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| Agnes and Mary Newman Portrait Sketches by Rebecca J. Becker |
Music and News: or, The Newmans (and New Women) of Crescent College, in which we reveal a little about the Frankly Astonishing (but very real) Newman Family!
by Rebecca J. Becker
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| Harrison High School Band with Agnes and Mary Newman, center |
Before we begin, take a look at the photograph above, and consider:
To understand how singular the Newman sisters were, how surprising their family was, reflect upon this shocking report, published a century after they were born: researchers at the University of Washington published a study in 2002 in which they found that even in the twenty-first century:
“...children as young as age five believed that saxophone, drums and trumpet were boys’ instruments while flute, oboe and violin were more appropriate for girls.” [1]
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| An Officer Blowing a Trumpet by Anthonie Palamedesz first half of 17th century |
The study was published in the journal, Sex Roles. Its author, Betty Repacholi, states, “How these stereotypes develop is unknown. It could be based on the size or shape of an instrument or the sound it makes.
"What makes a flute a feminine instrument - - its high-pitched sound and delicate look? And is a trumpet masculine because it sounds deeper and louder?
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| La glaïeul by William-Adolphe Bouguereau 1904 |
Repacholi sounds a strong note of warning to us all:
“Making gender-based choices can restrict what children, all people, do in life." [2]
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The Newman sisters, Agnes (L), and Mary (R), in their Crescent College uniforms 1915
|
In May 1916, only weeks before end-of-school recitals, final examinations and commencement ceremonies, the Newman sisters - - Agnes and Mary - - were whisked away from Crescent College.
The Newman Family Orchestra was about to set off on its yearly junket with the Arkansas Press Association, and their father (legendary journalist and orchestra leader Captain John R. Newman, Sr.) refused to perform without the girls.
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Newman
Family Orchestra
John R. Newman in the back,
2nd row left-to-right: Charles Earl Newman, Mrs. Newman, John R. Newman, Jr., Mable Newman, Thomas M. Newman, front row: Mary and Agnes Newman
[Note:
Taken shortly before 1904, when both Mable and Charles Earl Newman
died.]
|
Although their departure caused some disruption in the girls’ studies, the tributes garnered across the state must have more than compensated!
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| William Harding Mayes former Lieutenant-Governor of Texas |
William Harding Mayes, former lieutenant-governor of Texas and founder of the School of Journalism at the University of Texas, gave a speech:
“I want to say a word of praise for the Newman family orchestra which is brightening this meeting with its beautiful music. I have long been accused of being ambitious politically, but as I know [in] my heart I would rather be the father of such a family than the Governor of the great state of Texas. I would rather set in a happy little home in the mountains of North Arkansas surrounded by such a coterie of bright and lovable boys and girls than be the master of the biggest and best newspaper enterprise of all the southwest.“The very best things of life are not found in the field of politics, or measured by dollars and cents.” [4]
Nearly every newspaper in the state sang the praises
of the Newman Orchestra: they were affectionately
dubbed the official orchestra of the Press Association.
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| L - Agnes, and R - Mary Newman |
A week later the girls were back at Crescent College, performing in the orchestra here, and easily slipping back into their college lives.
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| Agnes and Mary Newman in Household Arts class from the 1916 Crescent College yearbook |
After all, it was a balancing act they’d been performing effortlessly all their lives.
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Both
Agnes and Mary Newman were members of Crescent College’s Tennis Club
photo from Crescent College’s 1916 yearbook |
Their remarkable family combined music and journalism with panache, flair, and extraordinary skill, and had been doing so for generations.
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| Thomas Newman – the patriarch – Mary and Agnes’s grandfather |
Their grandfather, Thomas Newman, had founded the
first band in Harrison, as well as the first newspaper.
Thomas, born in England, had made his way to United
States in the mid-nineteenth century.
His sense of adventure and curiosity led him to Lawrence, Kansas where
he founded his first paper, the Lawrence
Abolitionist.
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| Lawrence, Kansas Abolitionist Handbill 26 November 1859 |
Never one to shy away from a noble cause, he wrote
passionately about the evils of slavery in his newfound nation.
A mob stormed his office, seized his press, and
threw it into the Kaw River.
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| Albion Press woodcut by George Baxter 1830 |
Undaunted, he moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1858,
and founded another abolitionist newspaper.
This time local pro-slavery folks threw his press into the Missouri River.
By this time, war seemed imminent, so he moved to
St. Louis, and joined the Union militia.
