Bryce Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Patient Touring Choir

... ALABAMA'S MOST TRAVELED CHOIR

(drawing by patient of Bryce Hospital)

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Dr. J.S. Tarwater, Superintendent

This Folder Was Produced By The

ALABAMA ASSOCIATION
for MENTAL HEALTH

Copy Prepared by Harriet S. Culp

1964

The Bryce Hospital Touring Patient Choir is a 40-member volunteer group. It is composed of patients at Bryce Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who have demonstrated talent for singing and a desire to take part in a worthwhile program that absorbs their interest and helps to relieve worry over personal affairs. Such an activity, authorities agree, is excellent treatment for mental illness, permitting patients to get out of the hospital, to meet people, and to enjoy normal social contacts.

Only Touring Patient Choir in the Nation

Bryce Hospital is the only mental institution in the nation with a touring patient Choir. It was established in 1950 by Miss Virginia Dobbins, Director of the Patient Activity Department, in response to a patient's request. Hospital Chaplain B.W. Allen, a distinguished musician himself, is now the Choir's director, and under his tutelage the choral group has become one of the states' most outstanding religious Choirs, in demand in all parts of Alabama in church, civic and service group programs.

YOU Can Hear The Bryce Choir

Treatment of the mentally ill is the community's business as well as that of the state, for it is only through acceptance of mentally ill patients as PEOPLE that they can hope to regain their former mental health and return home to useful lives with family, friends and business associates.

When you invite The Bryce Hospital Touring Patient Choir to sing at your church, or before a civic group or service group where hymns, anthems and spirituals will be appreciated, YOU are making a contribution toward the cure of these patients.

You, too, will benefit from the experience, for when you see these talented people you will understand that there is no reason for them to be set apart--isolated from life. Your acceptance of them as everyday human beings is their greatest need, and music and song can do as much for them as miracle drugs.

How You Can Arrange for the Choir to Appear in Your Community

Here is a simple set of regulations found desirable in planning the Choir's appearance in your community:
1. Select two or more dates -- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, and submit them to Chaplain B. W. Allen, Bryce Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
2. Select an auditorium with good acoustics. Piano or organ is necessary.
3. Plan to serve an informal buffet type supper for the Choir (about 40) at 5:30 or 6:00 P.M. Encourage local people to eat and mix with members of the Choir.
4. The concert usually begins at 7:00 or 7:30 P.M., and lasts for approximately one and a half hours.
5. No admission charge is allowed. The Choir requests privilege to taking a free will offering to pay travel expense.
6. Publicity will be furnished by Chaplain B. W. Allen, consisting of posters, newspaper and radio material. When writing for engagement, specify how much of each you will need.
7. Following concert, serve Choir members tea, coffee, cokes, or other soft drinks.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Thomas C. Pettus, attorney of Moulton, Alabama writes: "The people of Moulton and Lawrence County literally fell in love with the Bryce Hospital Choir, and I just had to write you and thank you for permitting them to come to Moulton and entertain, enlighten and inspire us. It was a tremendous experience and revelation. The Moulton Baptist Church was filled with entranced people."

The Choral Program

The Choir will adapt its program to your requests. Some audiences prefer to hear old-fashioned gospel songs. If the Choir come to one of the larger churches or your city auditorium, it will give a more varied program of hymns, spirituals and anthems. Several fine soloists add extra color to the program.

Make Inquiries and Reservations Early

The Choir makes only one trip a week and is constantly receiving requests for repeat performances and well as first appearances. For this reason it is sometimes booked as far ahead as three months. To schedule the Choir in your community write to Chaplain B. W. Allen, Bryce Hospital, Tuscaloosa, as far ahead of your expected program schedule as possible, giving first, second and third choices of dates on which you would like to have the Choir visit your community. It is an experience you will never forget.

or, since I don't check my mail often and it is deleted every thirty days by lycos, write me at home: Steve Sedberry, 100 County Road 525, Newell, AL 36280-4312

copy of original brochure, outside

copy of original brochure, inside