Peggy Houston Shivers was born in Pittsburg, TX and grew up in Portland, OR. She is a product of the Portland Public Schools, Portland State University where she earned a BS in Education, and Ball State University where she earned a MA in Guidance and Counseling. Music has been an integral part of her life from an early age, however. She began voice studies with the Bruce Marvin Studio in Portland, Oregon and later with Madam S. Strelova in San Francisco, advanced studies at La Escuela Superior de Canto in Madrid, Spain and upon returning to the United States with Martile Rowland in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Ms. Shivers taught school in Portland for several years before moving to San Francisco where she also worked in the public school system. While living in San Francisco, she continued her music career and was selected by Duke Ellington to be the featured soloist in his Sacred Concert II held at Grace Cathedral. She also received high acclaim in the lead role of the San Francisco Opera Ring’s production of “Lost in the Stars” and was the soprano for the San Francisco Concert Quartet.
In 1968, she married Clarence Shivers, an original Tuskegee Airman and renown artist. Clarence retired from the military the following year and they moved to Madrid, Spain where they remained until 1979. Ms. Shivers became agent and business manager for her husband and his artwork. Spain proved to be a comfortable setting for both Clarence and Peggy in their respective careers. Highlights for Peggy while living in Spain, in addition to concert work, include being accepted into the prestigious conservatory, La Escuela Superior de Canto and being featured artist for the Bicentennial Celebration sponsored by the United States Embassy.
Always involved and active in the community wherever she has lived, Ms. Shivers helped develop a program for children with dyslexia for American families living in Spain who were not connected with the military. She also designed and developed a Crisis Line program for Torrejon Air Force Base located near Madrid.
Upon returning to the United States in 1979, the Shivers established a home and studio in Colorado Springs, CO. While researching a commissioned project for the Miller Brewing Company, which was based on African American history, it became quite apparent that the local library system was seriously lacking in the information of and about African Americans. Thus the Shivers African American Historical and Cultural Collection at Pikes Peak Library District came into being. Hundreds of items have been added to the library’s inventory as a result.
A foundation, The Shivers Fund at Pikes Peak Library District, has also been established to ensure that funds will be available to maintain the collection for years to come.
In addition, the Shivers Fund sponsors a concert series which allows young artists the opportunity to perform in a professional setting, awards grants, scholarships, and financial support to students and provides educational activities to encourage young people to participate in and enjoy the Classical Arts. A choral group, the Celebration Multicultural Ensemble, has also been organized as an extension of the Shivers Fund. The goal of the group is to keep Negro Spirituals alive in the American music repertoire.
As a result of Ms. Shivers’ support of the Arts and cultural activities in the Colorado Springs community, three rooms have been dedicated in her honor. One at Library 21C (honoring both her and her husband), another at the Colorado Springs Conservatory and the third at the Ent Center at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Ms. Shivers has served on many boards since moving to Colorado Springs including NAACP, Urban League, United Way, Colorado Springs Symphony, Colorado Springs Dance Theatre, Colorado Opera Festival where she served as president and the Pikes Peak Library District Foundation. She has also served on the Business and Community Alliance Board at Colorado College, the College of Education Advisory Board at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the Colorado Festival of World Theatre Board, and the Pikes Peak Opera League Board.
She is a member of Peoples United Methodist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a life member of the NAACP, the Urban League, and the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce.
A widow, she is the mother of one son, Hugh, and a stepdaughter, Karen.