Background
Epstein, Dena Julia was born on November 30, 1916 in Milwaukee. Daughter of William Samson and Hilda Rita (Satt) Polacheck.
(This title is awarded both the Chicago Folklore Prize and...)
This title is awarded both the Chicago Folklore Prize and the Simkins Prize of the Southern Historical Association. From the plaintive tunes of woe sung by exiled kings and queens of Africa to the spirited work songs and "shouts" of freedmen, in "Sinful Tunes and Spirituals" Dena J. Epstein traces the course of early black folk music in all its guises. This classic work is being reissued with a new author's preface on the silver anniversary of its original publication.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0252071506/?tag=2022091-20
Epstein, Dena Julia was born on November 30, 1916 in Milwaukee. Daughter of William Samson and Hilda Rita (Satt) Polacheck.
Bachelor, University Chicago, 1937. Bachelor of Science in liberal studies, University Illinois, 1939. Master of Arts, University Illinois, 1943.
She worked as a cataloguer at the latter institution while completing her degree, and upon graduation was appointed the Senior Music Librarian at Newark Public Library. In 1946 she began working as a cataloguer and reviser for the Library of Congress music section. After spending a period as a homemaker, she returned to the University of Chicago in 1964 as the Assistant Music Librarian, in which position she served for 22 years.
Epstein served as president of the Music Library Association (Modern Language Association) from 1977 to 1979, and was awarded the association"s highest citation in 1986.
Modern Language Association adjudicates a research award named after Epstein. Filmmaker Jim Carrier created The Librarian and the Banjo to document Epstein"s contribution to American ethnomusicology.
He noted that she "revolutionized our understanding of American music. we take for granted that African-American music is the tap root of popular American music We owe much of that knowledge to this music librarian who set out to correct history".
Epstein"s papers and correspondence are held by Columbia College Chicago"s Center for Black Music Research.
(This title is awarded both the Chicago Folklore Prize and...)
Member American Library Association, Music Library Association (president 1977-1978, award for distinguished service 1986), American Musicol. Society, International Folk Music Council, Sonneck Society, International Association Music Libraries, American Association of University Women.
Married Morton Batlan Epstein, October 24, 1942. Children– William Eliot, Suzanne Louise.