University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Downey, John W.

Papers, 1944-2001.

UWM Manuscript Collection 186

8 cubic ft. (5 record center cartons, and 6 oversize boxes)


ABSTRACT: This collection of composer John Downey's papers mainly consists of clippings (1949-2001), correspondence (1951-2000), programs (1947-2001), and original scores (1944-2000), documenting Downey's musical career. The collection also includes biographical information and program/music notes, lists of Downey's works, and some miscellaneous materials.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

ARRANGEMENT: Alphabetically by folder title. Oversize scores are in boxes 6-11.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:  John Downey was born in Chicago on October 5, 1927.  He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University in 1949 and his Master of Music from the Chicago Musical College in 1951. Thereafter he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study in Paris.  Downey received a Prix de Composition from the Paris Conservatoire National de Musique in 1956, and a PhD from the Sorbonne in 1957. While in Paris he met Irusha Czuszakivna who became his wife; she also provided the text for some of her husband's works.

In 1964 Downey returned to the United States and was appointed composer-in-residence at the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. In 1986 UWM honored him with the title of "Distinguished Professor of Music. "At UWM Downey maintained a vigorous schedule of teaching, composing, performing, and conducting. Downey retired from UWM in 1998.

Downey received numerous awards, commissions, and honors throughout his career. He has written well over 60 compositions, and is an internationally recognized composer and conductor.

For more information, please see the biographical information folders (box 1, folders 5-6) in the collection.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Downey, John W. Papers, 1944-2001. UWM Manuscript Collection 186. University Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Fine Arts Quartet.  Records, 1910-1989. (UWM Manuscript Collection 30)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Dept. of Music. Office of the Chairman. Records, 1915-1991. (UWM Archival Collection 84)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. School of Fine Arts. Office of Development and Marketing. Records, 1960-1995. (UWM Archival Collection 146)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. School of Fine Arts. Office of the Associate Dean. Records, 1974-1983. (UWM Archival Collection 93)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. School of Fine Arts. Office of the Dean. Records, 1936-1994. (UWM Archival Collection 81)

ACQUISITION: John Downey donated his personal papers to the Archives in July 2001 (accession number 2001-002) and February 2002 (accession number 2001-057).

