To: Members of the Faculty From: J. W. Maucker, President Date: May 24, 1966
Miss Olive Barker, former assistant professor of music at State College of Iowa, passed away Sunday afternoon, May 22, 1966, at the Allen Convalescent Home in Waterloo, Iowa, following a prolonged stroke. She was born on January 27, 1889, in Dubuque, Iowa, was graduated from State College of Iowa with the B. A. degree in 1931, and received the M. A. degree from Columbia University in 1932. Miss Barker taught in the public schools of Mississippi, Illinois, and Iowa prior to joining the staff at State College of Iowa in 1926. She retired in 1957. Miss Barker was active in national and state professional organizations, and in community organizations in the Cedar Falls-Waterloo area. She organized the SCI chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, national professional music fraternity for women, and served as its adviser. For many years, the Barker-Lillig Scholarship was made possible through her generosity. She originated the Sigma Alpha Iota Performance Award, and provided the financial support for it over a period of years. In many other ways, Miss Barker's extreme generosity was felt throughout the college community.
The funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, in the First Presbyterian Church of Waterloo. The flag will be flown at half-mast Wednesday afternoon, and the Campanile bells will be played during the time of the funeral service in memory of Miss Barker.
From Faculty Senate minutes, 864, October 10, 1966 2.
The Chairman recognized Myron Russell who read the following resolution:
Olive L. Barker The college community of the State College of Iowa lost a friend, patron, and dedicated Emeritus member of the Music Department, with the death of Olive L. Barker, Assistant Professor of Music, May 22, 1966, at the Allen Convalescent Home in Waterloo, Iowa. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, on January 27, 1889, Miss Barker earned the B. A. degree from the State College of Iowa in 1931 and received the M. A. degree from Columbia University in 1932. Before coming to the State College of Iowa she served as Music Supervisor in Laurel, Mississippi; Morrison, Illinois; and Assistant Supervisor of Music in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She came to the State College of Iowa in 1926 and retired in 1957. The College community will remember Miss Barker as one who was concerned with her fellow man. She would be among the first to send a note, make a personal visit, send flowers, or inquire about one's health daily, as the occasion demanded. In a larger sense she was concerned that the department grow in a healthful style. She was responsible for the installation on the State College of Iowa campus of Sigma Alpha Iota, national professional music fraternity for women, serving as its advisor for many years. Her interest in the financial welfare of the students provided the funds for the Barker-Lillig Scholarship, the Iowa Music Teachers Association piano scholarship, and the Sigma Alpha Iota Performance Award. Also, her contributions to churches and civic projects were most generous. Miss Barker's generosity was felt throughout the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area. To her many friends she was a sponsor of all that was cultural, a world traveler, and a model neighbor and citizen. From the time of her retirement in 1957 until her health no longer permitted it, she was vitally interested in all activities of the music department. She will long be remembered for her friendship and genuine interest in her fellow man. In gratitude for Miss Barker's valuable and lasting contribution to the community, we offer this tribute as a resolution to the Senate and request that it be included in the records and that copies be sent to members of her family.
Respectfully submitted, Jvone Maxwell Frank W. Hill Myron E. Russell Holmes moved that the resolution be adopted. Hake seconded. Motion carried.