Nickerson, Camille

Dates:
Birth 1887-03-30
Death 1982-04-27

Biographical notes:

African American musician, composer, and music faculty member, Howard University (1926-1962); b. 1888; d. 1982.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1927-ca. 1970. (Moorland-Spingarn Resource Center). WorldCat record id: 70939778

1888 March 30 Born in New Orleans, Louisiana to William Joseph and Julie Ellen Nickerson. n.d. Graduated High School and Normal Courses from Southern University - State Normal and Agricultural College of Louisiana. 1912 16 Entered the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1916. 1916 26 Worked for her father, W.J. Nickerson, at his Music School - Nickerson School of Music, New Orleans, LA. 1923 Returned to Oberlin College for one-year of post-graduate study. 1923 Elected as a member of the Board of Directors of NANM. 1923 24 Trained and directed for their annual concert the Douglas Memorial Chorus of Oberlin, Ohio. 1926 Admitted to Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society. Received "key" from Oberlin College for scholarship. 1926 Elected as Secretary of NANM. 1926 62 Taught at Howard University. Instructor of piano, pipe organ and methods of teaching. Head of the School of Music's Junior Preparatory Department for a period of time while at Howard University. 1930 Received the Rosenwald Fellowship. Traveled for one year in order to collect and transcribe Creole music. Published many creole songs as a result of this fellowship. 1930 Elected as Vice-president of NANM. 1932 Received a Master of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. 1944 Elected as President of NANM. 1982 April 27 Died of pneumonia at the Howard University Hospital.

Source: Biographical Notes found in Personal Papers, Camille Nickerson Papers Box 161-1; Shannon, Sandra G. "Camille Lucie Nickerson Remembered: The Role of 'The Louisiana Lady' in Preserving Louisiana's Afro-Creole Folk Music," Louisiana Literature, Fall 1990, pp. 62-77.

From the guide to the Camille Lucie Nickerson Papers, ca. 1927-ca. 1970, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)

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Subjects:

  • African Americans
  • Folk songs, Creole
  • Music
  • Music by women composers
  • Songs with piano

Occupations:

  • African American college teachers
  • African American women composers
  • African American women musicians

Places:

  • Washington (D.C.) (as recorded)
  • Louisiana (as recorded)

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