MS 7225
Papers of Marjorie Lawrence (1907-1979)
Papers
1938-1978
20 cm (2 boxes) + 1 folio package
Available for reference
The papers were donated to the Library by the Manuscripts Section of the
Southern Illinois University in 1981.
The papers documenting Marjorie Lawrences career are held in the
Morris Library of the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The
papers date from 1926 to 1977 and comprise approximately 1.6 cubic metres.
A listing of the papers is held in Series 5.
Following a request from the National Library in 1981, the University
Library agreed to donate duplicate material from the collection to the
Library. The duplicate material had been extracted from the collection
when it was processed in the late 1970s.
The papers received include programs, journal articles, publicity
material and miscellaneous items. There is also background correspondence
on the acquisition of the collection.
The programs are for concerts and operas in which Lawrence appeared as
an artist, and also for performances of the Southern Illinois University
Marjorie Lawrence Opera Theatre and students at the University of
Arkansas. Journal articles are by or about Lawrence, and the publicity
material includes a notebook of stories suitable for use by
the media. In the miscellaneous items is a copy of one of Lawrences
treasured items, a letter from Gian Carlo Menotti.
Marjorie Lawrence, dramatic soprano, was born at Deans Marsh,
Victoria, on 17 February 1907. After studying singing in Melbourne from
1926 to 1928 with Ivor Boustead, she left Australia for further studies in
Paris. She made her operatic debut at Monte Carlo in Tannhauser in
January 1932, at the Paris Opera the next year in Lohengrin, and
at the Metropolitan Opera as Brunnhilde in Die Walkure in 1935. In
1939 Lawrence returned to Australia for a concert tour. The last of her
four further visits was in 1976 for the season opening of the Sydney Opera
House.
At the height of her career and shortly after marrying Dr Thomas King in
1941, Lawrence contracted polio. It was eighteen months before she made
her first public re-appearance. She undertook tours to entertain troops in
the South-West Pacific in 1944 and in occupied Europe in 1945 and 1948.
Her autobiography, Interrupted melody, published in 1949, was made
into a film in 1955.
Lawrence retired from public performances in 1952. She was Professor of
Voice at Tulane, New Orleans (1957-60), and at Southern Illinois
University (1960-73), where she was also the director of the Opera
Workshop and opera productions. In 1974 she joined the faculty of the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock and also ran opera workshops at her
home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Lawrence was appointed a Commander of the
British Empire (CBE) in 1977. She died on 13 January 1979 at Little Rock,
Arkansas.
| 1 |
Programs, 1938-72 |
| 2 |
Journal articles, 1944-78 |
| 3 |
Miscellaneous items, 1947-73 |
| 4 |
Publicity material, c.1939-77 |
| 5 |
Southern Illinois University, 1981 |
| Series 1 |
Programs, 1938-72 |
|
The programs featuring Marjorie Lawrence as an artist date from 1938
to 1963. The earliest one is for a concert in Carnegie Hall when she
sang in a duet from Die Walkure. The 1963 program is for the
First Annual Patrons Banquet, presented by the Arkansas Orchestra
Society. The second group of programs relating to the Southern
Illinois University Opera Theatre and student performances date from
1961-72. Also included are three 1960 programs featuring Lawrence as a
speaker.
For a detailed listing of the programs see Appendix 1. |
|
|
|
Folder |
|
| 1-4 |
Programs with Lawrence as artist, 1938-63 |
| 5 |
Lecture programs, 1960 |
| 6-8 |
Other programs, 1961-72 |
| Series 2 |
Journal articles, 1944-78 |
|
The journal articles, mostly about Lawrence, also include two
written by her. In one of these, entitled 50,000 miles as the jeep
flies (Tricolor, February 1945) Lawrence talks of her
tours to entertain the troops. Journals include Salt, Pix,
Coronet, Newsweek, Time and The Aarkansas Churchman.
For a detailed listing of journal articles see Appendix 2. |
|
|
|
Folder |
|
| 9-11 |
Journal articles |
| Series 3 |
Miscellaneous items, 1947-73 |
|
Included in this series are eight orders-of-service for church
services in which Lawrence or her students participated, a copy of the
itinerary for the world tour of Lawrence and her husband, March-May
1966, and a copy of a letter from Gian Carlo Menotti, 8 January 1968.
Lawrence treasured the letter from Menotti who praised her portrayal
of Madame Flora in his opera The Medium.
For a detailed listing of the miscellaneous items see Appendix 3. |
|
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|
Folder |
|
| 12-14 |
Miscellaneous items |
| Series 4 |
Publicity material, c.1939-77 |
|
Posters, handbills and brochures and other papers. There is also a
press book of 16 stories on the life and career of
Lawrence, suitable for use by the media.
For a detailed listing of the publicity material see Appendix 4. |
|
|
|
Folder |
|
| 15-16 |
Publicity material |
| Series 5 |
Southern Illinois University, 1981 |
|
The correspondence is between Richard Stone of the National Library
and Jane Lockram of the Morris Library, Southern Illinois University,
Carbondale. Ms Lockram agreed to donate to the Library duplicate
material from the Marjorie Lawrence Papers held at the University.
A 1977 listing of the papers held at Southern Illinois University is
also included. |
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|
Folder |
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| 17 |
Correspondence and list of Lawrence Papers |
|
Box |
Series |
Folder/Piece |
|
1 |
1 |
1-8 |
|
1 |
2 |
9-11 |
|
2 |
3 |
12-14 |
|
2 |
4 |
15 |
|
2 |
5 |
17 |
|
Map drawer 39 |
4 |
16 |
June 1999 |