Samuel Barber., 02/13/1940-02/13/1940
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
- 02/13/1940-02/13/1940
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
Correspondence to Katherine Biddle from composer Samuel Barber: ALS 1/13/1940, with thanks for poems she sent him and remark that he may set some to music. Reference also to setting music to Stephen Spender's poem, "Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map," and to Frederic Prokosch's "Nocturne." Reference also to seeing W.H. Auden who may write a text for an aria by Barber.
Subjects and Associated Physical Materials
BARBER, SAMUEL - CORRES. TO BIDDLE, KATHERINE 1940 (02/13): Autographed Letter
SPENDER, STEPHEN - POEM: "STOPWATCH AND...ORDNANCE MAP" REF. BY BARBER: Autographed Letter
PROKOSCH, FREDERIC - POEM: "NOCTURNE" REF. BY BARBER, SAMUEL 1940: Autographed Letter
AUDEN, W.H. - REFERENCE BY BARBER, SAMUEL 1940: Autographed Letter
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