Guide to the Meredith Willson Papers (Mss 049)
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Guide to the Meredith Willson Papers (Mss 049) GENERAL INFORMATION Title: Meredith Willson Papers Accession Number: A2012-039, A2012-048 Dates: 1900-1991 Qty.: 96 lft (68 banker’s boxes, 4 large packing boxes, 3 large film boxes, 1 flat box, 1 card catalog box, 18 LP Boxes, 2 small LP boxes, 18 16” disc boxes, 43 scrapbooks, 1 flat file drawer.) Language: Collection is primarily in English; materials in other languagues are indicated at the file level. Processing Information: Processed by Jessica Frederick and Janice Roger. Completed March 14, 2014. COLLECTION OVERVIEW The Meredith Willson Papers span the years 1900 – 1991. The 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. Personal includes Biographical Information, Calendars, Correspondence, Iowa Information, Major Meredith Willson, Three-dimensional Objects, folders from Meredith’s time in the National Council on Humanities, Newsclippings, Photo Albums, Photographs, and Scrapbooks. Business: Musicals contains most of Meredith’s business materials. The musicals are listed in the following order: The Music Man, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Here’s Love, and 1491. Materials within each musical contain the following: Correspondence, Newsclippings, Programs / Playbills, Receipts / Royalties, Scores (not included in Here’s Love or 1491), Scrapbooks, and Scripts / Drafts. 1491 also includes a Research category. Business: Other contains Meredith’s work in Radio and other venues. This series contains Appearances, Professional Correspondence, Copyright Correspondence, Book / Music Correspondence, Financial Information, Honors / Awards, John Philip Sousa, Lyrics, Magazines / Catalogs, Newsclippings, Notebooks, Ev’ry Day Notes from sister Dixie Willson, Posters / Signs, Programs / Playbills, Scrapbooks, and Scripts / Drafts. Meredith’s Music Collection contains Arrangements, Folios, Music Lists, and Sheet Music (much of which is oversized) that Meredith Willson collected. Audiovisual Materials consists of recordings of Meredith’s work, the various programs in which he participated and the music he composed. Subjects covered include the Meredith Willson Show, Meredith Willson’s Musical Review, Ford Sunday Evening Hour, Maxwell House Coffee Time, Sparkletime, Standard Hour, Armed Forces Radio Programs, personal videos, items from his musicals, and other personal materials (such as slides). Formats include DAT tapes, analog tapes, cassette tapes, film reels, 78’s, 45’s, CD’s, LP’s, quad video, VHS tapes, slides, and variously sized lacquer discs (4, 7, 10, 12, and 16 inches). Mss049 Willson inventory049 Meredith Willson Papers 1 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: 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. Sources Longden, Tom. “Willson, Meredith: Composer 1902-1984.” Des Moines Register, Dec. 21, 2004. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/FAMOUSIO WANS/41221047&nclick_check=1 “Meredith Willson.” Songwriters Hall of Fame. http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/C316?exhibitId=316 The Music Man. The Broadway Musical Home. http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/musicman.htm Willson, Meredith. And There I Stood with My Piccolo. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1949. Willson, Meredith. But He Doesn’t Know the Territory. