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Frances Elliott Clark (1860-1958) was an early music-appreciation advocate. As a teacher in twentieth-century Ottumwa, Iowa, Clark spent ten minutes in each of her chorus rehearsals telling students about composers or helping them recognize the stylistic features of a work that made it possible to place it in its correct historical context. Shortly thereafter, the phonograph added new opportunities for students to listen to music. Clark, who by 1903 had moved to Milwaukee, told of her introduction to Edison's invention and of its potential. She realized the difference it could make to her students if they could hear professional recordings. Her principal agreed, and approved the purchase of a machine for the schools.
Victor Talking Machine Company 
"His Master's Voice" logo with NipperFounded 1901 Founder Eldridge R. Johnson, Leon F. Douglass Status Merged with RCA in 1929; known today as RCA Records Genre Classical, blues, popular, jazz, country, bluegrass, folk Country of origin United States Location Camden, New Jersey
Frances Elliott Clark (1860-1958) was an early music-appreciation advocate. As a teacher in twentieth-century Ottumwa, Iowa, Clark spent ten minutes in each of her chorus rehearsals telling students about composers or helping them recognize the stylistic features of a work that made it possible to place it in its correct historical context. Shortly thereafter, the phonograph added new opportunities for students to listen to music. Clark, who by 1903 had moved to Milwaukee, told of her introduction to Edison's invention and of its potential. She realized the difference it could make to her students if they could hear professional recordings. Her principal agreed, and approved the purchase of a machine for the schools.
| Victor Talking Machine Company | |
|---|---|
 "His Master's Voice" logo with Nipper | |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Founder | Eldridge R. Johnson, Leon F. Douglass |
| Status | Merged with RCA in 1929; known today as RCA Records |
| Genre | Classical, blues, popular, jazz, country, bluegrass, folk |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Camden, New Jersey |
Clark made herself an authority on the use of the phonograph to teach music to children and in 1910 spoke to the Wisconsin Teachers Association on "Victrolas in the Schools." Edward Bailey Birge, president of the Music Supervisors National Conference (later MENC), invited her to present this subject at his MSNC program in Detroit. Within a year she had moved to Camden, New Jersey, where she established an education department for the Victor Talking Machine Company. She supervised the preparation of recordings designed for use in the classroom*. Recordings were also developed to correlate music with English and American literature. Among other responsibilities, Clark assisted record and Victrola dealers in setting up educational displays to help music educators learn the benefits of the phonograph. Victor issued a number of instructional booklets prepared by Clark and assistants. Clark remained with Victor for the rest of her professional career but kept up with the times in the 1920s when she promoted the radio as an avenue to music appreciation.
~ ~ ~
Although a distant cousin of mine, I have been told that I am very much like Frances: I visited another cousin who was a close friend to Frances. While talking about family history, she interrupted me saying, "It's like going back in time. Like the chats, Frances and I used to have over a cup of tea." She then got up and returned with a letter from Frances. It read like a diary while Frances was traveling around England on a Shakespeare tour. She included a special detour to see the stained-glass window honoring John Eliot.
Like both John and Frances, I write. Like John, I tend to lean toward helping the underdog. Like Frances, I adore music and was a children's choir director for many years. I feel very special knowing I have some DNA from these two extraordinary people.
____________
* The recordings paved the way for music as a separate class. And she fought an uphill battle reaching her goal of music for every child during a still male dominate world.
Clark made herself an authority on the use of the phonograph to teach music to children and in 1910 spoke to the Wisconsin Teachers Association on "Victrolas in the Schools." Edward Bailey Birge, president of the Music Supervisors National Conference (later MENC), invited her to present this subject at his MSNC program in Detroit. Within a year she had moved to Camden, New Jersey, where she established an education department for the Victor Talking Machine Company. She supervised the preparation of recordings designed for use in the classroom*. Recordings were also developed to correlate music with English and American literature. Among other responsibilities, Clark assisted record and Victrola dealers in setting up educational displays to help music educators learn the benefits of the phonograph. Victor issued a number of instructional booklets prepared by Clark and assistants. Clark remained with Victor for the rest of her professional career but kept up with the times in the 1920s when she promoted the radio as an avenue to music appreciation.
~ ~ ~
Although a distant cousin of mine, I have been told that I am very much like Frances: I visited another cousin who was a close friend to Frances. While talking about family history, she interrupted me saying, "It's like going back in time. Like the chats, Frances and I used to have over a cup of tea." She then got up and returned with a letter from Frances. It read like a diary while Frances was traveling around England on a Shakespeare tour. She included a special detour to see the stained-glass window honoring John Eliot.
Like both John and Frances, I write. Like John, I tend to lean toward helping the underdog. Like Frances, I adore music and was a children's choir director for many years. I feel very special knowing I have some DNA from these two extraordinary people.
____________
* The recordings paved the way for music as a separate class. And she fought an uphill battle reaching her goal of music for every child during a still male dominate world.
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