Scope and Contents
Vocal music, most 1960s or undated, consisting of autograph manuscript drafts and arrangements, transparencies, and diazo reproductions, some accompanied by copies of published music; and a small amount of other papers. Autograph manuscript music includes spirituals arranged for solo voice or chorus; The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Songs of the Seasons, Three Dream Portraits, and other songs on texts by Langston Hughes; songs on texts by Edna St. Vincent Millay and other poets; and musicals and songs with lyrics by Janice Lovoos, some with related correspondence. Other papers consist of a scrapbook containing photographs, clippings, and ephemera, most circa 1928-1930, some relating to Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, and Lawrence Richardson; and two books containing biographical information about Bonds and analysis of her music: Mildred Denby Green, Black Women Composers: A Genesis (Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1983), and Alice Tischler, Fifteen Black American Composers: A Bibliography of Their Works (Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1981).
Dates
- 1928-1983
- Majority of material found within 1960 - 1969
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Margaret Bonds Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from William Reese Company (Doyle Books sale, New York, 2012 November 5, lot 152) on the Carl Van Vechten Fund and the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 2012.
Arrangement
Organized into two series: I. Music, 1930-1971. II. Other Papers, 1928-1983.
Extent
1.87 Linear Feet (13 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Vocal music, most 1960s or undated, consisting of autograph manuscript drafts and arrangements, transparencies, and diazo reproductions, some accompanied by copies of published music; and a small amount of other papers. Autograph manuscript music includes spirituals arranged for solo voice or chorus; The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Songs of the Seasons, Three Dream Portraits, and other songs on texts by Langston Hughes; songs on texts by Edna St. Vincent Millay and other poets; and musicals and songs with lyrics by Janice Lovoos, some with related correspondence. Other papers consist of a scrapbook containing photographs, clippings, and ephemera, most circa 1928-1930, some relating to Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, and Lawrence Richardson; and two books containing biographical information about Bonds and analysis of her music: Mildred Denby Green, Black Women Composers: A Genesis (Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1983), and Alice Tischler, Fifteen Black American Composers: A Bibliography of Their Works (Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1981).
Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)
American composer, pianist, and teacher. Bonds's vocal music includes songs on texts of Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and other poets, and arrangements of African American spirituals. In 1940, Bonds married Lawrence Richardson (1911-1990); they had a daughter, Djane Richardson (1946-2011).
- African American Composers
- Bonds, Margaret, 1913-1972
- Choral music -- Scores
- Composers -- United States
- Composers -- United States -- 20th Century
- Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967 -- Musical settings
- Lincoln University (Pa.) -- Students
- Lovoos, Janice
- Lovoos, Janice -- Musical settings
- Millay, Edna St. Vincent, 1892-1950 -- Musical settings
- Musicals -- Librettos
- Musicals -- Vocal scores with piano
- Photographs -- United States -- 20th Century
- Richardson, Lawrence, 1911-1990
- Scrapbooks -- United States -- 20th Century
- Song cycles
- Songs with piano
- Spirituals (Songs) -- United States
- Women composers -- United States
- Women composers, Black -- United States
- Title
- Guide to the Margaret Bonds Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- by Karen Spicher
- Date
- 2015 January
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2021-6-22: Added file scope and content note and see/see also references
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.