Nickerson, Camille

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)