William Lawrence Papers, 1919-1988


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William Lawrence Papers, 1919-1988

Avery Manuscript Number 1008
Biographical Note: Born in Charleston, SC to Merton and Sylvia Lawrence, William Lawrence studied piano, organ, and voice at the Avery Institute (early 1900s), at the New England Conservatory of Music (1913-1916) and in Paris, France (1926-1931). He worked briefly at SC State Agricultural and Mechanical College (later SC State University) in Orangeburg, SC and accompanied such well-known singers as Marian Anderson and Roland Hayes. He also taught piano and voice, composed music, and gave instrumental and vocal recitals in Europe and America. He died in 1981, and his remains rest at Trinity Church Crematory in New York.

Scope and Content: Approx. 200 items (ca. 1919-1988)

Description: The papers relate to Lawrence’s professional career and personal life, that of Lillian Thompson Lawrence, Lawrence’s wife, and that of her family, the Thompsons. The following items are of particular note: 1) a series of concert programs dated 1919-1978, including programs for performances by Lawrence, Marian Anderson, Roland Hayes, Lawrence Brown, and other notable black musicians, including Lawrence’s student, the blind vocalist Sadie Knight; 2) a variety of sheet music arranged and composed by Lawrence and several notable black musicians, including a handwritten Cantata by Jean Stor; and 3) several autographed photographs of notable black musicians, including W. C. Handy and William Grant Still. Correspondents include Alain Locke, Countee Cullen, Marian Anderson, W. H. Brennan, Roland Hayes, and Todd Duncan. Miscellaneous items in the collection include radio and play scripts of productions, some directed by Lawrence.

Inventory

I	Biographical Material	Box#-Folder#
1	Typed biographical information compiled during Lawrence's career and posthumously; printed funeral program; newspaper obituary; letter identifying Lawrence's mother as member of Harleston family of Charleston, SC.	1-1

2	Clippings re Lawrence's career as vocalist and pianist.	1-2

3	Miscellaneous paper documents including invitation (1926) to Lawrence's wedding, passenger list (1927) of steamer featuring Lawrence and his wife's names, Lawrence's passport, and his certificate of membership (1923) in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.	1-3
4	Information re Lillian Thompson Lawrence's (Lawrence's wife's) family; correspondence re Lillian's career as a florist and coordinator of the Citizens Care Committee of Harlem, NY., also includes letter of condolence re Lawrence's death.	1-4


II	Music Materials
1	Sheet music for songs (sacred and secular) arranged/composed by Lawrence, H. T. Burleigh, Lawrence Brown, and Jean Stor, including a handwritten cantata by Stor, a blues song by Lucille Goodloe with words by Langston Hughes, and two songs with music by Lawrence and words by Countee Cullen.	1-5

2	Complete copy of Saint Helena Island Spirituals (ca. 1925, book of sheet music for spirituals sung by different groups of singers at Penn School on St. Helena Island) recorded and transcribed by Nicholas George Julius Ballanta-Taylor.	1-6

3	Pianoforte syllabus (1943) for Music Education League; information re the League's auditions for singers, including audition application form for Sadie Knight, pupil of Lawrence; bulletin for 21st Biennial Auditions for the National Federation of Music Clubs (1955); correspondence re various auditions.	1-7

4	Various printed programs and flyers for vocal and instrumental performances occurring between 1919 and 1926, including some by Lawrence, Lawrence Brown, Marian Anderson, and Roland Hayes. Of note is joint recital (1925) by William Lawrence and Lawrence Brown at State Agricultural and Mechanical College (later South Carolina State University).	1-8

5	Various printed programs and flyers for vocal and instrumental performances occurring between 1933 and 1939, including Lawrence's first American tour (1933) as a vocalist (accompanied by Lawrence Brown) and several performances by The William Lawrence Sinfonietta.	1-9

6	Various printed programs and flyers for vocal and instrumental performances occurring between 1940 and 1949, including performances by Marion Anderson, several pupils of Lawrence, and a performance of "La Traviata" by the American Negro Company (1944).	1-10

7	Various printed programs and flyers for vocal and instrumental performances occurring between 1950 and 1959, including performances by Roland Hayes and recitals by Sadie Knight and other students of Lawrence.	1-11

8	Various printed programs and flyers for vocal and instrumental performances occurring between 1960 and 1978, including performances by Roland Hayes and Marian Anderson, notably a performance by Marian Anderson (1963) accompanied by Lawrence at New York City's memorial service for President John F. Kennedy.	1-12
9	Various printed programs and flyers for vocal and instrumental performances, not dated, including a vocal performance by Lawrence at Boston's Repertory Theatre.	1-13


III	Correspondence
1	Correspondence (1923-1978, n.d.) between Lawrence, friends, associates, and relatives re death of his mother, music, and travels. Includes letters from Marian Anderson, Countee Cullen, Todd Duncan, Alain Locke, Roland Hayes, and a letter from Lawrence Brown to W. H. Brennan. Also, a letter from Mary Marshall mentioning Paul Robeson.	1-14

2	Correspondence (1923-1959) between Lawrence, business partners and clients, including correspondence with W. H. Brennan of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and with Cook Laboratories re pressing of albums. Also among Cook correspondence, handwritten lyrics to street crier songs (possibly written by Lawrence) featuring street criers from New York, Charleston and Beaufort.	1-15


IV	Scripts
1	Several scripts for radio and stage plays, including fragment of a WPA Federal Theatre Radio Division radio show program (1938) directed by Lawrence.	2-1


V	Associates and Pupils
1	Eulogy to Lawrence Brown, handwritten by William Lawrence, and printed memorial concert program for Brown; clippings re Roland Hayes, Sadie Knight, and Marian Anderson.	2-2


VI	Miscellaneous Materials
1	Newspaper clippings and scholarly articles re musicians, operas, and urban development in Charleston, SC.	2-3


VII	Photographs
1	Photographs of Lawrence, his friends, pupils, and acquaintances, including photographs of Sadie Knight and autographed photos of W.C. Handy and William Grant Still, with inscription to W.C. Handy on photo of William Grant Still.	2-4

2	Photographs of Lillian Thompson Lawrence (Lawrence's wife), her relatives, and members of the Citizens Care Committee of Harlem, NY, of which she was coordinator.	2-5