Lucile L. Hutton papers, 1850-1988 | Amistad Research Center

By Beatrice Rodriguez Owsley and Mark Phillips

Collection Overview

Title: Lucile L. Hutton papers, 1850-1988

Creator: Hutton, Lucile Levy (1897-1988)

Extent: 7.8 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The collection has been organized into ten series: Biographical Information and Family History; Career in Education; Central Congregational United Church of Christ and Other Church Affliations; Educational Affliations; Organizational Affliations; Social Club Affliations; Miscellaneous; Photographs; Writings; and Oversize Material.

Date Acquired: 01/01/1989

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The papers of Lucile Levy Hutton occupy 7.8 linear feet of shelf space and cover not only her career in public education; but also chronicle her vigorous participation in civic, religious, and cultural activities. Correspondence (1890-1988) has been kept with related material where it was generated and therefore may be found in six of the ten series. The papers are arranged chronologically within each category.

Biographical Note

Lucile Levy Hutton, educator, author, and music lover was an active participant in New Orleans music circles. She was a longtime music teacher at Valena C. Jones Elementary School, a piano teacher, and a member of the B-Sharp Music Club among other musical affiliations. She was also a member of Central Congregational United Church of Christ and the author of "This is a Grand Work: A History of Central Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) New Orleans, Louisiana, 1871-1977," a publication chronicling the church's history.

Lucile Levy Hutton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 9, 1897. She graduated from the Normal Department of Straight College (now Dillard University) in 1916. She received a B.A. degree in Music Education from Oberlin College (Ohio) in 1933, and an M.A. degree in Music Education from Northwestern University (Illinois) in 1948. Additionally, she studied music at Millis College in Oakland, California, the University of California at Berkeley, and Columbia University in New York.

In 1916, she received a teaching position with the New Orleans Public School System and remained until her retirement in 1962. She taught at Valena C. Jones Elementary School for 12 years, and later served as consultant in vocal music for 23 years. She acted as commentator for the Booker T. Washington Series of Young People's Concerts sponsored by the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra and as coordinator of the annual Music Festival of Negro Public Schools held in the Municipal Auditorium from 1948 to 1962. She also conducted a private piano studio at her home.

Hutton was a long time member of Central Congregational United Church of Christ, serving as its historian from 1958 to 1983. She authored the church's history covering 116 years in a publication entitled, "This is a Grand Work: A History of Central Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) New Orleans, Louisiana, 1871-1977." She was a member of several professional, civic, and cultural organizations, among which were Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., B-Sharp Music Club, Dillard University Alumni Association, Friends of the Amistad Research Center, New Orleans Retired Teachers Association of the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association, and the New Orleans Y.W.C.A.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions: Copyright to these papers has not been assigned to the Amistad Research Center. It is the responsibility of an author to secure permission for publication from the holder of the copyright to any material contained in this collection.

Related Materials:

Central Congregational United Church of Christ records

Valena C. Jones Class Reunion collection

B-Sharp Music Club records

Fannie C. Williams papers

Processing Information: This collection was processed in 1997 and reboxed in July 2010.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Information and Family History],
[Series 2: Career in Education],
[Series 3: Central Congregational United Church of Christ and other Church Affiliations],
[Series 4: Educational Affiliations],
[Series 5: Organizational Affiliations],
[Series 6: Social Club Affiliations],
[Series 7: Miscellaneous],
[Series 8: Photographs],
[Series 9: Writings],
[Series 10: Oversized Material],
[All]

Series 3: Central Congregational United Church of Christ and other Church Affiliations

Included are correspondence (1934-1986), and a copy of "This Is A Grand Work: A History of Central Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) New Orleans, Louisiana, 1871-1977" by Lucile Hutton. The monograph contains the history of the church, biographical information on its ministers and research files containing minutes of meetings, reports, bulletins and programs (1929-1986).

Box 7

Folder 4: American Missionary Association: historical sketch of the organization, 1984
Folder 5: Central and Beecher Congregational Churches: serial and booklet insert, 1938, undated
Folder 6: Building plans, 1911, 1941
Folder 7: Bulletins: Sunday services, 1960s
Folder 8: Bulletins: Sunday services, 1970s
Folder 9: Bulletins: Sunday services, 1980s
Folder 10: Bulletins and programs for varied events, 1933-1986
Folder 11: Church charter and bylaws, 1872, 1894, 1983
Folder 12: Clippings, 1947-1986
Folder 13: Correspondence, 1934-1968
Folder 14: Correspondence, 1971-1986

Box 8: Chapter Drafts

Folder 1: History of the Church, various articles, 1941-1986, undated
Folder 2: History Centennial Committees, 1958, 1984
Folder 3: History Centennial Publication: This is A Grand Work: A History of Central Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) New Orleans, Louisiana 1871-1977
Folder 4: Table of Contents
Folder 5: Chapter 1, Introduction: Our Roots
Folder 6: Chapter 2, Charles H. Thompson, D.D., 1872-1874
Folder 7: Chapter 3, M.C. Cole, 1875
Folder 8: Chapter 4, Walter S. Alexander, D.D., 1976-1884
Folder 9: Chapter 5, George W. Bothwell, 1884-1887

Box 9: Chapter Drafts

Folder 1: Chapter 6, George W. Henderson, 1888-1890
Folder 2: Chapter 7, John W. Whittaker, 1891-1898
Folder 3: Chapter 8, J.D. Pettigrew, 1899
Folder 4: Chapter 9, Abraham L. DeMond, 1900-1906
Folder 5: Chapter 10, Henderson H. Dunn, 1906-1921
Folder 6: Chapter 11, A. Angold Brown, 1921-1923
Folder 7: Chapter 12, William L. Cash Sr., 1923-1928
Folder 8: Chapter 13, Norman A. Holmes, 1929-1949
Folder 9: Chapter 14, Nicholas A. Hood, Jr., 1949-1958
Folder 10: Chapter 15, George A. Williams, 1958-1961
Folder 11: Chapter 15, Research and material provided by Hazel Moore
Folder 12: Chapter 16, William T. Green and Ralph E. Beets, 1961-1975, 1975-1976
Folder 13: Chapter 16, The Centennial Celebration, 1972 April 21-23
Folder 14: Chapter 17, David E. Chambers, Jr. D.D., 1976-1986
Folder 15: Chapter 18, In Conclusion: A Summary and Bibliographic notes
Folder 16: Research notes used in publication

Box 10: Chapter Drafts

Folder 1: Research notes used in publication
Folder 2: Membership Rosters, 1961-1971
Folder 3: Minutes of church meetings and reports, 1929, 1939-1949
Folder 4: Minutes of church meetings and reports, 1950-1960
Folder 5: Minutes of church meetings and reports, 1961-1969
Folder 6: Mintues of church meetings and reports, 1970-1982
Folder 7: Pulpit vacancy, 1961
Folder 8: Pulpit vacany, 1975
Folder 9: Testimonial reception for Rev. Norman Holmes, 1949
Folder 10: Women's Fellowship Luncheons, 1961-1975
Folder 11: Diverse Churches: bulletins, funeral services, invitations, programs, 1931-1986
Folder 12: Eastern Orthodox Church: description of church building, undated
Folder 13: Greater New Orleans Federation of Churches: program and clippings, 1992
Folder 14: Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC): one hundredth anniversary commemorative program, 1967
Folder 15: St. James A.M.E. Church: notes on the history of the Church, undated
Folder 16: Second Congregational Church: historical sketch, 1868-1968