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Dr. Anderson Oscar Fuller (1904-1989)

He was “Daddy Fuller” to hundreds of Lincoln University students from 1942-1974. He taught them music and how to live life to the fullest. A.O. Fuller was born in 1904 in Roanoke, Virginia on September 20th. He was the son of Anderson Oscar Fuller, Dean of Bishop College in Marshall, Texas. He was one of six boys in the family. All six earned their Doctorate degrees. The only sister earned a Masters from Columbia College in New York. Dr. Fuller earned his Bachelors of Arts degree at Bishop in 1924. He studied music and medicine, but decided he could not be a physician after meeting his wife, Jessie Edith Whitfield. “Mama was not favorably disposed toward having a physician for a husband,” he said, “and I wasn’t favorably disposed toward losing her.” He had been accepted at Howard’s Medical school, but he was sidetracked and never went.

H e went to the New England Conservatory to “better himself” and later became a music teacher at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University at Greensboro, N.C. He also taught courses in anatomy and physiology for three years. He married “Mama” and she became an inspiration for many of his decisions to teach students music. She was a teacher and daughter of educators. They moved to Texas, where he taught at Prairie View State University from 1929-1942 and served as chair of the music department. After (Fuller attended) the New England Conservatory of Music, President George Chadwick encouraged him to continue his studies at the University of Iowa. Fuller went to Iowa and earned his Masters in 1934. Fuller worked for Phillip Greeley Clapp who was considered a prodigy on piano. Fuller worked on the university radio station. He specialized in music written by African American composers. Clapp encouraged him to return to Iowa in 1940 to begin his doctoral work, with an emphasis on composition. He graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in music in 1942. His dissertation was a creative composition. He also became a father in 1935 when Pat was born.

Fuller met two other students/faculty members, Milton Hardiman and James A. Parks, of Lincoln University of Missouri who influenced his life. . They told their President, Dr. Sherman Scruggs about Fuller and his work at Iowa. Scruggs asked Fuller to come for an interview. He did and stayed from 1942-74. He was the first African American to earn a Doctorate in music in 1942 and could have taught anywhere. He chose Lincoln University because he thought he could do something for the program and he did.

Dr. Fuller had a vision to offer three music degree programs; a Bachelor of Music degree, a Bachelor in Music Education degree, and a Music Therapy degree. He also wanted to earn accreditation for the Lincoln music program by the both the National Association of the Schools of Music and the State of Missouri Department of Education. He started the choir in 1945. He accomplished all of his goals. He did even more to make students better citizens when he received funding for a new 1,500 seats Richardson Auditorium with state financing in 1954.

Brown vs. BOE Topeka, Kansas was the law from the Supreme Court that prompted the integration of Lincoln University in 1954 and all other schools in the country. Dr. Fuller used this to teach African Americans and white students that they could sing, study and learn together at Lincoln University in harmony. His choir was integrated and remains integrated even today. Students learned to tolerate and respect each other through music and association. They learned music from different countries, as well as gospel, jazz,   including opera, sung in Latin. Dr. Fuller’s students became his greatest source of pride when they accomplished great things, like singing at the Metropolitan Opera or earning a Doctorate in Music or becoming music teachers. Mama Fuller worked beside him and traveled with him on choir tours throughout the country, staying with alumni around the country. The choirs also sang on New York’s NBC national telecast. They sang at the New York World’s Fair, at the U.S. Senate and at many universities and colleges throughout the country. He changed music in Missouri.

Stephen College, a women’s college in Columbia, Missouri, was known internationally for a successful music program. Every year they did a full-scale opera production. Dr. Fuller collaborated with them to introduce Lincoln’s male choral students into this wonderful music opportunity. It was so successful that people came to see them perform together from around the state. Everyone loved this program and enjoyed the music and the combination of cultures. Lincoln University became the second black school to belong to the National Association of Schools of Music in 1950. Fuller was honored in 1981 as a “Pioneer in Missouri Education” (Missouri Times 1983.) He was also honored to be a Professor Emeritus of Music at Lincoln University. He retired in 1974. He was named to the Missouri Educators Hall of Fame in 1985.

Fuller was honored by the LU Alumni Association. He served the community as well by working in his church, Immaculate Conception Church, since they moved to Jefferson City in 1942. He was President of the Kiwanis Club of Jefferson City in 1983. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for sixty years. Dr. Fuller passed away on July 15, 1989. Mrs. Fuller and daughter,  Pat preceded him in death in 1986.

“Mama and Papa Fuller” will be remembered and missed by the University and community for their outstanding work and service to mankind. He was an inspiration to all the students who matriculated Lincoln University, regardless of their major. I met him when I attended Lincoln University from 1961-65. I met him again when I returned to interview for a position as reference librarian in 1985. Mama and Papa were eating at Holiday Inn when I returned and hadn’t changed in the twenty years since I graduated. Talking to them and seeing them gave me the courage I needed to return and work here at LU for the next twenty plus years as University Librarian.

Elizabeth Briscoe Wilson University Librarian