Grace Nelson Reid
1900(?) -
Grace Nelson, a native of California, was a pioneer music teacher at Southern California Junior College, now La Sierra University, and Pacific Union College. A native of California, she taught at SCJC from its founding in 1922, when it was known initially as La Sierra Academy, to 1925.
Although she was listed in the first announcement for the school as the pianoforte and harmony teacher, she taught lessons only in the first year while she scrambled to organize a music program in unfinished buildings and with only two old used pianos and a reed pump organ. Even in those circumstances, Nelson was able to have an "Academic Pianoforte" graduate in each of her three years.
Following her first year, when she had 25 students, her responsibilities included teaching forty lessons and classes in music theory and history, conducting a chorus, and caring for music associated with chapel and church services. She and her colleague in vocal instruction, Pearl Cooper, gave at least one joint recital in those first three years.
Nelson, a 1922 graduate of Pacific Union College, returned there for additional study in 1925. She then taught pipe organ from 1927 to 1929.
In 1929, she returned to SCJC, now married and listed as Grace Nelson Reid. During that year she wrote the music for the first school song, Dear S.C.J.C. There are no known records of her after the end of that school year.
ds/2007