In 1918, the property located at 530 St. George Street, at the corner of South Sixth and St. George Streets, was purchased for $9,000.00. It was the residence of the late Charles J. Wolfe. Known as Wolfe House, it was used as a women's dormitory to house twenty women and a hostess. In 1920, steam heating was installed at a cost of approximately $1,000.00. Beginning in 1928, the building was used by the Music Department.

The School of Music Becomes The Department of Music

Before 1915, the University consisted of four parts: the Academy, the College, the Female Institute, and the School Of Music, which was entwined with the Institute. When Dr. Emory Hunt became President in 1919, the University consisted of only the College and the School Of Music, a professional school from which students received diplomas but not degrees. In 1921, the faculty of the College voted to establish a Department of Music empowered to offer three courses for collegiate credit. In 1932, the faculty voted to abolish the four-year program of the School Of Music, which lead to a diploma in music. A major in music, leading to either a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree, was established in the College; the School Of Music, the last remnant of the nineteenth-century University, became the Department of Music.

The Music Department in 1945

The Music Department offered both “practical work” and “theoretical work” that could be applied to “most degrees.” A major in music was available also. The amount of “practical work” that was “accepted toward a degree” was limited to a maximum of twelve semesters hours for music majors and a maximum of ten semester hours for non-majors. The individual practical work was in both instrumental and vocal music including pianoforte, violin, voice, organ, and orchestral instruments. There was also musical laboratory work, which consisted of “participating in the symphony orchestra, mixed chorus, men’s glee club, or band.” One hour of credit could be “…obtained each semester in private instruction, and one-half hour in musical laboratory work.”

A major in music required twenty-four semester hours, which were split evenly between practical and theoretical work. Eight semester hours of practical work in individual instruction were required in instrumental or vocal music and four semester hours were required “in musical laboratory work consisting of participation in the symphony orchestra, mixed chorus, men’s glee club, or band.” Twelve semester hours were required in theoretical courses, which were elected by the student and approved by the advisor.

There was also a program to prepare students to teach music in the public schools.

A major in public school music, designed for those who wish to teach public school music, consist[ed] of eighteen semester hours in theoretical courses and twelve semester hours in practical work composed of (1) four hours in musical laboratory (symphony orchestra, mixed chorus, men’s glee club, band, study of orchestral instruments, or principles of conducting), and (2) eight hours in piano and voice.

Students could substitute electives for prescribed courses to “…meet the requirements of any particular state for state certification.”

The six faculty members who taught practical and theoretical courses in music had offices in this building in 1945. There were instructors in organ, piano, violin and voice.

"practical work" and the other quotations in this paragraph, CAT '45-'46, p. 136

"in musical laboratory work consisting of..." ib.

"A major in public school music..." ib., p. 137

"...meet the requirements of any..." ib.

The major sources for the information on this page are Memorials of Bucknell University, 1919-1931 (MBU '19-'31) and Oliphant, Rise of Bucknell. Additional sources are "Directory of Faculty, Officers of Administration and Ship's Company of Bucknell University, November, 1945"; the Bucknell University Bulletin, Catalogue Issue, Ninety-Ninth Year, 1944-1945 (CAT '44-'45) and the Bucknell University Bulletin, Catalogue Issue, One Hundredth Year, January, 1946 (CAT '45-'46).