George W. Proctor
American, 1873 - 1949
At the age of 15, Proctor was organist at South Boston's Church of the Redeemer. Primarily a pianist, Proctor taught at the New England Conservatory for most of his career.
Proctor enjoyed the patronage of Mr. and Mrs. John Lowell Gardner who early in his career supported him during several years of study in Vienna with the great Theodor Leschetizky.
Later, Mrs. Gardner built Twelve Lanterns in Marblehead for Proctor in 1910 as a wedding gift. However, the marriage was short lived and Proctor never moved in.*
“Twelve Lanterns sits high on rock ledge looking out toward the open Atlantic Ocean. A covered arch and stone steps lead to the entrance of the house. Inside, it is not terribly large, though the main room has an enormous fireplace and a raised area designed for a grand piano. In this room is the first of the 12 lanterns that give the house its name."
In 1918, Proctor was living at 79 Fairmont, Brookline, Mass., with his mother, Charlotte E. Proctor.
Proctor was the author of the following monograph: "A Course in Pianoforte Playing" [1918].
*Marguerite L. Burtt (Margaret in some sources) was born Jan 18, 1886 and died in December of 1965. She married George W. Proctor in Boston on March 20, 1911 at Fenway Court. She was the librarian at the New England Conservatory of Music. Marguerite separated from George Proctor in 1912 and divorced him in 1916.
Proctor's parents were George C. Proctor and Charlotte E. McDonald.
A young George Proctor is mentioned in the following quote:
"The Church of the Advent, in Boston, was the first church in that city to employ boy choristers in the choir, and the first church in New England in which a vested choir appeared. ...
The Church of the Messiah was the next in Boston to employ a vested choir. It attained great excellence under the direction of Mr. J. T. Gardam, who resigned a few years ago, to be followed by Mr. Joseph Stewart, the present choir master. The society has lately moved into a new church. There have been some notable solo boys connected with this choir, among them being Masters Waldo Merrill and George Proctor. The latter, after change of voice, having a strong inclination for music, pursued his studies at the Conservatory, and is now the organist of the church, and gives promise of making his mark in his chosen profession."
Source: "Surpliced Boy Choirs in America" by S. B. Whitney, The New England Magazine, April 1892, Volume VI, Number 2
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162378897/george-w_-proctor; accessed 10/4/2021
WEDDED AT MRS. GARDNER'S.; George W. Proctor, Pianist, Marries Marguerite L. Burtt, His Pupil
PERMISSIONS
Special to The New York Times. ();
March 21, 1911,
, Section , Page 11, Column , words
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0CEEDB143EE033A25752C2A9659C946096D6CF&legacy=true I.S. 1/3/2018
Boston Symphony Orchestra, pianist, 1917-1918
In a letter to ISG dated 20 December 1893, Proctor writes: "my twentieth birthday occurred on the 18th just a week before Christmas." Date of death still unknown. M Phelps 4/4/19
Person TypeIndividual
Last Updated8/7/24
London, 1830 - 1894, London
Dedham, Massachusetts, 1893 - 1981, Plymouth, Massachusetts
London, 1801 - 1890, Birmingham, England
Gloucester or Hampshire, 1549, Westminster
active late 19th century - early 20th century
