Kathleen Allums Papers

1.27 ln. ft.

ca. 1940s-1950s

Collection Number 185

Prepared by Kathie Bordelon
June 2006

CITATION: The Kathleen Allums Papers, No. 185, Box number, Folder number, Archives and Special Collections Department, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University.

Archives and Special Collections Department

Frazar Memorial Library

McNeese State University

Biographical Sketch 

One of the original 13 faculty members, Kathleen Allums, professor of music, came to McNeese in 1939 when it was Lake Charles Junior College, a branch of Louisiana State University. She retired at the end of the spring semester in 1979.  

To many area citizens Allums symbolized McNeese and music in this region. At the outset she taught classes in music appreciation and theory, and conducted the vocal ensembles, as well as serving as piano instructor. A frequent performer through the years, Miss Allums served as accompanist, assisted at the second piano concerto performances and participated in various chamber ensembles, in addition to her solo appearances. 

Her training included the acquisition of two bachelor’s degrees, from Northwestern State University and LSU, as well as the master of music degree, also earned at LSU. She also spent a sabbatical year studying in France and enjoyed summer study at the University of Michigan, the Eastman School of Music, the Julliard Institute of Music and in Mexico City. 

Miss Allums helped develop all of the music curricula at MSU, taught all the piano students for a number of years, coached student soloists and aided each succeeding department head in many ways.  

During McNeese’s second year, she aided the new music teacher, Francis G. Bulber, in the formation of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus, which has brought much renown to the University and to the city. 

It was through her efforts that the McNeese chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota was organized and became the first national organization of any type on campus. She served continuously as the faculty advisor. (taken from Lake Charles American Press, May 12, 1979)

Scope and Content Note 

The collection consists of Allums’ publication, Piano Teaching Literature, a partial scrapbook on La Voix de Musique from the 1940s at McNeese, programs for various recitals, and a 1913 composition published by the Regent Music Publishing Company in Lake Charles by Edwin H. See. Items removed from the collection include the following:

(1) Three scores cataloged for the Marino Collection: “That’s For Me” from State Fair, “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” and “I Love You Truly;” (2) One composition put in Jordahl Collection #154: “Twelve Miniatures;” and (3) One composition put in Faculty Publications Collection #079: “Two Shorts and a Long” by Kenneth Gaburo. A list of the copies of compositions which were included in the materials but which were cataloged for the Music Library or sent to the Tulane Music Library which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina is in the Control File for this collection. 

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