Skip to main content

Advanced search

BIPOC Platforming

Title: BIPOC Platforming
Description: Beyond expanding the classical music repertoire that was available for performance and study, Patterson was also invested in creating opportunities and spaces for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists and scholars at the University of Michigan. He platformed BIPOC artists and scholars primarily through the King/Chavez/Parks (KCP) Visiting Professorship program and through his efforts to host the 1985 Black American Music Symposium, a conference that brought together Black scholars, composers, and artists to network and discuss Black classical music. Arguably, his work with students also constituted BIPOC platforming—see the Supporting Students collection for further materials.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

What difficulties arose for Patterson as he worked to create more opportunities and events for BIPOC artists and scholars? Would the same difficulties be faced today?

What are the benefits to addressing racial justice and equity by focusing on platform creation (as opposed to focusing primarily on repertoire expansion, direct reparations, or other such efforts)?

RELATED COLLECTIONS:; Expanding the Repertoire; Supporting Students

Items

Advanced search

Letter from Adolphus Hailstork to Willis Patterson, October 11, 1987
A thank you note for Patterson's role in bringing Hailstork to campus as a KCP visiting professor.
Memorandum from Willis Patterson to Misc. University of Michigan Administration
Patterson writes to Interim President Fleming, Vice-President Johnson, Associate Vice-President Swain, Provost Duderstady, Vice-Provost Moody, Dean Boylan, and Dean John D'Arms to report about the expenditures for the April 3, 1988 MLK Memoriam Concert, and to request that funds be made available for the concert to become an annual event. The budget sheet for the 1988 concert is enclosed.
Memorandum from Willis Patterson to Paul Boylan regarding Several Matters
This memorandum mostly concerns ways to use minority alums and state legislature requests to increase minority student recruitment and retention at the School of Music, or, "our efforts to locate quality black students who might be attracted to come here."
Letter from Adolphus Hailstork to Robert Reynolds, October 11, 1987
A note of thanks for a recent performance of Hailstork's piece "American Guernica" by Reynolds and his "outstanding ensemble" from the School of Music Band program. The letter appears to have been forwarded to Willis Patterson by Reynolds based on the handwritten note added at the bottom.
Guest Faculty Recital of the Chamber Compositions of Adolphus Hailstork Program
This recital featured a variety of Adolphus Hailstork pieces. Louise Toppin sang, among many other faculty performers.
Leon Bates KCP Visiting Professorship Events Flyer
This flyer advertises Leon Bates' residency at the University of Michigan School of Music from March 28–April 1, 1988. The advertised events include a master class, meeting with Minority Music, Dance & Theater students, guest recital, DMA seminar, and piano literature class.
Memorandum from Willis Patterson to Jocina Davis regarding KCP Visiting Professorship Supplement, including several enclosures.
Patterson requests assistance in securing funding from the KCP program for Josephine Love to teach "The Music of Black Americans" while Rae Linda Brown is on a post-doctoral fellowship. The following enclosure are attached to the memorandum: Memorandum from Willis Patterson to Charles Moody regarding Supplement to the School of Music MLK/Chávez/Parks Visiting Professor Program, 1988-89, dated September 2, 1988. This is Patterson's initial funding request. Memorandum from Linda Largin to Willis Patterson regarding Nomination of Josephine Love as a King/Chávez/Parks Visiting Professor, dated September 22, 1988. This is the program's request for additional information.
Memorandum from Willis Patterson to Paul Boylan regarding Projections for Visiting MLK/Chávez/Parks Professorships - 1988–89
Proposals for 1988–89 KCP visiting professors, including David Baker, Charlotte Heth, Undine Smith Moore, Hale Smith, and Andre DeShields. This file is incomplete as only the first two pages of the memorandum are present, and it is abruptly cut off at the end.
