Genevieve Hargiss: A Biographical Portrait of an Exemplary Twentieth-Century Music Educator

Abstract

The purpose of this historical investigation was to contribute to the growing body of knowledge about women in music education by means of documenting the life and career of Genevieve F. Hargiss (1912-1995), a lesser known yet exemplary twentieth-century music educator. Through the investigation of primary source materials including Hargiss’s personal scrapbooks, interviews, and her scholarly publications, as well as newspaper articles and oral histories, this paper explores Hargiss’s contributions to the field of music education from 1929 to 1982. This study argues that Hargiss made a lasting impact in her field through her innovative, research-based improvements to professional teacher-training programs and elementary general music programs in Kansas, Arizona, and across the U.S. Hargiss blazed a trail for women in the field of music education through her excellence in performing, research, mentoring, and teaching; a brilliant educator and scholar – “not just for her time, but for any time.”