Guide to the Dr. Francis G. Bulber Collection Ca.1954-1978 2.54 linear feet Collection Number 221 Prepared by Kathie Bordelon July 2006 CITATION: The Francis G. Bulber Collection, Collection No. 221, Box number, Folder number, Archives and Special Collections Department, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University. Archives and Special Collections Department Frazar Memorial Library McNeese State University
Biographical Note Dr. Francis Gerard Bulber was a native of New Orleans, La. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Biloxi, Miss., and received a Bachelors of Music Education and Masters of Music from Louisiana State University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English. He did postgraduate work at Northwestern University in Chicago. He received his Ph.D. from Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., in Music Education. While at LSU, he was employed by the State of Louisiana to establish music organizations throughout Louisiana. Through that program he began the Lake Charles Civic Symphony and the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus. Bulber taught at Pearl River Junior College before moving to McNeese State College in 1940. In 1954, he received the President s Cup from the McNeese Alumni Association. He was awarded Dean Emeritus when he retired in 1976 after having served as head of the McNeese Music Department, Dean of Fine Arts, and Academic Dean. Bulber was a Third Degree and Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. In 1992, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. In 1966, Pope Paul VI invested him as Knight of St. Gregory the Great. He served two terms as president of the Chapter of Knights of St. Gregory and two terms as president of the Companions of Honor for the Lake Charles Diocese. He worked to establish a Catholic Student Center at McNeese and served on its board for 10 years. Bulber was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Mu Sinfonia Fraternity, and Sigma Alpha Iota Friend of the Arts; the Lake Charles Evening Lions Club; and the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA). He was editor of the Louisiana Musician and was inducted into the LMEA Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Music Educators National Conference and served on the accrediting board for the National Association of Schools of Music. At the time of his death, Bulber owned Bulber Music Mart and was a member of the National Association of Music Merchants. He was married to Patricia Cavell Bulber; they had two sons, Gerard S. Bulber and John V. Reed, and three daughters, Mary Frances Bulber Reed, Patricia Cecile Bulber, and Colette Marie Bulber. Dr. Bulber died on June 24, 1992, at the age of 83. Scope and Content Note This collection contains CDs (transferred from reel-to-reel tapes) of performances conducted by Dr. Bulber from dates prior to 1954 up to 1978. The performances are primarily operas performed by students at McNeese, the annual performance of The Messiah, and the Lake Charles Civic Symphony. 2
Container List Box Folder 1 1 Francis Bulber The Louisiana Musician Tribute to Dr. Francis G. Bulber: A Louisiana Legend in Music Education September 1992 2 McNeese Orchestra n.d.-prior to 1954? Solo pianist Helen Crysafides 3 Pirates of Penzance Acts 1 & 2 April 16-17, 1953 Sponsored jointly by the Lake Charles Lions Club and the McNeese College Music Department, under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber 4 Messiah December 6, 1953 (14 th annual) Parts 1 & 2 Mutual Broadcasting/KAOK/McNeese Production Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Conductor 5 Easter Broadcast April 10, 1955 Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College Tenor solo by Charles Fullmer 6 McNeese Orchestra Program May 8, 1955 Conductor is Warren Signor 7 Easter Broadcast April 1, 1956 Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Conductor Messiah Chorus singing selected excerpts from Handel s Messiah Redemption by Gounod Crucifixion by Stainer 8 Cavalleria Rusticana March 5, 1959 and March 6, 1959 Act 1 (one-act opera) Frederick Tooley, conductor, in the McNeese Auditorium Sandford Linscome (Sanford Linscombe), Ilona Kombrink, Marie David, Bernice Timpa 3
Box Folder 1 9 Faust Reels 1 & 2 April 28-29, 1960 Lake Charles Messiah Chorus/Community Opera Workshop Production Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of McNeese State College Lake Charles High School Auditorium Faust played by Robert Snead and Marguerite played by Shirley Hebert 10 Messiah Chorus n.d.-1960? Dr. Bulber talking to chorus prior to performance with Christmas carols afterwards. 11 Messiah Chorus n.d.-1960? Redemption Excerpts Saturday Night Rehearsal 12 Lake Charles Civic Symphony Brahms Symphony Number 2 February 7, 1961 McNeese Auditorium 13 Carmen Acts 1-4 April 27, 1961 2 nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; featuring Dr. Maurice Pullig as narrator In the Lake Charles High School Auditorium 2 piano and organ accompaniment (pianos Kathleen Allums and Mary Patricia Cavell Bulber, organist Juanelva Rose) Lamar LeBoeuf as Carmen 14 Carmen April 28, 1961 2 nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; in the Lake Charles High School Auditorium Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen 4
Box Folder 2 1 Lake Charles Civic Symphony February 13, 1962 Drusilla Huffmaster (Huffmeister), pianist; Dr. Francis G. Bulber, conductor in the McNeese Auditorium Part 1 Star Spangled Banner Overture to Oberon von Weber Symphony in D-Minor, First Movement Cesar Franck Part 2 Symphony in D-Minor, Second and Third Movement Cesar Franck Part 3 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D-Minor - Mozart Encore Impromptu in A-Flat Major - Chopin 2 Tosca April 27, 1962 Lake Charles Messiah Chorus/Community Opera Workshop Production Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of McNeese State College Lake Charles High School Auditorium Mario Cavaradossi played by Robert Snead and Floria Tosca played by Shirley Hebert 3 Chamber Recital Reels 1-2 July 13, 1962 Flute and Harpsichord by Pat Bulber, Harpsicord by Joyce Babb 4 Lake Charles Civic Symphony Overture to Tannhauser, Swan Lake, White Peacock, and Mozart Concerto April 8, 1964 Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College 5 Lake Charles Civic Symphony Der Freischuetz February 16, 1965 Guest conductor is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College Solos included A. J. Gibbs, Michael Hooten, and Sylvia and William Kushner 5
Box Folder 2 6 Mese Mariano November 5, 1965 Presented by Department of Music McNeese State College for Louisiana Music Teachers Association 14 th Annual Convention Director is Frederick Tooley Dedication of Fine Arts Recital Hall to the Memory of Dr. Ralph A. Squires Sister Celesta is played by Catherine Daugherty and Sister Agnes is played by Hope Hackler 7 Carmen Acts 1-4 July 21, 1965 Lake Charles Messiah Chorus Production under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Director of the Chorus and Dean of the Division of Fine Arts, in Ralph Squires Auditorium on McNeese campus, accompanied by full orchestra Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen 8 Madame Butterfly March 10, 1966 Mme. Butterfly played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts 9 Madame Butterfly March 11, 1966 Mme. Butterfly played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts 10 Lake Charles Civic Symphony Peter and the Wolf February 7, 1967 Conductor is Wilder Solos included Mrs. Bulber on flute, Woodrow James on the trumpet, and Earnest Harrison on the oboe 11 Lake Charles Civic Symphony January 29, 1978 Conductor William Kushner Lake Charles Civic Center Solos included Heidi Lehwalder, harpist, and Patricia Bulber, flutist 6