Performances + Events
Frances Lanier
Lanier earned her Master’s of Music from NEC in 1938, studying under Harrison Keller.
The same year she received the Frank Huntington Beebe Scholarship for Travel and Study Abroad, during which she studied with Adolph Busch in Switzerland and George Enesco in Paris.
About Frances Lanier
Born in 1914 into the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho, Lanier began her violin education at the age of 4. At the age of 13, she played her first concert in Seattle, where she and her family had moved. Lanier attended the University of Oregon, where she studied with Rex Underwood. While in university, she appeared as a soloist with the University Orchestra and the Portland Symphony.
Lanier taught at the Longy School of Music and the Groton School, while continuing to perform not only with the Boston Pops but also in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Around this time she married Sterling Lanier with whom she had two daughters, Elizabeth (Betse) Lanier and Margaret Lanier Brown.
In 1950 she co-founded with Virginia Bacon and directed the NEC Music Course for Young Players, which was renamed the Preparatory Department, then the Special Student Department, and eventually the Extension Division. This school not only teaches pre-college students but also offers non-degree programs for adults. Lanier led the school until 1975 when the leadership role was taken over by A. Ramon Rivera. During this time she established three branch schools and expanded the Preparatory School to 800 students.
Lanier continued to teach and perform after retiring from her leadership role at NEC. A scholarship was set up in her name as well as an honor seat in Jordan Hall. She won numerous awards including the American String Teachers Association “Teacher of the Year” Award in 1982.
She received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from NEC in 1992. She stayed involved in the Preparatory School through the 50th Anniversary in 2000. She passed away in 2000.
Frances Lanier Archives
The Frances Brockman Lanier collection occupies 1.3 linear foot, or one record carton and one large drop front print box. The collection consists mainly of paper files but also has a good number of newspaper clippings and photographs.
This collection includes material created by, and belonging to Frances Brockman Lanier. The materials were donated to the Conservatory by her daughter, Betse Lanier, in August 2008.
Access to the Frances Lanier Papers is granted by the Archivist. Appointments must be scheduled in advance. There are no restrictions pertaining to this collection.
All copyrights to this collection belong to the New England Conservatory. Permission to publish materials from this collection is granted by the Archivist. This collection should be cited as: NECA 19.16. Frances Lanier Papers. New England Conservatory Archives, Boston, MA.
The Frances Lanier Papers, dating from 1931-2000, is organized into eight series:
- Correspondence
- NEC Preparatory School Materials
- Programs
- External Files
- Subject Files
- Journal / newspaper articles
- Photographs
- Poster boards
The Correspondence series includes letters to and from Lanier dating from 1941–2001. Most exchanges are between Lanier and colleagues; however, there are some items of correspondence between various members of Lanier’s family which are not directly to or from her. A sizeable portion of the correspondence regards Lanier’s retirement and death.
The largest series, covering the NEC Preparatory School, includes administrative records, curriculum records, catalogs/brochures, correspondence, and historical materials, as well as folders on specific events such as the Music Camp and the Sally Dodge tribute.
The Programs series includes’ NEC Preparatory School programs, including graduation programs, and others from the Gardner Museum and the Music School at Rivers. Additional programs document several decades of Lanier’s career as a performing musician.
The External files pertain to other institutions besides NEC, with which Lanier had a connection, including Belmont Music School, the Groton School, Peabody Conservatory and the U. S. O.
The Subject files series includes a folder of Awards and Recognitions given to Lanier, biographical information, teaching materials, as well as one folder devoted to Louis Krasner, renowned violinist and long time NEC faculty member.
The Photographs show Lanier over the course of her career as well as people influential in her musical development
Finally the poster boards are large pieces with items glued onto them, similar to a scrapbook. These poster boards include programs, newspaper articles, advertisements, etc pertaining to Frances Lanier’s performing career prior to her coming to NEC.
Series 1: Correspondence
Box 1 – Folder 1
From FBL, 1967-1999
Box 1 – Folder 2
To FBL from various
Box 1 – Folder 3
Correspondence relating to Lanier’s role as NEC Class secretary
Box 1 – Folder 4
Recommendations
Box 1 – Folder 5
Congratulatory materials
Box 1 – Folder 6
Correspondence regarding FBL’s retirement, 1982
Box 1 – Folder 7
Family Correspondence
Box 1 – Folder 8
Correspondence concerning FBL’s death, 2000
Series 2: NEC Preparatory School materials
Box 1 – Folder 9
Administrative records
Box 1 – Folder 10
Branches
Box 1 – Folder 11
Budgets
Box 1 – Folder 12
Catalogs/Brochures
Box 1 – Folder 13
Correspondence, NEC Administration
Box 1 – Folder 14
Correspondence, Prep faculty
Box 1 – Folder 15
Correspondence, Prep students and parents
Box 1 – Folder 16
Curriculum, General
Box 1 – Folder 17
Curriculum, Strings
Box 1 – Folder 18
Faculty governance and handbooks
Box 1 – Folder 19
String faculty
Box 1 – Folder 20
Fundraising
Box 1 – Folder 21
History
Box 1 – Folder 22
Long Range Planning
Box 1- Folder 23
Music Camp
Box 1 – Folder 24
Prep publications
Box 1- Folder 25
Salary negotiations
Box 1 – Folder 26
Sally Dodge Tribute
Series 3: Programs
Box 1 – Folder 27
Prep programs, 1956-1981
Box 1 – Folder 28
Prep programs, 1982-1988
Box 1 – Folder 29
Prep graduations
Box 1 – Folder 30
Prep, undated
Box 1 – Folder 31
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Box 1 – Folder 32
Music School at Rivers
Box 1 – Folder 33
Lanier performances, general, 1935-1941 + undated
Box 1 – Folder 34
Lanier performances, general, 1942-1986
Box 1 – Folder 35
Programs, Miscellaneous
Series 4: External files
Box 1 – Folder 36
Belmont Music School
Box 1 – Folder 37
Groton School
Box 1 – Folder 38
Longy School of Music
Box 1 – Folder 39
National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts
Box 1 – Folder 40
Peabody Conservatory
Box 1 – Folder 41
U. S. O.
Series 5: Subject Files
Box 1 – Folder 42
Awards/Recognitions
Box 1- Folder 43
Biographical materials
Box 1 – Folder 44
Louis Krasner
Box 1 – Folder 45
Teaching materials
Series 6: Journal/Newspaper articles
Box 1 – Folder 46
Articles/Clippings about Prep
Box 1 – Folder 47
NEC Publications, other
Box 1 – Folder 48
Strings related articles
Box 1 – Folder 49
Articles, other
Box 1 – Folder 50
Articles about FBL
Series 7: Photographs
Box 2 – Folder 1
Photographs, FBL, 1946-1974 + undated
Box 2 – Folder 2
Albums
Box 2 – Folder 3
Sketches
Box 2 – Folder 4
Other
Series 8: Poster boards
Box 2 – Folder 5
Poster boards, 1931-1986 (bulk, 1931-1955), mostly programs from University of Oregon
Box 2 – Folder 6
Poster boards, 1934-1935 + undated, mostly advertisements for performances with Portland Symphony
Box 2 – Folder 7
Poster boards, 1932-1944, newspaper artic;les/clippings mainly from newspapers in Oregon
Finding aid compiled by Marti Verso, Fall 2008; revised 2026.
