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Betty Henderson Professional Papers (MS-00253)

Abstract

The Betty Henderson Professional Papers (1963-1985) are comprised of materials produced by Betty Henderson in her capacity as a private music teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada and as a member of the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA). The collection includes scrapbooks of concert programs and NMTA events, materials from Henderson's experiences in Europe as a People-to-People ambassador with the Music Teachers National Association, and recordings on reel-to-reel tapes of concerts Henderson performed in or judged.

Finding Aid PDF

Date

1963-1985

Extent

3.14 Cubic Feet (3 boxes)
2.59 Linear Feet

Related People/Corporations

Scope and Contents Note

The Betty Henderson Professional Papers (1963-1985) are comprised of materials produced by Betty Henderson in her capacity as a private music teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada and as a member of the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA). The collection includes scrapbooks of concert programs and NMTA events, materials from Henderson's experiences in Europe as a People-to-People ambassador with the Music Teachers National Association, and recordings on reel-to-reel tapes of concerts Henderson performed in or judged.

Access Note

Collection is open for research with the following exception: advanced notice must be given to access the reel-to-reel tapes.

Publication Rights

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in chronological order.

Biographical / Historical Note

Betty Henderson was a private music teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada and dedicated member of the Nevada Music Teachers Association. She was born on January 23, 1923 in Portland, Indiana. She wanted to pursue a career in music and enrolled at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, but was forced to drop out after she started to become deaf. She married Charles B. Henderson, a civil engineer, in 1948 and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She had many different jobs in the city including secretary and company auditor.

After a surgery in 1953, she regained her hearing and pursued a career as a private piano teacher. She attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and studied music and music theory. Henderson also earned certificates in piano instruction, performance, and music education. She was a well-known and respected member of the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA). At several points in her career, she held elected positions in the organization, including Treasurer, Secretary, and President. She also held leadership positions in the Southwest Division of the Music Teachers National Association and was also the State President of the Nevada Federation of Gardening Clubs, Inc. In 1974 and 1975, Betty Henderson traveled to Eastern Europe as an ambassador for People-to-People. During both of these trips, she traveled with other music teachers to a number of countries, including those within the Soviet Union. She is most known for her original composition “Mesa in the Desert,” a piece commissioned by the NMTA in 1979. At the end of her career in 1984, Betty Henderson was awarded the first Distinguished Service Award from the Nevada Music Teachers Association. She died in August 1985.

Preferred Citation

Betty Henderson Professional Papers, 1963-1985. MS-00253. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Acquisition Note

Materials were donated in 1984 by Betty L. Henderson; accession number 85-123.

Processing Note

Materials were inventoried by Franklin Howard in 2015. In 2017, as part of an archival backlog elimination project, Angela Moor rehoused and arranged the materials, and revised the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards.

Resource Type

Papers

Collection Type

EAD ID

US::NVLN::MS00253

Finding Aid Description Rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard
English