George Whitfield Andrews Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-054

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection, consisting of six record series, covers only a portion of the life and times of George Whitfield Andrews. In addition to some modest biographical material and nine compositions, one of which is an original (“At Home With the Lord”), incoming and outgoing correspondence (4 folders) exists for the period 1914-1932. Key correspondents include Charles Martin Hall, 1914; Eunice Lea Kettering, 1930s; and Henry M. Tenney, 1929. Subjects covered include funds for the organ in Finney Chapel, the work of the Organ Committee, and the Oberlin Musical Union. Three scrapbooks, 1886-1911, several miscellaneous publications, and a number of photographs round out this collection.

Dates

Creation: 1861-1932, 1935, undated
Creation: Majority of material found within 1880 - 1932
Other: Date acquired: 05/21/1971

Biographical Sketch

George Whitfield Andrews, son of Deacon Melanchthon Zwinglius (1830-1910) and Augusta Caroline Cathcart Andrews (1839-1902), was born in Wayne, Ohio in January 19, 1861. The family moved to Oberlin when George was six years old. His study at Oberlin Conservatory, from which he graduated in 1879, began at age eight. Oberlin conferred an honorary M.A. degree in 1900 and an honorary Mus. degree in 1903, followed by a B.M. degree in 1906.

He joined the Oberlin Conservatory in 1882 as Instructor in organ. In 1882 he was named Instructor in Organ and Composition, and in 1892 became Professor of Organ and Composition. He served the college until his retirement in June 1931. Except for three years in Europe (1184-1886 and 1898-1899 when he studied in Leipzig, Munich and Paris) and a semester leave of absence in Honolulu in 1923-24, he served Oberlin for 50 years as an eminent teacher, virtuoso organist, composer and conductor.

As an organist he was recognized as one of the leading masterful performers in the United States with rare skills in improvisation and was an active recitalist at home and abroad. He was a founding member of the American Guild of Organists, and served leadership positions in the Ohio chapter of that organization.

For twenty years, he conducted the Conservatory Orchestra, and for thirty years Musical Union flourished under his direction performing oratorios, including some new works by Cesar Franck (1829-1917) and Edward Elgar (1857-1934). He was a prodigious composer for organ, piano, and orchestra; many works written as gifts for his students.

Teaching was a congenial area for his many musical talents to combine with his ability to exert his influence on his students by example of his devoted attention to them as individuals and musicians, joy in his work, and his devout, reverential lifestyle. The roster of his students filling important and responsible positions was lengthy.

He married Harriet "Hattie" Augusta Clark (1865-1936, OC 1885) from Wakeman, Ohio on July 3, 1888. There were 3 surviving children: Esther (1891-1964), George Whitfield Andrews, Jr. (1901-1981), and Eleanor Rice (1905-2001). At his death on August 18, 1932 in Honolulu, Hawaii, a memorial service was held there, and later in Oberlin on September 25, 1932.

Note written by Roland M. Baumann.

Extent

1.20 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

Accessions and transfer.

Accruals and Additions

Bulk given by the son of George Whitfield Andrews in 1971 and 1972. Additional material received from a former student, Eunice Lea Kettering, in 1974, and from the Oberlin College Library, Special Collections, in 1994 and 2001. Accessions: 137, 177, 229, 1994/19, 2001/94.