User:Jandris/Friends of Scott Joplin

The Friends of Scott Joplin "is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote public awareness of the life and legacy of Scott Joplin. Emphasis is placed is placed on performance, education, and preservation of Joplin's music and that of other composer-musicians of the Ragtime era."

Plans for a Scott Joplin Memorial

Much planning and work predated the formation of the Friends of Scott Joplin House. In 1970, Robert DeForrest and his brother, Vincent, established what became the Afro-American Institute for Historic Preservation and Community Development in Washington. For 18 years, working with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Historic American Buildings Survey, the Institute conducted national studies that led to more than 60 sites in 22 states and the District of Columbia being designated national historic landmarks. One of thirty three such sites announced in early 1977 by the Department of the Interior was the two family red brick building at 2658A Delmar Ave. (formerly 2658A Morgan Ave.) in St. Louis, Missouri. Joplin's 13 room home in St. Louis at 2117 Lucas Ave. had long since been razed. Robert Deforrest was of the opinion that Joplin lived in the upstairs flat at 2658A Delmar briefly about the turn of the century, when his music first became popular. Joplin had moved from Sedalia, Missouri to St. Louis about the time he lived at the Delmar address. He was playing at Tom Turpin's Rosebud Cafe at the time.

Shortly after the announcement by the Department of the Interior that the Delmar property had been designated as a historic landmark, the Citizens Committee to Memorialize Scott Joplin was organized and dedicated to rehabilitating and preserving this home in which the ragtime musician lived. At least three other groups at the time had also applied for federal money to rehabilitate the building and surrounding grounds, in coordination with other planned redevelopment in the area at that time. George Lomack, co-chair of the Citizens Committee to Memorialize Scott Joplin reported that the Committee wanted to build a monument that would be a source of national pride, and estimated the cost of rehabilitation at $50,000. A more immediate problem, however, was that the property was destined to be sold sheriff's sale to obtain money for unpaid back taxes. The project didn't lack for support, for some time in 1977, still a third group of interested citizens called the Scott Joplin National Landmark Preservation Society was formed and headed by JoAnn Smith, wife of Alderman Wayman Smith III, D-26th Ward.

Some time in 1978 the St. Louis Board of Aldermen appropriated $100,000 of federal community development funds for the renovation of 2658 Delmar Avenue by the Missouri State Department of Natural Resources. Mayor Jim Conway vetoed the measure, stating a number of concerns at different times, about the fitness of the chosen building as a monument, about directing money to a private group, Jeff-Vander-Lou, for that purpose, and about the City acquiring the responsibility for maintaining the property. Eventually a plan was developed whereby the State's Department of Natural Resources accepted money and property, renovated it, and then leased it back to the City. Thirteen year old John Hancock, a student with a love of Scott Joplin and ragtime, is credited by some with interesting the State in resolving the impasse that had developed between the Mayor's Office and the Board of Aldermen.

Two factors are important to keep in mind in understanding these events leading up to the full restoration of the Scott Joplin House in St. Louis. On the one had, the 1970's saw the most widespread re-emergence of the appreciation of both ragtime as an art form and Scott Joplin as a worthy Afro-American composer. In 1971 a recording of Scott Joplin's music by Joshua Rifkin received a Grammy award and The New York Public Library released the Collected Works of Scott Joplin (piano sheet music). 1973 was the date of the release of The Sting, which brought ragtime again to a wide audience. Marvin Hamlish's recording of Joplin's The Entertainer won an Academy Award and made the Top Forty charts in 1974. On the other hand, the Civil Rights Movement had run its course quite successfully but somewhat tragically by 1970. The 1970's saw the full development of the Black Power movement. While not all African-Americans may have agreed that Scott Joplin and ragtime were the best examples of the contributions of black people to culture, they are certainly good examples, and perhaps at the time had a broader base of support for reasons too complicated to state here.

Founding of the Friends of Scott Joplin

The Friends of Scott Joplin House was incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri as a not-for-profit corporation on April 17, 1989. The first issue of their newsletter, Euphony Review, stated their mission as to promote the restoration and proper operation of the Scott Joplin House Historic Site and to promote public awareness of the life and work of Scott Joplin. The organization started out under the leadership of Walter F. Gunn, president, and several other board members deeply committed to this project. That August, John Karel, Director of Tower Grove Park, hosted an affair in the Victorian Villa titled Moonlight, Magnolias, Mint Juleps and Ragtime Melodies. That October 13, the organization hosted the first of several Rosebud Balls, modeled after the legendary galas held at the turn of the Century by Tom Turpin. By this point, the restoration of the Scott Joplin House has proceeded to Phase II. Kennedy & Associates have submitted 50% complete architectural drawings. When complete, these drawings are to be put out for bid to construction contractors. Also, the Missouri General Assembly enacted a bill including the cooperation of the Missouri Historical Museum subdistrict in collecting, preserving and exhibiting the recordings, instruments and memorabilia of ragtime, jazz and blues music at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site.

By 1990, the exterior of the building at 2856A Delmar having been completed for several years, plans were in full swing for an elaborate restoration of the interior of the building include a museum and exhibit area for displays related to black history and culture. In a ceremony held on Friday, Feb. 23, state officials also announced plans to restore an adjacent building for holding live performances. A portion of the building would be designated the Rosebud Café, in honor of a similar turn-of-the-century ragtime venue near Union station long since torn down. Work was to begin in May, 1990, and cost at least $350,000.

Annette Bridges, a founding member of the Friends of Scott Joplin and an overseer of the Joplin House restoration, talked to St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter, Darrell McWhorter in 1990 about the progress being made. "The building and its neighbor will be more than authentic examples of turn-of-the-century architecture. They'll also be a repository for original ragtime sheet music and piano rolls -- and a touch of the cultural millieu that gave birth to the music." This "Saint Louis period" of Joplin's life—he lived at 2856A Delmar with first wife, Belle Hayden—will be commemorated in the current restoration of his former apartment. Just south of the building was an area called Chestnut Valley where turn-of-the-Century ragtime culture abounded, and in which Joplin was deeply enmeshed. The ragtime memorabilia to be collected and displayed at the Joplin House will also provide a window back to this ragtime culture.

Past and Recurring Events Sponsored by Friends of Scott Joplin

In the years subsequent to its formation, the Friends of Scott Joplin have instituted and maintained a number of events which preserve and encourage interest in the ragtime music of Scott Joplin and many other historical and contemporary ragtime performers and composers, as well as occasionally other forms of music, such as the blues, waltzes, stride piano, boogie-woogie and terra verde. Since November, 1997, the organization has sponsored a monthly Ragtime Rendezvous, held on the first Sunday of every month at Dressel's Pub in St. Louis, MO. This is a three hour performance event for amateur and professional ragtime musicians and groups. There is no admission fee. Since May, 1999, the organization has sponsored a Ragtime Piano Competition for youth between the ages of 10 and under, 11-14, and 15-18. The annual event attracts around 50 young musicians for a nominal fee, and cash prizes are given for 1st and 2nd place in each group by a panel of three professional judges. The Competition has been held at the St. Louis Community College's Mildred Bastian Performing Arts Center at Forest Park. A corresponding event is the Master Class in ragtime, given late in March for up to a dozen students. In past years, Sue Keller, ragtime performer, has coached the class. On two separate occasions significant money has been raised to provide headstones for the unmarked graves of ragtime composers, Tom Turpin and Louis Chauvin. The Friends of Scott Joplin have also brought a number of ragtime performers to the St. Louis concert stage or to house concerts over the years since its inception, and occasionally has sponsored a ragtime festival.