As a sergeant in the Civil War, he saw active duty in the state. But family still came first, and nothing - - not even war - - could keep him away when they needed him. His grandson later recalled:
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| Union 9th Missouri State Militia Cavalry 1862 |
As a sergeant in the Civil War, he saw active duty in the state. But family still came first, and nothing - - not even war - - could keep him away when they needed him. His grandson later recalled:
“While he was serving in the Ozarks his small
four-year-old son, J. R. Newman, became seriously ill in St. Louis and upon
learning of the seriousness of the case, Sergeant Newman put the matter so
forcefully before his commander that he was given a furlough home until the
danger was over.” [5]
After the War, a Boone County resident invited him
to move to Harrison, Arkansas, to start a newspaper. The town had roughly 100 citizens at the time
- - hardly enough to warrant a newspaper! - - but they expected a railroad to
be built quite soon, with Harrison as its central destination.
So Newman, with his wife, sister, mother and small
son, moved to Arkansas and founded Harrison’s first newspaper in 1869.
He never lost his Union and abolitionist principles,
and his newspaper was a forum for his tireless fight for his beliefs. Biographers often call him a man ahead of his
time. (His son and grandson continued the
scorching ink tradition in their own turn.)
He became the first postmaster, the first marshal,
the first vice-president of the Arkansas Press Association, and the second
mayor of Harrison. He started the first
town band.
And the railroad? Sure enough, it showed up - - 32 years later.
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| Missouri and Arkansas 4-6-0, taking on coal |
And the railroad? Sure enough, it showed up - - 32 years later.
Despite his myriad interests and pursuits, Thomas
Newman was a restless fellow and an exceptionally avid walker. He would walk from Harrison to Little Rock,
to Springfield Missouri, becoming so famous for his perambulations that he is
immortalized in Ripley’s BELIEVE IT OR NOT column. (The cartoon here is Craig Ogilvie’s 1998
version, created for a book on the history of Arkansas newspapers.)
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| Craig Ogilvie’s illustration of Thomas Newman, “The Walking Editor” |
Thomas Newman loved music and played several
instruments, but his son, John R. Newman, was a musical prodigy.
Even so, John grew up learning every aspect of his father’s newspaper trade: he started as a printer’s devil when he was 6 years old.
Even so, John grew up learning every aspect of his father’s newspaper trade: he started as a printer’s devil when he was 6 years old.
After high school, John R. left Arkansas and pursued
his avocation by entering the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. After graduating, he taught band and
orchestra,
but his father’s increasing age and roaming ways brought John back to Harrison to run the newspaper.
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| John R. Newman's Silver Cornet Band, 1895 |
but his father’s increasing age and roaming ways brought John back to Harrison to run the newspaper.
Like his father, John didn’t keep quiet about his
progressive beliefs. John was mayor of
Harrison for two terms, running on the anti-saloon ticket. (He and his family
were quite certain that it was this stance that led to the 1896 destruction of
his office by fire).
.
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| Captain John R. Newman, Sr. |
When John and his wife had children, it was clear that each was remarkably musical.
And here’s where Agnes and Mary rejoin the family narrative!
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| Agnes (L), Mrs. Newman, and Mary (R) (At the end of this article, you'll find a fun surprise return of this photograph!) |
And here’s where Agnes and Mary rejoin the family narrative!
Remember the study we quoted earlier?
“...children as young as age five believed that saxophone, drums and trumpet were boys’ instruments while flute, oboe and violin were more appropriate for girls.”[1]
In the Newman family, no such biases developed. The children - - and their parents - - easily
switched from one instrument to another, with no limitations imposed.
Even more startling, Mary and Agnes played in the
high school marching band! Diligent
searches for any similar coeducational
high school marching band of the period have turned up none at all. Girls might play in all-girl bands, but not
in mixed-gender ensembles.
.
In fact (except for a brief time during World War
II, when young men were scarce on campus) even liberal arts colleges such as the illustrious Northwestern
University didn’t allow young women to play instruments in their marching bands
until the 1970s.
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| Northwestern University Marching Band, 1970s |
Thanks to John R. Newman, Harrison was decades ahead of its time.
Ignoring current theories about girls’ inability to
play brass instruments, John R. soon organized the Newman Family Orchestra and the Newman Band, “for years the best known musical
organization of the state.” [6]
He also led the high school marching band
(including, as they grew old enough, Agnes and Mary, as you can see!) and the
larger town band. It was said “that he trained more band
musicians than any other man in the state who did not follow it as a
profession.” And if you’re wondering if
other girls - - not just his daughters - - were members of those bands? They were, indeed.
The family held band and orchestra practice weekly, and performed at nearly every civic and social function throughout the region.
