---
title: An Operatic Star Who Raised Others’ Voices
date: 2022-02-25T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/an-operatic-star-who-raised-others-voices"
section: Articles
---
# An Operatic Star Who Raised Others’ Voices

*February 25, 2022* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> Grad Student Helped Process Library of Congress’ Collection of Legendary Singer Jessye Norman

*Getty Images 147169711 1920x1080 — The papers of the late singer Jessye Norman, left, are now housed at the Library of Congress, where Jessica Grimmer MLIS '21, below, worked on processing them. Norman, who championed the work of Black composers, "wanted to showcase African American spirituals and Black artists," Grimmer said.*

The late vocalist Jessye Norman was famous for her recitals as well as her roles in works by Wagner and Verdi, but she also had another passion: to champion music written by and for Black people that didn’t generally take center stage in concert halls.

That’s one facet of Norman’s life that the public can discover through the Jessye Norman Papers, a collection of audio and visual recordings, correspondence, contracts, datebooks, programs, sheet music and ephemera now available through the Library of Congress. Jessica Grimmer MLIS ’21 helped process the collection as part of her field study before graduating from the University of Maryland.


*Jessica Grimmer MLIS ’21 holding picture of Jessye Norman*



**Sidebar note:**

This is one of a series of Maryland Today features during Black History Month celebrating Terp faculty, staff, students and alums.





**Topics:** [Arts & Culture](https://today.umd.edu/tags/arts-culture)


**Tags:** [Music](https://today.umd.edu/topic/music), [Black History Month](https://today.umd.edu/topic/black-history-month)


**Units:** [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities), [College of Information](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-information-studies)