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1959. Mss049 Willson inventory049 Meredith Willson Papers 2 ACQUISITION Presented by trustees of the Meredith and Rosemary Willson Estate, September 5, 2012, Carmel, Indiana. SEPARATED MATERIALS Meredith Willson’s published items can be found in the Initiative’s LibraryWorld Catalog. RESTRICTIONS Access All material is open to the public without restriction. Copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Some of the audiovisual materials in the collection are on obsolete media and, therefore, are RESTRICTED. Access copies of these materials must be created prior to use. Consult the Library and Archives staff in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available. SUBJECTS Music man (Motion picture : 1962) Sousa, John Philip, 1854-1932 Unsinkable Molly Brown (Motion picture) Willson, Meredith, 1902-1984 PREFERRED CITATION Cite as: Meredith Willson Papers, Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative. Contents Box File PERSONAL Biographical Information M. Willson passports, 1951 – 1979. 2 25 John Willson’s journal, 1886 – 1887. [includes letter and invoice from Notre 2 26 Dame University] John Willson Memorabilia, 1884 – 1886, 1929. [includes articles from The 2 27 Notre Dame Scholastic, letter from John to MW, and photograph of medal from Notre Dame] Posterity file, 1954-1965. 2 30 Memorabilia, 1930’s – 1964. 3 19 Forrest Lawn data, 1967. 3 26 Rosemary Willson Birth, Marriage, Death Certificates, other papers, 1903 – 32 12 1997. MW and his names, 1959, 1971. 32 29 Willson Family History Information, 2002. 38 18 Court Documents, Rosalie vs. John Willson, 1920. 42 4 Rini Bio, Lida Rose Info, n.d. 42 6 Packet: Meredith Willson Biography, n.d. 44 22 Mss049 Willson inventory049 Meredith Willson Papers 3 Dixie Willson Biographical, 1930s? 44 23 Calendars Calendar of good thoughts, 1916 & ?. 2 23 Standard diaries, 1951, 1954, 1958 – 1968, 1980. 11 1 Correspondence – Miscellaneous Correspondence from MW to brother-in-law, Tom Sullivan, 1969 – 1980. [2 2 6 files] Meredith Willson memorial correspondence, 6/1984. 2 21 Correspondence from Dixie Willson to Allen Wallen, 1958 – 1959. 2 28 Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower (continuing file), 12/31/1968 – 10/4/1979. 3 15 Julius Lefkowitz/William Morris Agency re: TV Specials, 1963 - 1964. 3 21 Nixon campaign correspondence, 1969 – 1973. 4 1 Bill Middendorf telegram re: MW 80th birthday, 5/17/1982. 4 2 Sunday brunch arrangements, 3/9/1969. 4 3 Veteran’s Administration Certificate of Appreciation, n.d. 4 4 Membership cards, 1981 – 1985. 4 5 MW Membership Cards, 1965 – 1971. 44 27 Pages from address book, ca. 1960’s. 4 6 NBC contract correspondence, 6/12 – 6/25/1952. 4 7 Iron Eyes Cody correspondence, 5/28/1978. 4 8 Lecture engagements, 7/1953 – 4/1956. 4 9 Correspondence re: Native Americans, 7/10/1950. 4 10 William Morris Agency, 11/1/1955 – 7/6/1956. 4 11 Falstaff Brewing contract, 3/6/1950. 4 12 Telegram from Mason City High School Student Body, 12/15/1953. 4 13 Ringsby Truck Lines letter re: employee, 6/28/1950. 4 14 Peoples Gas Light Company letter re: employee, 7/19/1950. 4 15 Dixon Price Willson baby announcement, 2/2/1954. 4 16 Rejected “Elbee Audio Players” adaptation of “The Music Man,” 11/8/1985. 4 17 Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, 9/8/1955 – 4/27/1984. 4 18 Avant Garde Magazine article written 7/5/1968. [MW self-written obituary] 4 19 Honorary chairmanships, etc., 1972 – 1983. 4 21 Los Alamitos Race Track commercial, 1974. [parody on “Ya’ Got Trouble”] 4 22 “Wristwatch” article contest, 6/11/1976 – 8/16/1976. 4 23 “The Meredith Willson Electronic Music Studio” correspondence, 12/15/1972 4 24 – 10/7/1974. Interviews – Publicity, 1976. [includes invitation to “Marriott’s Great America 4 25 Theme Park” opening] Copyright permissions, 1976. 4 26 Meredith Willson namesake fraud, 12/18/1974 – 2/11/1975. 4 35 Reference books containing Meredith Willson biography, 1975 – 1982. 4 36 Salvation Army, 1971 – 1985. 4 37 School songs composed by Meredith Willson, 1968 – 1970. 4 38 Shawnee Press Inc., copyright, 1970 – 1973. 4 39 Mss049 Willson inventory049 Meredith Willson Papers 4 Song registration service, 1974.