Elementos de identidade
Código de referência
Nome e localização da entidade custodiadora
Nível de descrição
Coleção
Título
Meredith Willson Papers
Data(s)
- 1902 - 2006 (Produção)
Dimensão
100 linear feet; 112 boxes
Nome do produtor
História biográfica
Robert Meredith Willson (May 18, 1902 – June 15, 1984) was born in Mason City, Iowa, to John David and Rosalie Reininger Willson. Although Meredith started out playing the piano, his mother saved enough money to order a flute for him. At the age of 17, after high school graduation, he moved to New York to study the flute at what is now the Julliard School of Music. He performed small gigs as a flautist until hired as first flute with the John Philip Sousa Band. He toured with the Sousa Band from 1921 – 1923. He also worked with New York's Rialto theater orchestra, under the leadership of Hugo Riesenfeld. From 1924 to 1929, he played for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Chamber Music Society. Willson joined the Army, serving as a Major in World War II, after which he worked as music director of ABC radio and television networks. He did a radio show called The Maxwell House Show Boat from Hollywood, which was later renamed Good News. He was also involved in the Armed Forces Radio Service for a time.
Willson married three times: first to his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth, whom he married on August 29, 1920 and later divorced; Ralina "Rini" Zarova, whom he married on March 13, 1948 and who died, December 6, 1966; and Rosemary Sullivan, whom he married on February 14, 1968. Meredith Willson died on June 15, 1984, in Santa Monica, California; his wife Rosemary survived him.
In 1924, Meredith Willson published his first piece of music: a composition called “Parade Fantastique.” Willson’s first big musical success was with his smash hit, The Music Man, which premiered December 19, 1957 at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. It has since had two Broadway revivals, one in 1980 and one in 2000. Willson also contributed scores and librettos to the musicals The Music Man, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, 1491, and Here’s Love. Acting as lyricist and composer for most of his career, Willson wrote memorable standards including “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas”, “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”, “You and I”, “Two in Love”, “76 Trombones”, “Goodnight, My Someone”, “Till There Was You”, “Trouble”, “My White Knight”, “Lida Rose”, “I Ain’t Down Yet”, “Belly Up to the Bar, Boys”, “The Big Clown Balloons”, “Pine Cones and Holly Berries”, “My Wish”, “Iowa Fight Song”, “I See the Moon”, “Ask Not” and “Symphonic Variations on an American Theme.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1982. In 2020, The Great American Songbook Foundation inducted Willson into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame.
Elementos de conteúdo e estrutura
Âmbito e conteúdo
The personal and business papers of Meredith Willson, author and composer of "The Music Man" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," along with photographs, sheet music and arrangements, sound recordings, and audiovisual recordings from his personal collection.
Sistema de arranjo
The Meredith Willson Papers are divided into five series: Personal, Business: Musicals, Business: Other, Meredith’s Music Collection, and Audiovisual Materials. Within each series, items are broken down into alphabetized categories.
Condições de acesso e uso dos elementos
Condições de acesso
Access to and use of some of the materials in this collection is restricted because of the nature of the material. Access is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library & Archives.
Acesso físico
Some of the materials in this collection are fragile due to age and/or poor physical condition and may be inaccessible. Consult the Library and Archives staff in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Acesso técnico
Condiçoes de reprodução
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Great American Songbook Foundation. Music written prior to 1923 is in the public domain. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library & Archives.
Idiomas do material
Escrita do material
Notas ao idioma e script
Instrumentos de descrição
Instrumento de pesquisa transferido
Aquisição e avaliação de elementos
História custodial
Fonte imediata de aquisição
Received from The Music Man Foundation, formerly the Meredith and Rosemary Willson Charitable Foundation, on September 5, 2012.
Informações de avaliação, seleção e eliminação
Ingressos adicionais
Elementos de materiais relacionados
Existência e localização de originais
Existência e localização de cópias
Material arquivístico relacionado
Kermit Bloomgarden Papers, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Descrições relacionadas
Notas de publicação
Dissertation on Meredith Willson's orchestral compostions: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0021454/00001/pdf
Books: Meredith Willson: The Unsinkable Music Man by John C. Skipper (2000), Meredith Willson-America's Music Man by Bill Oates (2005)
Elemento de notas
Notas especializadas
- Citação: Meredith Willson Papers, The Great American Songbook Foundation.
- Conservação: All 7", 10" and 12" lacquer discs have been digitized.
Identificador(es) alternativo(s)
Elemento de controle de descrição
Regras ou convenções
Fontes utilizadas
Nota do arquivista
Finding aid created by Jessica Frederick and Janice Roger. Completed March 2014.
AtoM description created by Ashlee James, December 2017.