Donald E. Stout Collection

Collection

Identifier: FC 015

Staff Only

The Donald Stout Collection contains personal correspondences, notes, a large collection of sheet music, photographs and photographic slides, plaques, awards, a large flag, and pieces of regalia.

Dates

1954-1989

Creator

Stout , Donald E. (Donald E. Stout), 1924-2006 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Items cannot be removed from the University Archives. Please ask for the assistance of the Archivist when handling these items.

Conditions Governing Use

Written permission must be obtained from the Fort Hays State University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Extent

6.1 Linear Feet (11 boxes and a folio)

Additional Description

Overview

The Donald E. Stout Collection contains materials related to Stout’s career as a professor of music at Fort Hays State University, along with materials related to his research, travel and various awards and honors he received.

Biographical / Historical

Donald Eugene Stout was born in Carthage, Illinois to Clarence and Orva Stout in 1924. He graduated from Danville High School in Danville, Iowa in 1941. He then attended Monmouth College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for one year. His college studies were interrupted by World War II, where he served in the Army until 1947. While enlisted he served in the Pacific Theater and was involved in the Japanese occupation. He also earned the distinction of sharpshooter and organized a men’s glee club that performed on a regular basis. Following his discharge, he enrolled at the University of Illinois under the GI bill. While in attendance he became a part of the Theta Chi fraternity, majored in music, and met his future wife, Marguerite L. Colley. He graduated in 1950 and married Marguerite in July 9, 1950. He went on to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned a master’s degree in Music in 1951. He then taught vocal music at Williams Woods and Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri from 1951 to 1953. He then moved to Hays, Kansas where he began teaching vocal music at what was then Fort Hays State College. He also received a doctorate in music from Indiana University in 1964. During his time at Fort Hays State University, Dr. Stout taught a wide range of vocal music performers including the Fort Hays Singers, The Hays Concert Choir, and multiple operas and musicals. In the winter of 1971, he took the Fort Hays Singers on a USO tour of the Pacific which visited bases in Korea, Japan, and Hawaii to name just a few. He and John Thorns also began the tradition of the annual Christmas Madrigal Dinner at FHSU and led it for 25 years. Dr. Stout also provided private vocal instruction and was often a judge at musical festivals throughout the surrounding region. In addition, he was the director of the United Methodist Chancel Choir for 25 years as well as the director of the United Methodist Boys Choir in Hays. He put together a popular community choir that performed frequently for many years. He was also the organist at St. Michaels Episcopal Church and was the director of the bell choir at the United Methodist Church in Hays, Kansas. Dr. Stout was also an active member of the Hays Civic community. He served as president of the local rotary club, was Rotary District Governor in 1990-91, and was a mason under the Order of DeMolay. He belonged to the Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi, the Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and the American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Stout passed away in 2006.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by medium with boxes containing paperwork and photos arranged alphabetically. All photographic slides have been kept in their original arragement.