Education

Clarence followed his mother’s wishes for him to become a lawyer by being the first African American to attend Dickerson Law School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which is now part of Penn State University. After one year at the school, he pursued theater. His father wished him to become a Baptist minister. Yet, Muse’s professional acting and singing career did not begin until 1910-1911.

While there is no record of the law degree that Muse claimed, he later went on to be part of Howard University’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, which began in 1942. Only a few years later, he became the Western Regional Director. 

Clarence was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Bishop College in 1972 and an Honorary Doctor degree from Dickerson Law School in 1978.