Williamson Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: D037

Staff Only

Abstract

Karen Williamson was a professional dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Maxine Williamson, her mother, was a ballet instructor in Denver, and Waldo Williamson taught at the Lamont School of Music.Karen was Denver native who trained with Lillian Cushing and was a soloist with the Denver Civic Ballet.

Dates

1950-2007

Extent

8.75 Linear Feet (8 containers)

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

The Williamson Family Papers Collection consists of 7 boxes and 1 container. Box 1 and 2 contain items from Waldo Williamson (1904-1996), professor ermeritus at the Lamont School of Music. Waldo Williamson’s materials include the script (by DU Journalism Professor Russell Porter), piano score and orchestra parts for the Porter-Williamson folk opera, "Silverheels" (ca. May, 1954), as well as a various drafts and typescripts for Williamson's book: "The Structure of Homophonic Music" (1962-1969, 1987). Box 6 also contains some items relating to Waldo Williamson including a single 33 1/3 rpm recording and musical score for "Passacaille for Solo Woodwinds and Band" by Willilam T. Gower (possibly a student of Waldo Williamson) and other fragments of music generated by Waldo Williamson and his students (ca.1950's-1970's). The remaining boxes (3-7) contain an assortment of intermixed dance and family related photographs, programs, music, newspaper clippings, correspondence, video tapes, clothing accessories etc. (1910-1998) related to the performing and teaching careers of Karen Lowell Williamson (1941-2007), her mother: Maxine Lower Williamson (1908-1998), Denver ballet teacher: Lillian Cushing McFarlane (1901-1975) and her associate: Martha Faure Carson (1900-1972). Finally, container 8 includes a poster for the Maxine Williamson School of Dance