Letter from Paul Boylan to Willis Patterson, May 20, 1988
A thank you note for Patterson's work on KCP visiting professorship proposals for 1988–89.
Memorandum to Willis Patterson from Charles D. Moody, Sr. regarding the Martin Luther King, Jr. - Cesar Chávez - Rosa Parks Visiting Professors Program, January 24, 1990
Notification of approval of funds for the Uptown String Quartet, and notice that substitutions must be reviewed by the committee.
Memorandum to Paul Boylan from Willis Patterson
It is unclear whether or not this memorandum was sent—it is unitialed and undated. It discusses funding shifts and potential KCP visiting professors that align with the 1989–90 KCP discussions in other materials.
Memorandum to Paul Boylan from Willis Patterson regarding KPC Visiting Professors for 1989–90
This memorandum primarily discusses some changes to the KCP visiting professorship funding, as well as possible nominees for 1989–90. It also provides some insight into the wide range of other simultaneous projects that Patterson was working on.
King/Chávez/Parks Visiting Professors Program Nomination Form for T.J. Anderson
The form nominating T.J. Anderson as a replacement for Nina Kennedy as a KCP visiting professor.
Expense Report for King/Chavez/Parks Visiting Professorship of Take 6
Expenses from the KCP visiting professorship of Take 6, a gospel/jazz group, including lodging, publicity, and a lunch, totalling $2,523.64.
Memorandum to Willis Patterson from Charles D. Moody, Sr. regarding the Martin Luther King, Jr. - Cesar Chávez - Rosa Parks Visiting Professors Program, February 12, 1990
Letter clarifying complications resulting from the School of Music's attempt to switch out a previously approved KCP visiting professor, Nina Kennedy, for a different artist, T.J. Anderson.
Letter to the Minority Music, Dance, and Theatre Students Organization from Rae Linda Brown
Announcement about Josephine Love's upcoming residency as a KCP visiting professor and a concert marking the twentieth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death.
Memorandum to George Schlecht from Scott L. Ward
A request to transfer funds to provide reimbursements for KCP visiting professors, including Fransisco Rivera-Batiz, Hazel Carby & Henry Gates, Pearl Primus & Onwin Borde, Andre DeShields, Undine Smith Moore, and Al Young.
Memorandum to Professors Ghitalla and D. Smith from Willis Patterson
A thank you note for Ghitalla and Smith's support of the Hailstork Chamber Music Concert on September 27, 1987, passed along from Adolphus Hailstork.
Memorandum to Paul Boylan from Willis Patterson regarding Martin Luther King Jr./Rosa Parks Visiting Professorships
An update about Leontyne Price's lack of availability. Patterson suggests inviting Adolphus Hailstork, Eileen Southern, Samuel Floyd, and/or Leon Bates.
Letter to Willis Patterson from Paul Boylan, September 10, 1987
Notification that Marilyn Breiter will handle publicity for the School of Music's KCP visiting professorships.
Memorandum to Willis Patterson from Martin Luther King, Jr. - Rosa Parks Coordinating Committee
Acknowledges recent funding request to the King-Parks Coordinating Committee in support of a Frederick Douglass oratorio, and requests a budget for a visit from Adolphus Hailstork during Black History month for the oratorio's performance.
Letter to Willis Patterson from Paul Boylan, May 18, 1987
Boylan requests that Patterson "sound out" Leontyne Price's availability for the KCP visiting professorships program.
Memorandum to Robert Holmes from Willis Patterson
Contains the School of Music's final nominations for the next KCP visiting professorships—Adolphus Hailstork, Leon Bates, and Josephine Harreld Love—with their biographies and a projected budget.
Letter to General George Price from Willis Patterson
This letter inquires about Leontyne Price's potential availability for a two week visiting professorship. General George Price is potentially Leontyne Price's brother or uncle.
Memorandum to Willis Patterson from Annette Bardouille-Crema
Memorandum with information about the KCP visiting professorships program (here called the King-Parks visiting professorships program).