PROCESSING: Christel Maass processed the collection in August 2002.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 186 BOX FOLDER
Address Book, Copy, undated 1 1
Articles by Downey, 1962-1990, undated 1 2
Award, De Paul University, 1969 1 3
Award, Wisconsin Arts Board, 1991 1 4
Biographical Information and Program/Music Notes, 1979-1997  1 5-6
Clippings, 1949-1969 1 7
Clippings, 1970-1979 1 8
Clippings, 1980-1985 1 9
Clippings, 1986-1989 1 10
Clippings, 1990-1993 1 11
Clippings, 1994-2001 1 12
Clippings, undated 1 13
Correspondence, 1951-1959 1 14
Correspondence, 1960-1967 1 15
Correspondence, 1968-1970 1 16
Correspondence, 1971-1972 1 17
Correspondence, 1973-1974 1 18
Correspondence, 1975-1976 1 19
Correspondence, 1977 1 20
Correspondence, 1978 1 21
Correspondence, 1979 1 22
Correspondence, 1980 1 23
Correspondence, 1981 1 24
Correspondence, 1982 1 25
Correspondence, 1983 2 1
Correspondence, 1984 2 2
Correspondence, 1985 2 3-4
Correspondence, 1986 2 5-6
Correspondence, 1987 2 7-8
Correspondence, 1988 2 9
Correspondence, 1989 2 10
Correspondence, 1990 2 11
Correspondence, 1991 2 12
Correspondence, 1992 2 13
Correspondence, 1993 2 14
Correspondence, 1994 2 15
Correspondence, 1995 2 16
Correspondence, 1996 2 17
Correspondence, 1997 2 18
Correspondence, 1998-2000 2 19
Correspondence, undated 2 20
Lectures, 1976, 1979, undated 3 1
Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Scotland Tour, 1991 3 2
Miscellaneous, 1986-1997, undated 3 3
Music for Youth, 1966-1987, undated 3 4
New School, New York City, 1984-1985 3 5
Programs, 1947-1959 3 6
Programs, 1960-1962 3 7
Programs, 1963-1964 3 8
Programs, 1965-1969 3 9
Programs, 1970-1972 3 10
Programs, 1973 3 11
Programs, 1974 3 12
Programs, 1975 3 13
Programs, 1976 3 14
Programs, 1977 3 15
Programs, 1978-1979 3 16
Programs, 1980 3 17
Programs, 1981 3 18
Programs, 1982 3 19
Programs, 1983 3 20
Programs, 1984 3 21
Programs, 1985 3 22
Programs, 1986 3 23
Programs, 1987 3 24
Programs, 1988 3 25
Programs, 1989 4 1
Programs, 1990 4 2
Programs, 1991 4 3
Programs, 1992 4 4
Programs, 1993 4 5
Programs, 1994 4 6
Programs, 1995 4 7
Programs, 1996 4 8
Programs, 1997 4 9
Programs, 1998 4 10
Programs, 1999-2001 4 11
Programs, undated 4 12
Project Proposals and Applications, 1970-1998, undated 4 13
Recommendations for Distinguished Professorship, 1981, undated 4 14
Record Jacket Notes, undated 4 15
Reminiscences, undated 4 16
Scores:  Adagio for String Trio, 1959 4 17
Scores:  Adagio for String Trio, undated  6 1
Scores:  Adagio Lyrico, 1953   6 2
Scores:  Ageistics, 1967 4 18
Scores:  Agort, 1974 4 19
Scores:  Almost 12, 1971, 1974   6 3
Scores:  Ambivalencies, 1972 4 20
Scores:  Ambivalencies, 1972   6 4
Scores:  Angel Talk, 1994-1995 4 21
Scores:  Call for Freedom, 1990 4 22
Scores:  Call for Freedom, 1990  6 5
Scores:  Chant to Michelangelo, 1958, undated  6 6
Scores:  City Streets, 1944  6 7
Scores:  Come Away Death, 1971 4 23
Scores:  Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra, 1987 4 24
Scores:  Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra, 1987   6 8
Scores:  Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra, undated 4 25
Scores:  Concerto for Harp, 1964   6 9
Scores:  Concerto for Harp, undated  7 1-2
Scores:  Crescendo, 1975 4 26
Scores:  Declamations for Orchestra, 1985 4 27
Scores:  Declamation, undated  7 3
Scores:  Discourse, 1984, 1992 5 1
Scores:  Dolphin, 1974 8 1
Scores:  Duo, 1981 5 2
Scores:  Duo, 1981 8 2
Scores:  Eastlake Terrace, 1959, 1966 5 3
Scores:  Eastlake Terrace, 1960 8 3
Scores:  Edge of Space, 1978 5 4
Scores:  Edge of Space, 1978 8 4
Scores:  Edges, 1960 5 5
Scores:  Edges, undated 8 5
Scores:  Fanfare, 1989 5 6
Scores:  Fanfare for Freedom, undated 5 7
Scores:  Fanfare for Freedom, undated 8 6
Scores:  Gaudeamus Igitur, 1969 5 8
Scores:  Ghosts, 1998 5 9
Scores:  Hey Ho, the Wind and the Rain, 1970 5 10
Scores:  High Clouds and Soft Rain, 1977 5 11
Scores:  High Clouds and Soft Rain, 1977 8 7
Scores:  I Love, 1949 5 12
Scores:  Inclusions, 1948 5 13
Scores:  Irish Sonata, 1998 5 14
Scores:  Jingalodeon, 1968 8 8
Scores:  Jingalodeon, undated 8 9
Scores:  La Joie de la Paix, undated  9 1-2
Scores:  Lake Isle of Innisfree, 1963 5 15
Scores:  Lydian Suite, 1981 5 16
Scores:  Memories, 1991 9 3
Scores:  Memories, 1992 5 17
Scores:  Meni Odnakovo, 1990 5 18
Scores:  Meni Odnakovo, 1990 9 4
Scores:  Mountains and Valleys, 1999 5 24
Scores:  Octet for Winds, 1954 5 25
Scores:  Octet for Winds, undated 9 5
Scores:  Ode to Freedom, 1992 5 26
Scores:  Ode to Freedom, 1992 9 6
Scores:  Piano Sonata No. 1, 1948 5 27
Scores:  Piano Sonata No. 1, undated 9 7
Scores:  Piano Sonata No. 2, 1950 5 28
Scores:  Piano Sonata No. 2, 1950 9 8
Scores:  Piano Trio, 1984 5 29
Scores:   Piano Trio, 1984 9 9
Scores:  Portrait No. 1, 1982 5 30
Scores:  Portrait No. 2, 1983 5 31
Scores:  Portrait No. 2, 1983 9 10
Scores:  Prayer, 1984, 1989 5 32
Scores:  Prospectations, 1970 10 1
Scores:  Prospectations III-II-I, 1970 5 33
Scores:  Psalm 90, 1997 5 34
Scores:  Pyramids, 1974, 1991 5 35
Scores:  Qu'en Avez-Vous Fait?, 1988 5 36
Scores:  Recombinance, 1986 5 37
Scores:  Rough Road, 1994 5 38
Scores:  Silhouette, 1980 5 39
Scores:  Soliloquy, 1997, 1998 5 40
Scores:  Sonata for Violincello and Piano, 1966 10 2
Scores:  Star Spangled Banner, 1987 5 41
Scores:  String Quartet, 1962 5 42
Scores:  String Quartet No. 2, 1976, 1985 10 3
Scores:  String Trio, 1952 10 4
Scores:  String Trio, 1952, 1953 5 43
Scores:  Suite of Psalms, 1987 5 44
Scores:  Symphonic Module I, 1972 5 19
Scores:  Symphonic Module II, 1972 5 20
Scores:  Symphonic Module III, undated 5 21
Scores:  Symphonic Module IV, 1972 5 22
Scores:  Symphonic Module V, 1972 5 23
Scores:  Symphonic Modules V, 1972 10 5
Scores:  Symphony No. 1 (In Two Movements), 1992 11 1
Scores:  Symphony No. 1, Movement 1, undated 11 2
Scores:  Symphony No. 1, Movement 2, undated 11 3
Scores:  Tabu for Tuba, 1966 11 4
Scores:  Tabu for Tuba, 1970 5 45
Scores:  Tangents, 1981 5 46
Scores:  Three Songs, 1995 5 47
Scores:  Toccata, 1948 11 5
Scores:  Toccata, 1949 5 48
Scores:  Ukranian Folk Suite, 1975 5 49
Scores:  Vocal Trio, 2000 5 50
Scores:  What If?, 1973 11 6
Scores:  What If?, 1973, undated 5 51
Scores:  Yad Vashem--An Impression, 1993 5 52
Scores:  Yad Vashem--An Impression, 1994 5 53
Scores:  Yad Vashem, 1991, 1994 11 7
Sixty-Ninth Birthday, Cards from Children, 1996 5 54
Wisconsin Contemporary Music Forum, 1973-1976 5 55
Works, Lists of, undated 5 56

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Last edited on Wednesday, June 21, 2006.
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