Finding Aid for William Brooks Papers, 1936-2013 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By D. Baron, K. Reiser, B. Murphy, C. Fuller, L. Graham, A. Small, K. Hewitt, J. Shelly, A. Bishop, J. Holton, R. Senese, G. de Keersmaecker, M. Djenno, L. Booker, and C. Berthold

Service Location	Boxes
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 01-07
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 08-13
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 14-19
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 20-22
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 23-25
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 26-27
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 28 and 31
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 29
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 30
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 32 and 34-35
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 33
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 36
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 37-38
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 39
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 40-52
SACAM, Band Building, 1103 S. 6th Street	Oversize Portfolio Box 1
SACAM, Band Building, 1103 S. 6th Street	Oversize Portfolio Case 1

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Collection Overview

Title: William Brooks Papers, 1936-2013

ID: 12/5/31

Primary Creator: Brooks, William (1943-)

Extent: 28.05 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized in seven series: Series 1: Biographical Materials and Calendars, 1943-2003; Series 2: Correspondence, 1964-2011; Series 3: Course Papers and Instructional Resources, 1970-2002; Series 4: School of Music; Series 5: Writings, Presentations and Research, 1936-2000; Series 6: Music Composition and Performance Programs, 1961-2012; Series 7: Audio-Visual Recordings, 1964-1992.

Date Acquired: 03/30/2001. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Cage, John, Faculty Papers, Music, Music, School of, Music - United States, Musical Repertoires, Music Composition, New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Teaching, Vocal music

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of correspondence; teaching materials including lectures notes, student records and evaluations, and student dissertations; audio-visual recordings; research notes; and original compositions documenting Brooks' career as a student, composer, performer, musicologist, and educator at the University of Illinois [UIUC] (1969-1973 and 1987-2000), University of California at Santa Cruz [UCSC] (1973-1975); University of California at San Diego [UCSD] (1975-1977); University of Keele (1977-1978), Middlebury College (1982), the Institute for Studies in American Music at Brooklyn College (1983), Goldsmiths College, London (1995-1996), and University of York (2006). Organized in seven series: Series 1: Biographical Materials and Calendars, 1943-2003; Series 2: Correspondence, 1964-2011; Series 3: Course Papers and Instructional Resources, 1970-2002; Series 4: School of Music; Series 5: Writings, Presentations and Research, 1936-2000; Series 6: Music Compositions and Performance Programs, 1961-2012; Series 7: Audio-Visual Recordings, 1964-1992. Of particular interest are Brooks's research and publications on John Cage and his research collaborations with the editors of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and Gilbert Chase.

Biographical Note

William Brooks (1943-) is an American composer, performer, conductor, musicologist, and educator. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in music and mathematics from Wesleyan University (1965), and his Master of Music in musicology (1971) and Doctorate of Musical Arts in composition-theory (1976) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Brooks served on the music faculty at the University of Illinois between 1969-1973 and 1987-2000 as Professor of Composition, Director of the Contemporary Chamber Singers, and Chair of the Composition-Theory Division for many years. His other faculty positions included appointments at the University of California, Santa Cruz (1973-1975) and University of California, San Diego (1975-1977). Between 1977 and 1987 he worked as a freelance composer, scholar and performer. Brooks has also held visiting appointments at the University of Keele (1977-1978), Middlebury College (1982), the Institute for Studies in American Music, Brooklyn College (1983), and Goldsmiths College, London (1995-1996). He was also a Senior Research Fellow at the Orpheus Institute, Ghent, Belgium (2009-2010). Brooks also served as Associate Professor Emeritus of Composition and Theory at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1987-2000), and beginning in 2000 became Reader in Music at the University of York. He became full Professor in 2006.

Brooks is closely associated with John Cage as both a performer and scholar. He played in the world premiere of Cage's HPSCHD and directed several productions of Cage's Song Books. Brooks has published extensively on 20th-century American music, especially on John Cage and Charles Ives, vocal music, popular music, and musical instruments. He served as the adviser for the article, "19th-century Music," for The New Grove Dictionary of American Music. He is composer of American experimental music whose work focuses on mappings between music and other fine arts. He has received commissions from the British Arts Council (1978), the Gulbenkian Foundation (1981) and the Kronos Quartet (1986). In addition his research and compositions have been sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Gulbenkian Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Fulbright Scholar program.

Subject/Index Terms

Cage, John
Faculty Papers
Music
Music, School of
Music - United States
Musical Repertoires
Music Composition
New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Teaching
Vocal music

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: Additions acquired 12/20/2002, 5/23/2012, 8/6/2013, 12/2/2013 (items from Northwestern University acquired on this date), March 27, 2017, July 2, 2021 (transfer from the Music and Performing Arts Library), and July 23, 2024.

Acquisition Source: William Brooks

Acquisition Method: Gift

Appraisal Information: In Box 46, Folder 3, the first and last pages of the paperclipped papers labeled "Sketches & Drafts For Orpheus" were printed on scrap paper including Brooks' personal financial information. High-quality photocopies of the fronts of these pages (containing drafts of the composition) were made on acid-free paper in order to preserve their informational content. The originals were discarded so that the folder could remain unsrestricted and accessible.

