Viola Hill papers, 1909-1948

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Summary

Creator:
Hill, Viola, Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture, and John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture
Abstract:
Viola Hill (1895-1969) was an African American soprano and businesswoman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her papers date from 1909-1948, and comprise many folders of professional and personal correspondence; recital programs, sheet music, and scores; clippings and other print materials; music notebooks; tour schedules, contacts, and publicity, including some photographs of Hill; and financial and educational materials. The papers document Hill's career and entrepreneurship as a professionally-trained vocalist; the status and professional activities of African Americans in music across the United States in the early 20th century, including comments about racial discrimination; and the societies, clubs, and educational institutions which supported African American musicians. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture and the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.
Extent:
2.0 Linear Feet (4 boxes; 1 oversize folder)
Language:
English
Collection ID:
RL.12049

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of the papers of Viola Hill, an African American soprano from Philadephia (1895-1969), dating from 1909 to 1948. About half of the papers consist of Hill's professional and some personal correspondence, chiefly incoming; other papers include many recital programs and publicity, music scores, clippings, business cards, music notebooks, travel and tour schedules, lists of contacts, expense notes, and bills and receipts. There are a few photographic images of Hill as a young woman.

The materials document Viola Hill's voice career, and especially her entrepreneurship in managing her voice training and organizing tours and concerts across the U.S. Other papers document her role as secretary of the Philadelphia branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians (NAMN), and her business and musical collaborations with important mentors: NAMN president, musician, composer, and singer Carl Diton, Black violinist and composer Clarence Cameron White, and her professional voice teacher in Philadelphia, Percy Dunn Aldrich.

The materials in this collection also inform the history of African American men and women professional musicians and entertainers in the 20th century, particularly in piano, classical and operatic music, and in the spiritual tradition. Among the sheet music and scores are examples of African American-composed music. There are several references in letters and publicity to Black singer Marion Anderson.

There is little material on Viola Hill's personal life, though the correspondence contains letters from close friends and relatives, including a J. G. Morton from N.C. who addressses her as "cousin." Of interest are many letters from male and female fellow musicians and vocalists, including friends from her music school classmates.

Biographical / historical:

Viola Hill (1895-1969), who also signs some items in the collection as Viola R. H. Hill, Viola Ruth Harrison Hill, and after 1935, Viola Hill Green, was an African American soprano, music teacher, and business entrepreneur of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born in Virginia on February 2, 1895, by 1900 Hill was living in Philadelphia with her family.

She received a Certificate of Proficiency in Music from the University of Pennsylvania. Based on reviews and performance compensation, her career advanced rapidly after her schooling, reaching its peak in the mid-1920s, when she was organizing and carrying out multi-city tours chiefly in the East and Midwest. She was active in the National Association of Negro Musicians, serving as president of the Philadelphia branch.

Marriage records indicate that Viola Hill married Jerald "Jerry" Green in Philadelphia in 1931, and she then lived with her husband in their house on Wyalusing Avenue in Philadelphia. However, she is still listed as living with her brother Charles Hill (incorrectly recorded as her husband) on Catherine Street in the 1940 U.S. Federal Census. In 1945, according to online graduation records, Viola Hill Green received a Bachelor's in Music (voice), and in 1947, a Master's in Music, from the Philadelphia Musical Academy. Her husband passed away in 1948, and she continued to live in their home on Wyalusing Avenue. The 1950 U.S. Federal Census shows her living in her home on Wyalusing Avenue, as well as lodging in New York City with her cousin John G. Morton. Viola Hill Green passed away in Philadelphia on December 29, 1969.

Sources (all accessed via Ancestry.com, January 28, 2025): Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Marriage Index, 1885-1951; 1940 United States Federal Census; U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current; U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.

Acquisition information:
The Viola Hill papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 1995, and as purchases from Between the Covers Rare Books in 2008 and from Caroliniana Rare Books in 2024.
Processing information:

Processed and described by library staff, circa 1995.

Reprocessed and reparative description created by Paula Jeannet, October 2022.

Accession 2024-0132 added by Leah Tams, January 2025. Materials formally described as Viola Hill Sheet Music collection were transferred into this collection in January 2025.

Accession(s) represented in this collection guide: 1995-0013, 2008-0238, 2024-0132.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: Correspondence; Music Papers; Business Papers; Writings and Notes.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

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Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Viola Hill papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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