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| Agnes and Mary Newman (center, in long coats) in the Harrison High School Marching Band. |
The family held band and orchestra practice weekly, and performed at nearly every civic and social function throughout the region.
Agnes and Mary, therefore, were unusually well
trained and seasoned performers when they arrived at Crescent College. They spent time in many other pursuits,
academic, dramatic, athletic and domestic - - but never neglected their musical
studies in the Crescent Conservatory.
 |
Agnes
is the cellist, 2nd from left in the middle row,
and Mary is at the piano in this photograph of the Crescent Orchestra from Crescent College’s 1916 yearbook |
.
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| from the 1916 Crescent College yearbook |
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| from the 1916 Crescent College yearbook |
When they returned to Harrison, they took up their places
in the family orchestra once again, but Mary was soon to take on a new role- -
she’d met a forestry engineer, Edward Valentine Clark, and in 1917, the year
after she completed her work at Crescent, the two were wed.
Shortly after their marriage, Edward joined the
American Expeditionary Force as a lieutenant in the Engineer Corps, and was
sent to the front, in France. He wrote
poignant letters about the war to those at home.
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| Mary Newman, shortly before her marriage |
While he was fighting abroad, Mary gave birth to
their son, John Edward Clark. You can
see her here with the baby, standing outside the Newman family house in
Harrison.
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| Mary with her son, John Edward Clark |
Sorrow befell the family when her husband returned
and they moved to his new post in Washington, D.C. John Edward contracted a severe bone disease.
More disaster struck the family in 1919 with the
sudden death of John R. Newman, Sr. The
family rallied together, and the boys took over running the newspaper, while
Mary, Agnes and their mother became part owners of the enterprise.
Mary and her family moved from the nation’s capital
to Houston, Texas, although she retained her share of ownership in The
Times.
After surviving a very dangerous operation, little
John Edward was visiting the Newmans in Harrison in 1928, and seemed to be
getting stronger.
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| The Newman family home in Harrison |
A stomach infection set in, however, and the boy
died before reaching his tenth birthday.
The family was devastated. They
grieved over the child’s death, and eulogized him on the front page of the
newspaper:
Mary and her husband returned to Houston.
"With hearts filled with grief, the publishers of the Times announce the death today at 12:10 of John Edward Clark, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. E. V. Clark, of Houston Texas, and nephew of the Times publishers.
"Ten years ago, in 1918, John Edward was born at the Newman home, while his daddy was in France. As an infant, he attached himself forever in the hearts of our family. Later, he moved to Washington, D.C., with his parents and from there to Houston, Texas.
"Every summer we have looked forward to the time when John Edward and his parents would come for a visit.
"John Edward was not as fortunate in his health as other boys. In Washington he contracted a bone disease which affected his spinal column. Later, at Houston, he survived an operation of the most serious nature, and was gradually regaining his full health this summer, when the stomach trouble developed that carried him away today.
"Throughout all his suffering, he maintained a cheerful disposition, a bright and unselfish character. Mentally alert, he at many times displayed the perception and knowledge of an adult. He has endeared himself in the memory of all in whom he came in contact.
"His passing is the deepest possible loss to his family." [7]
Mary and her husband returned to Houston.
But what became of Agnes?
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| Agnes (L), and Mary (R) |
At home in Harrison, Agnes found comfort
again in her music.
But the family had never been paid for its
performances, and she began to realize she was going to have to leave home if
she were going to make a career from her talents.
In 1921 Agnes thought she found her golden
opportunity - - her friend Marion Barton got a contract to sing with an opera
in New York City, and Agnes went along, hoping to find work in an orchestra
there.
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| Victor Salon Orchestra 1920s One of hundreds that didn't employ women... |
As we’ve learned earlier in these narratives, other orchestra leaders were not as progressive as her father had been, and the only orchestras hiring women were those novelty acts composed solely of female musicians.
(In fact, Agnes’s violin and cello teacher at
Crescent College, Isobel Jungerman, had been a member of one of these all-women
traveling acts: the Dunbar Singing Orchestra.)
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| Dunbar Singing Orchestra Isobel Jungerman, far left, would be Agnes's violin and cello teacher at Crescent College |
Although her skill, training, and experience easily made her the equal of the best instrumentalists in the city, Agnes had no luck.
Instead, we find the next mention of her in this
glowing letter from a family friend from New Jersey to the Harrison Times (the
friend knew that her brothers were the publishers):
“By the way, I want to say a word about Agnes Newman, and please do not cut this out, for I know your modesty. I want her friends in Harrison to know how she has made good in the city of New York, and she did it all by herself with no assistance from anyone.
