A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From the Interlachen Yearbook of Florida Southern College (Lakeland, Florida), Class of 1940: Helen W. Barnum, Piano and Music Education Graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College... sparkling runs... solos or accompaniments... clever technique... hours spent in the practice room giving lessons... friendship with famous persons in the music world... student of Van Lewen Swarthout, Allen Spencer and Richard McLanahan... creator of musical moods... other part of duo [with her husband, Howard J. Barnum].
Helen W. Barnum, teacher of piano, was the pianist for the Florida Southern College Little Symphony during many years.
From the Victoria Advocate, Victoria, Texas, 10 May 1959: Noted Piano Teacher To Hear Auditions Here. Advocate Port Lavaca Bureau. Port Lavaca ̶ Adjudication of 75 piano students of the Port Lavaca region will begin Monday when Mrs. Helen W. Barnum of St. Petersburg, Fla., arrives to preside at the hearings sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers. Auditions will continue through May 14 in the Sunday School rooms of the Port Lavaca First Methodist Church.
Mrs. Barnum, widow of the noted violinist Howard J. Barnum, has achieved a long and distinguished career in the world of music. A native of Hutchinson, Kans., she is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College and of West Virginia Wesleyan. In addition, she has had extensive post graduate study at the University of Southern California and with such renowned pedagogues as Maxim Schapiro, Van Lewen Swarthout and Alexander Tcherepnine.
During Mrs. Barnum's professional career, she has served as professor in theory, music education and music appreciation at the State University of Iowa, De Paul University and at Florida Southern College. In the past several year she has pioneered a remarkable new approach to the teaching of adult classes in piano. In this capacity she is presently associated with the Pinellas Co., Florida Adult Education Dept.
Mrs. Barnum comes to Port Lavaca after having finished judging the 1959 auditions in Houston and Victoria.
From the Sunday Independent , St. Petersburg, Florida, 20 November, 1960: Music's In The Air When Helen's There. One passing by 924 15th Avenue South can almost always hear the sound of piano music coming from the home of Helen (Mrs. Howard J.) Barnum.
It may be the discordant scales of a young boy or girl being introduced for the first time to the wonderful world of music. Perhaps it is the measured but pleasant sound of a third year student, practicing of her recital.
Or it may be the breathtaking magic of a sonata being performed under the skilled fingers of the silver-haired, blue-eyed woman, to whom music is as much a part of life as eating or breathing.
Helen Wood Barnum was born to a musical family. Her father, John Hamilton Wood, was treasurer of Oberlin College and each member of the family played some musical instrument.
Helen was graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan University and studied piano at Oberlin Conservatory, DePauw University and the University of Southern California.
After her marriage to Howard James Barnum, a concert violinist and teacher, in 1907, they both joined the music staff at DePauw University. They were there for 17 years, and then for 25 years were with the music department at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Mr. Barnum was director of the Music department and she headed the piano department and directed choral groups.
They retired in 1952, and in 1957 Mr. Barnum passed away. A daughter, Harriet (Mrs. Elmer W. Ihrig), an accomplished violinist in her own right, died this past August. A son, Howard James, gave up a successful business career recently to study medicine.
Mrs. Barnum's biography in "Who's Who in American Women" is impressive ̶ founder of the St. Petersburg Music Teachers Association and permanent chairman of its board; a faculty member and on the board of judges of the National Guild of Piano Teachers; vice president of the Suncoast Chamber Music Guild; recipient of a meritorious service citation, Florida Southern College; member, Music Teachers National Association ̶ but it does not tell of the many dedicated hours she has spent guiding small hands and small hearts to the appreciation and knowledge that a musical education can bring.
An injured knee has canceled the skating and bowling that used to give her her second greatest pleasure. But the first ̶ music ̶ goes on with each new student who is placed under her guiding hand.
She restricts the number of students to 20, and there always is a waiting list.
These are golden years ̶ even golden hours ̶ for Helen Barnum. For where there is music, there can never be loneliness.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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