DACS

dahllinda Inventory of the Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams, 1944-1993 and undated Processed by: Jeremy Smith; machine-readable finding aid created by: Jeremy Smith David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 003133824

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: December 2008Processed by Jeremy Smith, December 2008; Finding Aid encoded by Jeremy Smith, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, December 2008 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and our local Style Guide Inventory of the Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams, 1944-1993 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Dahl, Linda, 1949- Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams, 1944-1993 and undated Material in English 0.6 Linear Feet 375 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Author Linda Dahl wrote the first full-length biography of jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and educator Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981), titled Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams (1999). The Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams contains materials compiled by Dahl in researching the Williams biography, including newspaper and magazine clippings, correspondence, photographs and transparency strips, concert programs, and a variety of financial and foundation records. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Provenance

The Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 2002.

Processing Information

Processed by Jeremy Smith, December 2008

Encoded by Jeremy Smith, December 2008

Accession 2002-0223 is described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Biographical and Historical Note

Author Linda Dahl wrote the first full-length biography of jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator Mary Lou Williams, titled Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams (New York: Pantheon Books, 1999). By the 1930s, Williams (born Atlanta, 8 May 1910; died Durham, N.C., 28 May 1981) had begun working as a pianist and/or arranger for bandleaders including Andy Kirk, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie. Williams gained additional acclaim as a leader of her own bands as well as a composer of such works as Zodiac Suite (1946) and Music for Peace (1971), also known as Mary Lou's Mass. She was an artist in residence in Duke University's Department of Music from 1977-1981.

Collection Overview

The Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams contains materials compiled by Dahl in researching her 1999 biography of Williams. The collection features newspaper and magazine clippings on Williams; letters from Williams to her friend Joyce Breach regarding Williams's concert tours and other travels, Roman Catholicism, the business of jazz, and Williams's medical ailments; as well as letters to Breach from other of Williams's associates. One folder of miscellaneous correspondence by Williams primarily relates to the planning of jazz concerts and to Williams's work with the Bel Canto Foundation and the Charlie Parker Memorial Fund. The collection also contains a selection of records related to the Mary Lou Williams Foundation; thirteen photographs and four transparency strips of Williams; a folder of concert programs featuring Williams or her compositions; and six miscellaneous publications, primarily on music, from throughout Williams's lifetime.

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

African American Catholics. African American musicians--Correspondence. Bel Canto Foundation. Breach, Joyce. Catholic Church--United States. Clippings. Concert tours. Dahl, Linda, 1949- Dahl, Linda, 1949-. Morning glory. Duke University. Dept. of Music. Faculty. Jazz. Jazz--1931-1940. Jazz--1941-1950. Jazz--1951-1960. Jazz--1961-1970. Jazz--1971-1980. Jazz musicians. Jazz musicians--Health and hygiene. Mary Lou Williams Foundation. Photographs. Pianists--United States. Programs. Transparencies. Williams, Mary Lou--1910-1981. Women jazz musicians--United States. Related Material Mary Lou Williams Collection Institute of Jazz Studies, John Cotton Dana Library, Rutgers University Contents of Collection Linda Dahl Collection on Mary Lou Williams, 1944-1993 and undated 1Articles on African-American Music Biographical Information Concert Programs, 1944-1982 Documentary Film Research Files Early Jazz Greats Information Cards Last Will and Testament Letters from Williams and associates to Joyce Breach, 1964-1981 Magazine and Newspaper Clippings, 1957-1993 Mary Lou Williams Foundation, Records and Correspondence Miscellaneous Correspondence from Williams, 1955-1969 Miscellaneous Publications, 1959-1981 (2 folders) Photographs and Transparencies