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George R. Woodhead papers

 Collection
Identifier: PIMS-0023

Scope and Contents

The George R. Woodhead papers contain personal documents and a collection of concert programs. The personal papers (series 1) include correspondence, sheet music, teaching material, documents relating to the organizations Woodhead was involved in, publications, financial documents, newspaper clippings, photographs, and reel-to-reel tape. Series 1 also contains financial and estate documents related to Lucy Dixon Bingham.

Series 2 is comprised of concert programs collected by Woodhead. Many of the programs list the Goucher-Hopkins Chorus as a participant. These particular programs have been placed in the Goucher College folders. The miscellaneous programs are from various performances primarily in the Baltimore area.

Dates

  • Creation: 1941 - 1993
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1953-1993

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Some material in Series 1 related to the estate of Lucy Dixon Bingham may be restricted. Please contact the Peabody Archivist regarding this material. The rest of the collection is open to research use at the Peabody Archives.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish or perform materials in this collection must be submitted in writing to the archivist of the Arthur Friedheim Library.

Biographical / Historical

George Woodhead (1921-1995) was an organist and choral conductor in Baltimore. He was involved in music very early in life, playing the organ for St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dundalk at 13 years old. He later played for St. John Lutheran Church in Pimlico as well.

Woodhead served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II as an Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Psychiatrists from 1942 to 1946. Woodhead then served as the Veteran’s Counselor at Peabody Conservatory from 1946 to 1949. He studied at the Peabody Conservatory as an organ and voice major, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1953 and his master’s degree 1954.

Woodhead was the organist and choirmaster at Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton, director of the Johns Hopkins Glee Club, director of the Bach Society of Baltimore, director of the Baltimore Lutheran Chorale, and chorus master of the Baltimore Opera Company. At the Peabody Institute he served as conductor of the Peabody Preparatory Department Chorus, the Peabody Madrigal Group, and the Peabody Chorus. He also taught at Goucher College, Essex Community College, Johns Hopkins University, and St. Mary’s Seminary.

Woodhead received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Peabody Institute in 1971 and the Johns Hopkins Heritage Award in 1993.

Extent

0.76 Cubic Feet (2 full-sized letter boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The George R. Woodhead papers contain personal papers and concert programs acquired over his career as a choral conductor and professor of music at Goucher College and other musical institutions in the Baltimore area. The documents include correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, teaching material, and financial documents. The majority of the concert programs come from performances by local churches, Johns Hopkins University, Goucher College, and the Bach Society of Baltimore.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bequest of Rodney Hansen in 1998.

Processing Information

Processed by Scott Miller.

Title
Guide to the George R. Woodhead papers
Author
Kerri Sheehan
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Peabody Archives Repository

Contact:
Peabody Institute
1 E. Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore MD 21202 USA