Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949

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African American composer H.T. (Harry Thacker) Burleigh was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1866. In 1892, he enrolled in the National Conservatory of Music in New York City where he also took a job as assistant to composer Antonin Dvorak. Burleigh graduated in 1896 and continued teaching sight singing at the Conservatory until 1898. In 1894, he became the first African American to hold the position of baritone soloist at St. George's Episcopal Church in lower Manhattan, a position he held for 50 years. In 1898 he married poet Louise Alston, who wrote lyrics for a number of his compositions. They had one son, Alston, born in 1899. Burleigh is known for arranging traditional spirituals for solo voice with accompaniment, including "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Stand Still Jordan," "Go Down Moses," "Deep River," among others. Burleigh died in 1949.

From the description of H.T. Burleigh collection. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 751990004

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hall Clovis papers, ca. 1920-1970, (bulk 1930s) University of California, Santa Barbara. Davidson Library. Department of Special Collections.
referencedIn The J. Rosamond Johnson Papers, 1879-1975 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Johnson, J. Rosamond (John Rosamond), 1873-1954. The John Rosamond Johnson papers, 1879-1975 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Anderson, Marian, 1897-1993. An evening with Marian Anderson [sound recording]. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Ellabelle Davis papers, 1903-[ca. 1950, 1926-1950 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Nettie J. Asberry Photograph Collection, ca. 1917-1941 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1928-1940. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Logan, Rayford Whittingham, 1897-. Papers, 1925-1982. Library of Congress
referencedIn Ellabelle Davis papers, 1903-[ca. 1950], 1926-1950 (bulk). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. In de Lord ... : Negro spiritual / arr. Burleigh ; orchestrated by Harold Byrns. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Trent family. Lloyd A. Trent, Jr. family papers, 1850-1996. University of Massachusetts Amherst, W.E.B. Du Bois Library
referencedIn Brice, Carol, 1916-1985. Papers. 1905-1978. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. I doan' want fu' t' stay hyeah no longer / arr. by H.T. Burleigh. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. Deep river / arranged by H.T. Burleigh. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Alexander, E. R. (Ernest Raymond), 1892-1960. Alexander collection of sheet music, [undated]. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn Lloyd A. Trent, Jr. Family Papers MS 373., 1850-1996 Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
creatorOf DePreist, James, 1936-. Go down Moses ; He's got the whole world in his hands ; Let us break bread together on our knees / orchestrated by James De Preist. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Johnson, J. Rosamond (John Rosamond), 1873-1954. The J. Rosamond Johnson papers, 1879-1975 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Smith, Paul, 1953-. Advancement of Black artists [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
creatorOf Still, William Grant, 1895-1978. William Grant Still and Verna Arvey Papers, 1894-1991. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. I stood on de Ribber ob Jordan : Negro spiritual / arranged by H.T. Burleigh. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Lloyd A. Trent, Jr. Family Papers MS 373., 1850-1996 Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
referencedIn Rayford Whittingham Logan Papers, 1925-1982 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. [In Christ there is no East or West] : old Negro melody / adapted by H.T. Burleigh. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. The absent-minded beggar / [words by] Rudyard Kipling ; [music by] H.T. Burleigh. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Nettie J. Asberry Photograph Collection, ca. 1917-1941 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Music Manuscripts, 1785-1948 Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
creatorOf Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949. H.T. Burleigh collection. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Lawson, Raymond Augustus, 1875-1959. Papers, 1859-1976. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Ambrosini, Jeffrey. Centennial celebration [sound recording] : a voice faculty concert. University of Central Oklahoma, Chambers Library
creatorOf Clovis, Hall. Hall Clovis papers, ca. 1900-1970. University of California, Santa Barbara, UCSB Library
creatorOf Voorhees, Donald. Encores from the Bell Telephone Hour [sound recording]. University of Pennsylvania Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alexander, E. R. (Ernest Raymond), 1892-1960. person
associatedWith Anderson, Alyse, 1899-1965. person
associatedWith Anderson, Marian, 1897-1993. person
associatedWith Asberry, Nettie J., 1865-1968. person
associatedWith Brice, Carol, 1916-1985. person
associatedWith Clovis, Hall. person
associatedWith Davis, Ellabelle person
associatedWith Davis, Ellabelle. person
associatedWith Johnson, J. Rosamond (John Rosamond), 1873-1954. person
associatedWith Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936 person
associatedWith Lawson, Raymond Augustus, 1875-1959. person
correspondedWith Logan, Rayford Whittingham, 1897-1982. person
associatedWith Oxenham, John, 1852-1941 person
associatedWith Still, William Grant, 1895-1978. person
associatedWith Trent family family
associatedWith Trent family family
associatedWith Trent family. family
associatedWith Washington State University Libraries corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
African American composers
African American musicians
African Americans
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices, 4 parts)
Hymns, English
Music
Songs (Medium voice) with piano
Occupation
Arrangers
Activity

Person

Birth 1866-12-02

Death 1949-09-12

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6j67hms

SNAC ID: 52682916