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Poetry, play, programs, photographs, and other documents, 1938-1986

Manuscript Collection 608

• Information about the Collection
• Contents of the Collection

M.Graham Black of San Francisco, California, donated his papers to Special Collections on February 1, 1988.
 
M. Graham Black, born January 27, 1917 in Corning, Arkansas, attended the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and graduated with honors in music in 1938.  During his school years, he was president of Black Cat Cotillion, president of the Glee Club, president of Blackfriars, and president of Lambda Chi Alpha.  In 1942, Black graduated from the Maria Ouspenskaya Theatre School in Hollywood, California.  He then served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946.  He performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company for the 1946-1947 season.  From 1948-1964, he worked for several advertising agencies in St. Louis and San Francisco; was Chairman of the Executive Board of the Cathedral Civic Theatre, 1965-1966; and worked for the Veterans Administration, 1966-1973.

The papers contain items from the student and navy days of Mr. Black, programs from his season with the Martha Graham Dance Company, original poetry and a stage play, clippings, photographs, and phonograph records of songs sung by Mr. Black.

RESTRICTIONS APPLY.  The phonograph records are restricted.   Cassette tapes are available for the use of the researcher.

Processed by Norma Ortiz-Karp, Special Collections Department, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in April 1989.
 

CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION
 40 items

Box 1

 1. Fraternity card, senior recital program, theatre program, and commencement exercises program, c. 1938.
 2. Honors letter and honors diploma, University of Arkansas, 1938.
 3. Programs, 1939, 1942 and letter from Maria Ouspenskaya, 1941.
 4. Navy material and letter of recommendation from Hattie W. Caraway, 1942.
 5. Martha Graham Dance Company programs, Feb 12-26, 1947 and sixtieth anniversary brochure, 1986.
 6. Poetry and related letter from George Fox, 1982.
 7. Typescript of play, Only The Beginning, by M. Graham Black, Jan-Feb, 1959.
 8. Clippings, 1947.
 9. Photographs 1,2:  University of Arkansas, 1938.
         Photograph 3:  Publicity photograph, c. 1942.
    Photographs 4,5:  Navy, 1942-1946.
 10. Phonograph records 1,2:  Recorded in the music studio at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1938.