Lily Peter Keyboard Scholarship

Miss Lilly Peter was a plantation owner in Marvell, AR, recognized statewide as a supporter of the arts. In 1969, Miss Lilly arranged for the Philadelphia Orchestra to come to Arkansas and perform concerts in recognition of the Arkansas Territorial Sesquicentennial. The proceeds from those concerts were divided between the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University. With this gift, Miss Lilly personally donated an additional $1178.16 to ASU to bring to total to $10,000, and the scholarship you are receiving was established. After Miss Lilly’s death, the scholarship was renamed in her memory. Miss Lilly was quite at home among artists and farmers, and entertained the pianist Van Cliburn at her home in Marvell to a cornbread and turnip green supper. She was a published author, and served as the state’s poet laureate during the term of Governor Dale Bumpers.