Ruth Barrett Phelps

Ruth Barrett Phelps (October 21, 1899 - August 30, 1980) was an American organist whose career included both theatre organ and church performance.

Ruth Barrett Phelps
Born
Anna Ruth Barrett

(1899-10-21)October 21, 1899
Albany, New York
DiedAugust 20, 1980(1980-08-20) (aged 80)
San Mateo, California
NationalityAmerican
OccupationOrganist
Spouse(s)Laurence Phelps

Biography

Ruth was born on October 21, 1899 in Albany, New York.[1] She studied under a number of well-known teachers including Lilian Carpenter, Lynnwood Farnam, Ernest Mitchell, Fritz Heitmann, and Frank La Forge; and attended Guilmant Organ School in New York City and American School of Music in Fontainebleau, France.[2][3]

In 1926 she was a resident organist at the Colony Theatre in New York City.[4] She moved to the Cameo Theatre in 1928.[4] While in New York she performed concerts of classical music at Aeolian Hall.[4] It was unusual for women to be organists at the time.[3]

She married Lawrence I. Phelps, an organ builder, and from this point on performed as Ruth Barrett Phelps.[4][5] She became the principal organist at The First Church of Christ, Scientist by 1950, the Aeolian-Skinner organ installed during her tenure was designed by her husband.[5][6][7] As a result, she became one of Boston's prominent musicians, and made recordings and national radio broadcasts from the church.[8][9] She was the first woman dean of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Guild of Organists.[7][3] In addition to the church work she gave concerts of classical music.[10] She wrote a monthly review column in The Christian Science Monitor, and published a number of music books.[3]

Ruth Barrett Phelps died on August 30, 1980 in San Mateo, California.[1]

References
  1. "Additional Dates and Information". A Directory of Composers for Organ. John Henderson.
  2. Hawke, H. William (December 16, 2013). "Lynnwood Farnam". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  3. Women of History: Ruth Barrett Phelps. April 6, 2020
  4. Landon, John W. (January 1985). "Biographical Dictionary of Theatre Organists". Theatre Organ. 27 (1): 40. ISSN 0040-5531.
  5. Barnes, William Harrison; Gammons, Edward B. (1970). Two Centuries of American Organ Building. J. Fischer & Bro. p. 111. OCLC 856647447.
  6. "Obituaries: Lawrence Phelps". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. April 9, 1999. p. B7 – via newspapers.com.
  7. "Church Organists of the Nation Want Better Pay". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. June 24, 1950. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  8. Koontz, Jonathan (November 27, 1955). "Local Man Makes Good at 78". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 29 – via newspapers.com.
  9. "Radio Highlights". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. November 28, 1960. p. 5B – via newspapers.com.
  10. "Music This Week". Boston Globe. June 2, 1968. p. A-25 – via newspapers.com.
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