Wilson McNeil Lowry Papers, 1941-96 | University of Illinois Archives

Description: Papers of Wilson McNeil Lowry (1913-93), A.B. 1934, Ph.D. 1941, including correspondence, memoranda, reports, press releases, publications, manuscripts, notes, oral histories, clippings, appointment books, audiotapes and videotapes concerning his work as a journalist (1946-52); his work for the Ford Foundation as assistant to William McPeak and Program Director of Education (1953-57), as Vice President of the Office of Policy and Planning (1964-66), as Acting President (1965-66), and as head of the humanities and arts program (1957-75), including material on travel (1953-73); the Tax Reform Act of 1969; and support of the theatre including the Alley Theatre (Houston) and the Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.); of music, including the National Music Council composer in residence project (1958-62), the Recording/Publication Program (1969-75), and the Symphony Orchestra Program (1965-74); of dance; of lithography, including the Tamarind Institute; of humanistic scholarship; of creative writing; of translations; of film; of television; of the visual arts; of the arts and humanities in Greece; of the Travel and Study Program; of an economic survey of non-profit performing arts organizations (1970-73); and of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (1956-63). The papers cover Lowry's work as arts consultant and advocate (1975-93), including his organizing of conferences of the American Assembly (1977-84) and of Symposia on the arts (1977-82); and his presidency of the Board of the San Francisco Ballet (1989-91). The collection includes chapters in manuscript of an unfinished book on the arts since World War II (1975-77), and interviews with George Balanchine (1979-80) and Lincoln Kirsten (1983-84) for New Yorker articles. Significant correspondents include Fred C. Cole, Ruby d'Arschot, Milton S. Eisenhower, Zelda Fiehandler, Theodore Hoffman, Hubert H. Humphrey, Lincoln Kirsten, Whitney J. Oates, James Reston, Urs Schwarz, James H. Semans, Charles Shattuck, Peter Smith, Frank Thompson, Nina Vance, and June Wayne.