Clarence Thomas Urmy was born 10 July 1858 in San Francisco, California, and was considered "the first native poet of California." He published several volumes of collected verse and wrote dramatic and music criticism for the San Jose Mercury Herald.

Poet Clarence Urmy (1858-1923) was born in San Francisco on July 10, 1858. He was the grandson of Elea Thomas who was one of the founders of the Methodist church in the state of California. Urmy's father was a Methodist minister for 50 years. Urmy attended San Francisco public schools and then Napa College where he studied music and received a bachelor's degree. He worked for a number of years in music houses including Sherman and Clay in San Francisco. Urmy continued to study voice at this time and did some performing in San Francisco and San Jose. He was the organist at Santa Clara Methodist Church and later at Trinity Episcopal Church in San Jose. He taught piano at the College of the Pacific and four years at San Jose Teachers' College.

2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

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