Helen Edwina Plinkiewisch, a 1929 graduate of Oregon State Agricultural College, had a long and successful career as a music educator in the public schools of Garden City (Long Island), New York.
She was born in 1908 in Portland, Oregon, and attended public schools in that city. After graduating from Jefferson High School in 1925, Plinkiewisch attended Oregon State Agricultural College, and received a diploma in music and theory in 1929. While at Oregon State, she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority; was president of Euterpe, the women's music honorary society; was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society; and was the accompanist for the Madrigal Club. After studying piano in Vienna and Rome for a year, she earned a B.S. in Music Education in 1931 from New York University and an M.S. in Education from Columbia University in 1934. In 1955, Plinkiewisch earned a Doctorate in Education (Music Education major) from Columbia. In 1935, she began teaching music at the Stewart School in Garden City, New York; she taught there until her retirement in 1974. At Stewart School, Plinkiewisch began to introduce her students to opera. She had them design and perform an abbreviated version of an opera to be performed by the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Plinkiewisch received many accolades for her work in introducing opera to children.
She also taught part time at New Paltz State University (1953); Hofstra University (1953-1970); and Adelphi University (1972). Plinkiewisch wrote a number of musical compositions, a number of which were published, and wrote articles for several music magazines and journals. She served as an advisory member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild's Education Committee, and was a board member of several local music organizations. Helen Plinkiewisch died in 1994.
The papers came to OSU in 1995 as part of a gift from Plinkiewisch's estate to fund scholarships in the Music and Art Departments. The College of Liberal Arts transferred the collection to the University Archives.
A finding aid was prepared for this collection in 1995. In 2016, the collection was re-processed and the finding aid revised to bring it into compliance with current descriptive standards and practice.
Collection is open for research.
Helen E. Plinkiewisch Papers (MSS Plinkiewisch), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
A photograph of Plinkiewisch is located in Harriet's Photograph Collection (HC 585). A painting of Plinkiewisch is located at the OSU Music Department.
Additional information about the Petris and the Music Department can be found in the
The collection is arranged into six series: 1. Biographical and Personal, 1905-1995; 2. Organizations, 1923-1991; 3. Musical Compositions, 1929-1990; 4. Teaching Records, 1932-1989; 5. Training and Education Records, 1890-1956; 6. Photographs, 1888-1985.
The Helen E. Plinkiewisch papers are organized into six series, most of which document her education and career as a music educator. This collection is valuable for researchers interested in Plinkiewisch as a person, but also those interested in musical education or composition and student life at Oregon State Agricultural College in the 1920s.
Included in the collection is an assortment of personal materials such as diaries and journals, family records, musical performance and student event announcements, diplomas and awards, and a sketchbook created by her mother. Materials related to her education include musical textbooks, research materials, and annotated drafts of her doctoral dissertation at Columbia University on the music of Charles Ives, Roy Harris and Aaron Copland. Items related to her professional life as an educator and composer include documentation related to her efforts to incorporate opera into the grade school curriculum in New York, teaching records, materials related to professional organizations, and musical compositions. There are photographs that cover the topics represented in the textual materials, with highlights being pictures of a trip to Europe, her family, student productions, and professional performances.
Several photographs from the collection and other information about Plinkiewisch are available in
Contains personal information about Plinkiewisch, diaries and journals, family records, materials from her time as a student at Oregon State College, musical performance announcements, diplomas and awards, and a sketch book created by her mother.
Subseries 1 contains personal information about Plinkiewisch, including vitae, articles, and a biographical sketch. Also included are diaries and journals, including one of her stay in Europe in 1929-1930.
Subseries 2 contains correspondence between Plinkiewisch and her mother, Paul and Lillian Petri, and Oregon State College classmates.
Subseries 3 contains programs and announcements of student dances, balls, and awards ceremonies at OSC, and musical performances by Plinkiewisch, the Petris, and others.
Subseries 4 includes diplomas, honors and awards given to Plinkiewisch throughout her educational and professional career.
Included are diplomas from Shaver School in Portland, Oregon, 1922; Jefferson High School in Portland, 1925; and Oregon State Agricultural College, 1929. Also related to her education is an Initiation Certificate from the Alpha Chi Omega Chi Chapter from 1927 and a Freshman Honors certificate from Oregon State Agricultural College from 1927. Miscellaneous honors and certificates are also present, including a National Geographic Society; Membership Certificate from 1951; Delta Kappa Gamma Society; Initiation Certificate from 1951, 1977; Fifty Year Member Certificate from Alpha Chi Omega; Retirement honors certificate from Garden City Public Schools for 1974-1975; Who's Who in Society from 1986; Certificate of Appreciation from Delta Kappa Gamma Society and International Song Book from 1990; Pi State Honors; and a 25 year membership certificate from Delta Kappa Gamma Society from 1990.
