Paul Lawrence Peeler Sr.

Paul Lawrence Peeler was the first African American teacher in the city schools in Pittsburgh and was also a musician-educator. His history with music started from a very young age. He was born in Shelby, N.C. and he went attended Peabody High School in Pittsburgh, where he developed his interest in music by composing music for operettas, class plays, and leading an orchestra. Peeler’s love for music led him to attain B.A. degrees in violin and music education at Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University. At Tech, he took classes in piano, violin, and music composition with renowned experts. He also studied organ as well as the violin and used to play the violin under the guidance of his father, David L. Peeler. He continued with graduate studies at Tech and Northwestern University. Peeler was a teacher and adviser to many student teachers from Duquesne University. He was also a music teacher at Letsche School, organist-choirmaster of the Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal, music critic for the Pittsburgh Courier and he also worked at A. Leo Weil School with groups of the Community Council Center.