box 2:13
Organ Study, w. Andrew W. Buchhauser.
n.d.
Box 2:13
Piano Duet, with canon woven into it.
n.d.
Box 2:14
Resolution. For woodwind quintet.
1968
Box 2:14
Rondo. For oboe, Bb & bass clarinet, bassoon.
n.d.
Box 2:14
Rondo–Minuet. For woodwind quartet.
1968
Box 2:14
Serenade. Piano duet.
n.d.
Box 2:14
Shenandoah. For oboe,E.H., trombone, bar. sax.
n.d.
Box 2:15
Singular Melody. For piano.
1967
Box 2:15
Song in C Major. For clarinet and piano.
1969
Box 2:15
Songs. Piano-vocal score:
1969-1970
Christmas Eve at Sea
Box 2:15
Desert Song and Rhythms
Box 2:15
A Fleeting Thought or Two
Box 2:15
Is It Not So
Box 2:15
Note:

Occurrences
Box 2:15
Thanksgiving Hymn (Autumn)
Box 2:15
Note:

The Wanderer – His Journey. His Song.
Box 2:15
Note:

A Source There Is. For woodwind quintet.
n.d.
Box 2:16
Spring! For woodwind quartet.
1969
Box 2:16
Spring! For flute and piano.
1976
Box 2:17
Strange Spring. For fls., ob., cl., bn., percus’n,
n.d.
Box 2:17
That-a-Way. For flute quartet.
n.d.
Box 2:18
This-a-Way (XLIV) For saxophone quartet.
n.d.
Box 2:18
This-a-Way (XLV) For brass quintet.
1976
Box 2:18
Through The Ages – The Song. The Dance. “Recorders?”
n.d.
Box 2:18
Today’s Way. For English horn and piano.
n.d.
Box 2:19
Together They Go. For string quartet.
n.d.
Box 2:19
Two and Three. For 2 trumpets, 1 trombone.
1967
Box 2:19
2 Dance Suites. For piano.
n.d.
Box 2:20
Vision. For woodwind quintet.
n.d.
Box 2:20
Whole Tone Tryout. For piano.
n.d.
Box 2:21
Winds of Woodlands. For fl., oboe, bn., timpani,
n.d.
Box 2:21
Woodwind Quintet. For fl., oboe, cl., horn, bn.
n.d.
Box 2:21
Woodwinds With Piano. For flute, oboe, E.H., clarinet, and piano.
n.d.
Box 2:21

Subjects

University of Massachusetts Amherst--FacultyUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst. Department of Physical Education

Contributors

Hicks, Adeline