Diploma from New York University (1931), awards from Stewart School 4th grade class (1971) and Garden City Schools retirement (1974).
Documents musical and other organizations that Plinkiewisch was affiliated with throughout her career.
An Alpha Chi Omega songbook from 1923, an Oregon State College Chi Chapter newsletter from Aug 1956, materials related to the Delta Kappa Gamma Society from 1961-1980, and materials related to the Friends of Adelphi University Library, Inc. from 1974-1987.
Materials related to the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead, Inc. from 1983-1991, the Institute of the Arts at Hofstra University from 1974-1975, Garden City Concerts, Inc. from 1961-1964, and the Manhasset Bay Opera Association from 1981.
Plinkiewisch's musical compositions, several of which were published, including the "Song of the Train" and the piano accompaniment for a 1946 book of children's songs entitled "A Merry Go Round of Songs." Also included in this series is an audio cassetee recording for Song of the Trains.
Items related to the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, 1978-1990, and Plinkiewisch's musical interests between 1939-1988.
My Girl of Yesteryear (1947), A Salute to Delta Kappa Gamma, Our Beautiful Portland, Vagabond's Song.
Records related to Plinkiewisch's teaching, primarily documenting efforts to incorporate opera into the grade school music curriculum. This series contains programs and other publicity materials of the student operas put on by her students, as well as records from the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Inc., Education Department pertaining to students and opera.
School programs and clippings, 1932-1933, and Plinkiewisch's employment contract for 1932.
Plinkiewisch's salary information and contract for 1937-1957 and her PTA Summer Program appointment for 1970.
Copy of "Our Songs," which was created by students circa 1940; the Stewart School song; and the program for the first Annual Music Festival at Garden City Public Schools in 1937.
Programs, brochures, booklets, articles and other materials related to the Education Department programs and
Manuscript draft of "Style in Music" and completed manuscript for "Singing: Grades 4-6," as well as notecards for presentations on a contemporary music project, children and music, and piano practice.
Miscellaneous correspondence and specifically related to teaching at New Paltz (New York) State Teachers College and Adelphi University.
Student operetta "Why Spring Was Late" (1939), scripts for educational music magazine (1941), scenery and costume drawings.
Student operetta "Why Spring Was Late," volume of script and music manuscript, other music manuscript.
Books, a paper, lesson notes, and correspondence related to Plinkiwusch's time at Oregon State College.
Personal information (1933, 1950), registration information (1934), record book from teachers college (1931-1947), academic records (1933-1947), degree plan, Graduate Record Exam (1950), exams (1947, 1951), graduation and commencement (1955-1956).
Doctoral project "A Contribution to the Understanding of the Music of Charles Ives, Roy Harris, and Aaron Copland," proposal (1951), outlines, comments from prominent composers and music educators (1951).
Correspondence (1953-1955), oral exam schedule (1955), register of D.Ed. reports (1956).
Research and background materials; Charles Ives compiled references (2 vol.); "A Connecticut Yankee in Music," undated and unpublished manuscript by Lucille Fletcher.
Several photographs from the collection are available in Oregon Digital.
Portraits and candid shots of Plinkiewisch; photos of parents, the Petris, and friends; photos of travel to Europe; photos and halftone images of European cities; color and photo postcards of Oregon scenes; photos of skiing and camping.
Portraits and candid shots of Plinkiewisch; photos of parents, the Petris, and friends; photos of travel to Europe; photos and halftone images of European cities; color and photo postcards of Oregon scenes; photos of skiing and camping.
Portrait of Lillian Petri, inscribed to Helen Plinkiewisch (1927); portrait of Paul Petri, inscribed to Helen (1929); Paul and Lillian Petri sitting in front of fireplace (1935); candid shots of the Petris (circa 1930-1935); "Casa Musica," the Petri home (1930-1935); Theta Chi (OSC) fraternity members (circa 1929); unidentified group of men with wrapped books (circa 1930).
Small set for
Metropolitan Opera stage crew, photograph (circa 1950). Slide sets: "A Visit to the Met," 21 color slides (circa 1950); "Onstage at the Met" featuring