Edward Bailey Birge (June 12, 1868 in
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence, Massachusetts, Florence and ...
[BIRGE, Edward Bailey]
in ''Who's Who in America
Marquis Who's Who, also known as A.N. Marquis Company ( or ), is an American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies. The books usually are entitled ''Who's Who in...'' followed by some subject, such as ''Who's Who in A ...
'' (1926 edition); p. 278–1952) was a founding member of the Music Supervisors National Conference, which later became the
Music Educators National Conference
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States. Founded in 1907 as the Mus ...
(MENC). Birge served as president of the organization from 1910–1911, and also as chairmen of the editorial board for the ''
Music Educators Journal
The ''Music Educators Journal'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal that covers in the field of education. The editor-in-chief is Ella Wilcox, and the Academic Editor is Corin Overland (University of Miami). It was established in 1914 and ...
'' for many years. He originated the "MEJ Clubs" on college campuses that made possible student memberships. Though the clubs, the ''Journal'' was used in classes with prospective teachers. This greatly increased the circulation of the magazine. In recognition of his long service to the ''Journal'' and to the Conference, the MENC board of directors named him chairman
emeritus
''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus".
In some c ...
. Birge is also remembered for writing the first history of American
music education
Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as primary education, elementary or secondary education, secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a rese ...
. He was a member of
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (legally Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha, PMA, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for men with a special interest ...
fraternity for men in music, initiated with
Paul J. Weaver and
Clarence C. Birchard in April 1924 at the national convention of MENC held in Cincinnati, Ohio.
References
Mark, M.L. and Gary, C.L. (1999). ''A History of American Music Education.'' Reston: National Association for Music Education.
External links
Edward Bailey Birge Papers- Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland
*MENC Presidents Projec
*MENC Founders Projec
1868 births
1952 deaths
American music educators
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