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Guide to the Arnold Vernon Baranco Papers
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Title: Arnold Vernon Baranco papers
Dates: 1925-1987
Creator:
Baranco, Arnold Vernon, 1915-1987
Collection Size:
.25 linear feet
(1 box)
Repository:
African American Museum and Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: The Arnold Vernon Baranco papers include newspaper clippings, correspondence, yearbooks, WPA musical programs and photographs
related to the life and musical activities of Arnold Vernon Baranco. The collection is organized into three series: biographical,
teaching activities, musical activities, and photographs. The biographical series includes certificates, clippings, awards,
membership cards, and his high school yearbook. The teaching activities series includes a small number of letter, and the
musical programs document WPA performances given by Baranco. The photographs in the collection are related to Baranco's family,
friends, and musical activities.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Permission to publish from the Arnold Vernon Baranco Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum and Library
at Oakland.
Arnold Vernon Baranco papers, MS 15, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Biography / Administrative History
Arnold Vernon Baranco was born in Louisiana in 1915 and came to Oakland at the age of nine. He was the first African American
probation officer in Alameda County and was active as a singer and choral director. Baranco graduated from the Oakland Technical
High School in 1932 and was a member of the A Capella Choir and also earned a varsity letter on the football team. In 1936,
he graduated from
the Sacramento Junior College, where he was a tenor with their A Capella Choir. He was also elected
to Phi Iota Lambda, the Junior College Philosophy Honor Society as well at Phi Theta Kappa, a
scholastic fraternity recognizing academic merit. Between 1944-1945, he served as a sergeant in the
370th Infantry Regiment, APO # 92, stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. During that time, he sang
as a member of the USO Glee Club. After WW II, in 1948, Baranco received a degree in social
welfare from the University of California at Berkeley.
Baranco was actively involved with music throughout his life either as a singer or as a choir
director. He was an early member of the Oakland Colored Chorus, which later expanded to sixty
singers under the directorship of Elmer Keeton, who acquired its funding from the Works Progress
Administration Federal Arts Project. When Elmer Keeton died in 1947, Baranco became one of three
co-directors of the choir, renamed the Keeton Memorial Choir. In addition to singing and directing,
Baranco also taught two evening classes in singing from 1951-1952 for the
Oakland Public Schools.
In 1957, Baranco retired as probation officer. He remained active in music until his death in
1987.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Arnold Vernon Baranco papers include newspaper clippings, correspondence, yearbooks, WPA musical programs and photographs
related to the life and musical activities of Arnold Vernon Baranco. The collection is organized into three series: biographical,
teaching activities, musical activities, and photographs. The biographical series includes certificates, clippings, awards,
membership cards, and his high school yearbook. The teaching activities series includes a small number of letter, and the
musical programs document WPA performances given by Baranco. The photographs in the collection are related to Baranco's family,
friends, and musical activities.
Series I. Biographical
Series II. Teaching activities
Series III. Musical activities
Series IV. Photographs
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Baranco, Arnold Vernon, 1915-1987.
African Americans--Music--1900-1940.