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| Gimbel Brothers Department Store, New York City |
"She obtained a position with Gimbel Bros., one of the largest department stores in the country, as a saleslady. Her department offered a prize of ten dollars for the girl who had the biggest sales in one month and Miss Agnes walked off with the bacon, and she hails from Harrison.” [8]
He predicted that she would become homesick and find
her way back to the Ozarks, which she did.
She returned to Harrison and there, at least, was
able to continue playing, performing at innumerable engagements for decades to
come. But a professional career in music
was denied her.
In 1940, only her brother John R. Newman, Jr., was
left running the paper in Harrison. (He had
founded his own newspaper when he was 12: the WEEKLY SMALL POX, where he
reported the doings of his school friends!)
Agnes, no stranger to the work, joined him now in an
official role, becoming a member of the Arkansas Women’s Press Association and
helping to keep the paper alive.
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| Arkansas Press Women |
Mary settled in Houston, Texas with her husband, and never
moved back to Harrison, but Agnes never moved away again (although she traveled widely).
Like her father
before her, Agnes's life was filled with making music, even in 1940 when the newspaper became
her vocation. In the last months before
her death in 1966, the paper’s pages were still filled with mentions of her
playing for many of the area’s social and civic events.
Mary, the older sister, lived until 1972, and spent
much of her time - - as her family had done for generations - - working to
improve the world. One of her many
accomplishments was helping to raise money for the Children’s Neurological Clinic at
the Methodist Hospital in Houston.
Mary was the last of the seven Newman children, the only surviving member of their orchestra and band.
To learn more about the Crescent College History
Project, visit its Facebook page, and if you are related to the Newmans, or to
any other Crescent College student or faculty member, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you!
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| Methodist Hospital in Houston, today |
Mary was the last of the seven Newman children, the only surviving member of their orchestra and band.
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| Mrs. Newman, with Agnes and Mary (If you look carefully, you'll see that Agnes is holding the photograph you saw earlier!) |
And if you visit Eureka Springs, come to the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa's 4th floor's Faculty Lounge, where you can explore the Crescent College History Project's ongoing, ever-evolving exhibit. Open every day from 10 - 5, and free to the public!
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Books that have been helpful in discovering the
Newman Family history:
Michael B. Dougan, Community Diaries: Arkansas Newspapering, 1819 – 2002 (Little Rock,
AR) The Arkansas Press Association, 2003.
Ray and Diane Hanley, Carroll and Boone Counties (Charleston, SC, Chicago, IL) Arcadia
Publishing, 1999.
Clyde
Greenhaw Newman, Under The Greenhaw Tree:
A Genealogical History 1650 – 1977, Illustrated (Harrison, Arkansas) Times
Publishing, Co., Inc., 1977.
Special thanks to Dana McCray, Randy McCray, Andrew
Kerr and Andrew Hickman for their enormous help in understanding the historical
instruments played by the marching band, and for their input on gender in high
school (and college) marching bands. And very special thanks to Elizabeth Cooksey, for her intellectual rigor and constructive advice.
Notes:
[1] Top row - Trombone, some type of tenor voiced valve brass
instrument (band leader and music teacher Randy McCray comments, “I have seen them referred as a trombonium,
but don’t know if that is some slang name or a real one, I am not seeing a long
length of tubing that would be where a 'slide' would be.”) Alto horn, baritone horn, alto horn and an Eb tuba.
Middle row double-bell euphonium (Randy McCray: “Totally cool instrument, it's like two in
one, although you can’t play both simultaneously), clarinet, alto horn and
mellophone (not a French horn). Bottom
row - Bass drum w/cymbal attached (Randy McCray: “Yes, they played both at the
same time”). 4 cornets 3 side drums (snare drums)
[2] Ricky O’Bannon, “Boys Play Trumpet and Girls Play Flute, but
Why?” Boston Symphony Orchestra article, c. 2016.
[3] Betty Repacholi
of the University of Washington, quoted in an 11 April 2002 press release,
“Children as young as 5 have gender bias when it comes to picking a musical
instrument.”
[4] From the Texarkanian, quoted in Harrison
Times [Harrison, Arkansas]20 May 1916, Page 4
[5] Harrison Daily Times [Harrison,
Arkansas] 1 September 1930, Front Page
[6] Arkansas Gazette [Little Rock, Arkansas] 24 February 1919, Page 8
[7] The Harrison Times [Harrison, Arkansas] 7 September 1928, Front Page
[8] Letter from John D. DeWitt, in The Harrison Times [Harrison, Arkansas] 11 November 1921, Page 5
