Donald Nivison Ferguson papers

Donald Nivison Ferguson was born June 30, 1882 at Waupan, Wisconsin. Ferguson completed a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin in 1904, and later went to London to study piano under pianist Michael Hambourg and composition from composer J. Holbrooke. He settled in Minneapolis in 1909 where he taught piano briefly at the Minneapolis School of Music before opening a private studio for lessons.

In 1913, Ferguson was appointed as Assistant, and later promoted to Instructor, in the Department of Music at the University of Minnesota. He also served as an Assistant Professor (1917-1923), Associate Professor (1923-1927), and Professor of Music (1927-1950). (1) Ferguson obtained an M.A. degree from the University in 1922. (2)

Ferguson was was a member of the American Society of Aesthetics, served as President of the Minnesota Music Teachers' Association, and was Vice-President of the National College Music Association. He was the author of several books, including: A History of Musical Thought (1935, 1948), A Short History of Music (1940), Masterworks of the Orchestral Repertoire (1954), Music and a Metaphor (1960), and The Why of Music (1969). A History of Musical Thought became a standard text in colleges for many years. He was also a founder and director of the Bach Society, and wrote program notes for the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Upon his retirement from the University of Minnesota in 1950, Ferguson was named Professor Emeritus of Music. (3) He later served as the Head of the Department of Music at Macalester College in St. Paul for nine years.

Ferguson died in 1985 at the age of 102. Donald N. Ferguson Hall, a music building on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus was named in his honor.

References:

(1) Board of Regents Minutes, February 7, 1913; Board of Regents Minutes, June 11, 1913; Budgets, 1917-1918; Board of Regents Minutes, June 18, 1923; Budgets, 1927-1928
(2) Commencement Program, 1922.
(3) Board of Regents Minutes, June 10, 1950