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Clothing and Accessories
Women's Clothing ➔ Dress
Identifier:
2022.87.1Description:
This circa 1950’s blue and black silk floral dress was owned by Lucile Levy Hutton of New Orleans, Louisiana. Hutton was a public educator, author, and active participant in New Orleans music circles. She was a longtime music teacher at Valena C. Jones Elementary School, a piano teacher, and a member of the B-Sharp Music Club among other musical affiliations.Hutton left a lasting legacy in education, and is credited with over 20,000 students receiving vocal and instrumental music education in what was previously called the New Orleans Negro Public Schools. The participation of schools in New Orleans’ famous parades and festivals are a result of Hutton’s work. In the 2020s Hutton's contributions are being recognized by historians and she is being considered in the renaming of some of New Orleans' public schools.
Hutton’s niece who donated this dress is a resident of Grand Rapids.
Date:
circa 1950Materials:
SilkDimensions:
41.5" h 23.5" w 0.25" dCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 1Source:
Gift of Julie WestraLinks:
http://amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu/archon/?p=collections/findingaid&id=47&q=&rootcontentid=29284Related Entities:
Julie Westra (donor) Lucile Levy Hutton (used by)Lucile Levy Hutton was an educator, author, and music lover was an active participant in New Orleans music circles. She was a longtime music teacher at Valena C. Jones Elementary School, a piano teacher, and a member of the B-Sharp Music Club among other musical affiliations. She was also a member of Central Congregational United Church of Christ and the author of "This is a Grand Work: A History of Central Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) New Orleans, Louisiana, 1871-1977," a publication chronicling the church's history.
Lucile Levy Hutton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 9, 1897. She graduated from the Normal Department of Straight College (now Dillard University) in 1916. She received a B.A. degree in Music Education from Oberlin College (Ohio) in 1933, and an M.A. degree in Music Education from Northwestern University (Illinois) in 1948. Additionally, she studied music at Millis College in Oakland, California, the University of California at Berkeley, and Columbia University in New York. In 1916, she received a teaching position with the New Orleans Public School System and remained until her retirement in 1962. She taught at Valena C. Jones Elementary School for 12 years, and later served as consultant in vocal music for 23 years.
She acted as commentator for the Booker T. Washington Series of Young People's Concerts sponsored by the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra and as coordinator of the annual Music Festival of Negro Public Schools held in the Municipal Auditorium from 1948 to 1962. She also conducted a private piano studio at her home. Hutton was a long time member of Central Congregational United Church of Christ, serving as its historian from 1958 to 1983. She authored the church's history covering 116 years in a publication entitled, "This is a Grand Work: A History of Central Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) New Orleans, Louisiana, 1871-1977."
She was a member of several professional, civic, and cultural organizations, among which were Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., B-Sharp Music Club, Dillard University Alumni Association, Friends of the Amistad Research Center, New Orleans Retired Teachers Association of the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association, and the New Orleans Y.W.C.A.
(Courtesy of Amistad Research Center)