Notable graduates
Musicians and composers, before they were famous
They were seniors like everyone else in these yearbooks. Each is matched to the person they became on evidence we show below — a birth date, a nickname, a team.
Men of Boston and New England, 1913 · Class of 1913
Frederick Converse
American classical music composer (1871-1940). In the yearbook: Frederick Shepherd Converse.
How we know: Birth date printed in the book (Jan. 5, 1871) matches Wikidata exactly, and the name matches Frederick Converse. Wikipedia
New England Conservatory of Music · Class of 1916
C. Paul Herfurth
American music educator. In the yearbook: Clarence Paul Herfurth.
How we know: Name matches C. Paul Herfurth (born 1893); their Wikipedia article names New England Conservatory of Music, and the age fits the class of 1916. Wikipedia
New England Conservatory of Music · Class of 1917
Martha Baird
wife of John D. Rockefeller, Jr..
How we know: Name matches Martha Baird (born 1895); their Wikipedia article names New England Conservatory of Music, and the age fits the class of 1917. Wikipedia
Harvard College, Class of 1920 (Harvard Nineteen Twenty Class Album) · Class of 1920
Randall Thompson
American composer (1899–1984).
How we know: Birth date printed in the book (April 21, 1899) matches Wikidata exactly, and the name matches Randall Thompson. Wikipedia
Cambridge High and Latin School · Class of 1925
Leroy Anderson
Composer of “Sleigh Ride”, “The Typewriter” and “Blue Tango”.
How we know: Birth date printed in the yearbook (June 29, 1908) matches Wikidata exactly; Wikidata: educated at Cambridge High and Latin. Wikipedia
New England Conservatory of Music · Class of 1926
John Vincent
American composer, conductor and music educator (1902-1977). In the yearbook: John Nathaniel Vincent Jr.
How we know: Name matches John Vincent (born 1902); their Wikipedia article names New England Conservatory of Music, and the age fits the class of 1926. Wikipedia
Arlington High School · Class of 1929
Alan Hovhaness
Composer of more than 400 works, including the symphony “Mysterious Mountain”. In the yearbook: Alan Chakmakjian.
How we know: Born Alan Vaness Chakmakjian (1911); Wikidata: educated at Arlington High; the yearbook's quotation is about music. Wikipedia