William Grant Still from Katherine Biddle., 01/01/1944-12/31/1946
Collection-level Scope and Content Note
The papers of Katherine Biddle are organized into nine series: 1. Individuals - Correspondence with notable individuals, including composers, musicians, poets and writers (see biographical note below for a list of names). 2. Alphabetical correspondence - Frequent correspondents, arranged by name. 3. Chronological correspondence - Arranged alphabetically by year. 4. Literary associations, publications and publishers - Related correspondence files. Of particular note are files relating to the Library of Congress. 5. Major works - Correspondence and files relating to published works, “Outside of the World” (1930); “Bright Mariner” (1933); T”ime Has No Shadow” (1936); “Lament for the Stolen” (1938); “Plain Chant for America” (1942); “The Other Journey” (1959); and “Sojourner Truth” (c.1948). 6. Manuscripts - Poetry, articles and reviews, lectures and radio talks. 7. Subject and personal files - Includes research material on topics of personal interest, biographical information, appointment books. 8. Photographs - Of special interest are several scrapbooks and loose leaves from scrapbooks containing photographs of Katherine Biddle and the Biddle family. This series includes clippings of journal and newspaper reviews of Biddle's works. 9. Music scores - The collection includes several autograph music scores, as well as sheet music, by well-known composers, Will Marion Cook, Aaron Copland, Robert Nathaniel Dett, Esther B. Frost, Mary Howe, Elmo Russ, Sydney King Russell, and William Grant Still. Note that correspondence with Francis Biddle has been processed in the third part of the Biddle Family Papers, entitled, Biddle Family Letters.
Dates
- 01/01/1944-12/31/1946
Collection-level Access Restrictions
Access to this collection is by permission from the Biddle family. Please contact Booth Family Center for Special Collections for further information.
Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Extent
From the Collection: 34 Linear Feet (65 Hollinger boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Container Summary
Typed carbons and autograph drafts of correspondence from Katherine Biddle to William Grant Still, primarily regarding the composition and performance of his music for her two choral poems, "And They Lynched Him from a Tree," and "Plain Chant for America." Reference in particular to performances in Mexico. Includes references also to Louise Burge, Carlos Chavez, Olin Downes, Richard Lert, Alain Locke, Carlos Pellicer, and Leopold Stokowski.
Subjects and Associated Physical Materials
STILL, WILLIAM GRANT - CORRES. FROM BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944-46: Typed Letter Signed
BIDDLE, KATHERINE - CORRES. TO STILL, WILLIAM GRANT 1944-46: Typed Letter Signed
BIDDLE, KATHERINE - "AND THEY LYNCHED HIM..." REFERENCE 1944-46: Typed Letter Signed
BIDDLE, KATHERINE - "PLAIN CHANT FOR AMERICA" REFERENCE 1944-46: Typed Letter Signed
BURGE, LOUISE - REFERENCE BY BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944: Typed Letter Signed
CHAVEZ, CARLOS - REFERENCE BY BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944: Typed Letter Signed
DOWNES, OLIN - REFERENCE BY BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944: Typed Letter Signed
LERT, RICHARD - REFERENCE BY BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944: Typed Letter Signed
LOCKE, ALAIN - REFERENCE BY BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944: Typed Letter Signed
PELLICER, CARLOS - REFERENCE BY BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944: Typed Letter Signed
STOKOWSKI, LEOPOLD - REFERENCE BY BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1944: Typed Letter Signed
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu