Beatrice Chaffee Department of Music Chair at the University of South Dakota

Beatrice Chaffee was the first and only woman chair of the Department of Music at the University of South Dakota (USD). Her background was in music education. Ms. Chaffee taught music and choir to K-12 grades in schools in Pennsylvania, Iowa and South Dakota. In 1961 she received her Master of Music Degree from USD and joined the faculty of the USD Department of Music in 1964. Her husband, Carlton Chaffee, was a faculty member in the USD Department of Music since 1958 and died prematurely in 1964.

 On September 1, 1971, Beatrice Chaffee became the Chair of the Department of Music and remained in that position for several years. Aside from teaching in the university, Beatrice Chaffee composed music for children’s operettas and conducted well-received workshops on music education nationally. 

 At USD she was also known as the “Singing Lady” who presented regular programs on KUSD radio “School of the Air” which started in the 1950s.  As “the Singing Lady” Ms. Chaffee also performed in Slagle Auditorium for elementary classes . During her tenure as chair, Beatrice Chaffee is mentioned frequently in Volante and Vermillion Plain Talk  (VPT) articles. During the 50th anniversary celebration of KUSD radio in 1972, she was lauded for her role in promoting music programs on the radio (VPT, May 18, 1972).

 Thus, Beatrice Chaffee was the first woman to head a department in the College of Fine Arts. She is known for her administrative skills, engaging teaching, and academic work in music education for several decades.

Beatrice Chaffee leading a “Singing Lady” class in Slagle Auditorium in 1972. USD Photographs, negative # 10929.6_1, Series 10.