Curtis W. Davis collection on Leopold Stokowski, 1936-1992.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Davis, Curtis W., 1928-1986.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Stokowski, Leopold, 1882-1977.

Stokowski, Leopold.

Music--History and criticism.

Music.

Conductors (Music)--United States.

Conductors (Music).

United States.

Genre:

Manuscripts, American.

Biographies (literary works)

Clippings (information artifacts)

Correspondence.

Photographs.

Research notes.

Penn Provenance:

Gift of Curtis Davis' wife, Julie Davis, 2000.

Physical Description:

17 boxes (6.5 linear feet)

Arrangement:

Organized into 6 series: I. Research materials and notes; II. Leopold Stokowski correspondence; III. Interviews and notes; IV. Curtis Davis correspondence; V. Draft of Stokowski biography by Curtis Davis; and VI. Leopold Stokowski photographs and slides.

Place of Publication:

1936-1992.

Biography/History:

Curtis W. Davis (1928-1986) was a television producer best known as the creator of Emmy-award-winning cultural programming for National Educational Television. Davis studied music at Columbia University, where he took composition seminars with Edgard Varese and Otto Luening, and graduated in 1949 with Special Distinction in Music. After serving in the army, Davis began a career in television, and in 1959, he joined National Educational Television, producing programs in arts and music. In 1964, he became the director of cultural programs, and earned three Emmy awards for his programs NET Playhouse (1969), Cinderella (1970) and Leopold Stokowski at 88 (1971). Having gone freelance in 1973, Davis teamed up with violinist Yehudi Menuhin to produce an eight-part documentary series for the Canadian Broadcasting Company titled The Music of man (1979), which was also made into a book with the same title. In 1981, he joined the Arts and Entertainment Network, becoming their vice president of programming in 1984. During the late 1970s, Davis began working on a biography of the orchestral conductor Leopold Stokowski, with whom he had produced two concert telecasts in addition to the above mentioned profile. Davis died of cancer in 1986, leaving the book unfinished and unpublished.

Summary:

This collection consists of Curtis W. Davis' research materials for a planned biography of orchestral conductor Leopold Stokowski. Davis conducted his research roughly from the time of Stokowski's death in 1977 to his own death in 1986, though a few pieces continued to be added (presumably by his wife) until 1992. The original materials date back to 1936, though some documents in photocopied versions extend back to 1865. This collection is arranged in six series: I. Research materials and notes, II. Leopold Stokowski correspondence, III. Interviews and notes, IV. Curtis Davis correspondence, V. Draft of Stokowski biography by Curtis Davis, VI. Leopold Stokowski photographs and slides. More information is provided at series level in finding aid.

OCLC:

881843637