Processing Information: The Brooks Papers were re-processed in June 2012 by the LIS590AA class to accomodate the significant addition of materials that were donated to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music in May 2012. Additions made on 8/6/2013 were processed on 8/7/2013.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Materials and Calendars, 1943-2003],
[Series 2: Correspondence, 1964-2011],
[Series 3: Course Papers and Instructional Resources, 1970-2002],
[Series 4: School of Music, 1987-2000],
[Series 5: Writings, Presentations and Research, 1936-2000],
[Series 6: Original Music Compositions, Performance Programs, and Collection of Performance Scores, 1961-2012],
[Series 7: Audio-Visual Recordings, 1964-1992],
[All]

Series 2: Correspondence, 1964-2011

Organized in two subseries: Subseries 1, Departmental Correspondence, 1986-2001, and Subseries 2, Personal and Professional Correspondence, 1962-2011. The departmental correspondence encompasses all matters associated with the administration of the Composition and Theory Division as well as the general operation of the School of Music. The personal and professional correspondence is organized alphabetically and chronologically within six sections: General A-Z (1965-1977) and (1978-1989); General Correspondence (1977-1995); Business and Employment (1962-2001); Individual Correspondence (1970-2011); Organization and Institutional Correspondence (1964-1996); Personal and Family Correspondence (1965-1985).

Sub-Series 1: Departmental Correspondence

Box 3

Folder 1: Student Evaluations, Fall 1990-Spring 1993
Folder 2: Student Evaluations, Fall 1993-Fall 1996
Folder 3: Teaching Evaluations, Fall 1986-1988
Folder 4: Teaching Evaluations, 1997-2001
Folder 5: Composition Division Business, 1988-1989
Folder 6: Composition Division Business, 1989-1990
Folder 7: Composition Division Business, 1991-1992
Folder 8: Composition Division Business, 1992-1993
Folder 9: Composition Division Business, 1993-1994
Folder 10: Composition Division - EMS, 1994-1995
Folder 11: Composition Division, 1995-1996
Folder 12: Composition Division Business, 1996-1997
Folder 13: Composition Division Business, 1997-1998
Folder 14: Composition Division Business, 1998-1999
Folder 15: Composition Division - CAMIL, undated
Folder 16: Composition Division - CMP, 1994
Folder 17: Composition Division - Faculty-Individual-Frederickson, 1990-1993
Folder 18: Composition Division - Faculty, ca. 1994
Folder 19: Composition Division - Curriculum Theory, Upper Level
Folder 20: Composition Division - Curriculum 100-104, 107-109, 202-203, 1988-1993
Folder 21: Composition Division - Concert/Guests, 1990-1991
Folder 22: Composition Division Faculty - Individuals: Lund, 1990-1994
Folder 23: Composition Division - Faculty - Individuals: Tipei, 1991-1994
Folder 24: Composition Division - Faculty - Individuals: Taube, 1998
Folder 25: Composition Division - Faculty - Individuals: Powell, 1986-1995
Folder 26: Composition Division - Faculty - Individuals: Zonn, 1990
Folder 27: Composition Division - Faculty - Individuals: Wyatt, 1998
Folder 28: Composition Division - Faculty - Individuals: Von Gunden, 1991
Folder 29: Composition Division - New Music Ensemble, 1986-1990
Folder 30: Composition Division - Faculty-Long Range Plans and Projections, 1981-1994
Folder 31: Composition Division - Graduate Students, 1993-1996
Folder 32: Composition Division - Undergraduates, 1992-1996
Folder 33: Composition Division - Events, 1996-1997
Folder 34: Composition Division - Events, 1997-1998
Folder 35: Composition Division - Events, 1998-1999
Folder 36: Composition Division - Events, 1999-2000
Folder 37: University Employment Promotion, 1993
Folder 38: School of Music Committees - Ensembles and Scheduling, 1988-1989
Folder 39: School of Music Commitees - Computer Advisory, 1988-1990
Folder 40: UI Ensembles Committee, 1992-1994
Folder 41: School of Music Committees - Centennial Celebration, 1993
Folder 42: School of Music Committees - Capricious Grading, 1997-1998
Folder 43: School of Music Committees - Ensembles Conductors, 1993-1994
Folder 44: School of Music Committees - Excellence in Teaching, 1996-1997
Folder 45: School of Music Committees - Excellence in Teaching, 1997-1998
Folder 46: School of Music - Contemporary chamber players, 1986-1987
Folder 47: School of Music - Contemporary chamber players - CMS concerts, 1989
Folder 48: School of Music - Contemporary chamber players, 1989-1990
Folder 49: School of Music Contemporary chamber players, 1990-1991
Folder 50: School of Music - Contemporary chamber players, 1991-1992
Folder 51: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1986-1997
Folder 52: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1987-1988
Folder 53: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1988-1989
Folder 54: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1989-1990
Folder 55: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1990-1991
Folder 56: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1991-1992
Folder 57: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1992-1993
Folder 58: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1993-1994
Folder 59: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1994-1995
Folder 60: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1995-1996
Folder 61: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1996-1997
Folder 62: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1997-1998
Folder 63: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1998-1999
Folder 64: School of Music Miscellaneous Business, 1999-2000

Sub-Series 2: Personal and Professional Correspondence, 1964-2011

Box 10

Folder 19: A-B, 1965-1977
Folder 20: C-D, 1965-1976
Folder 21: E-G, 1970-1977
Folder 22: H-K, 1965-1977
Folder 23: L-M, 1973-1977
Folder 24: N-P, 1971-1977
Folder 25: Q-S, 1965-1977
Folder 26: T-V, 1969-1976
Folder 27: W-Z, 1965-1977

Box 11

Folder 1: Correspondence A-D, 1980-1986
Folder 2: Correspondence E-H, 1978-1987
Folder 3: Correspondence I-P, 1980-1986
Folder 4: Correspondence Q-Z, 1980-1989
Folder 5: Correspondence Misc., 1977-1978
Folder 6: Correspondence Misc., 1978-1993
Folder 7: Correspondence Misc., 1980-1981
Folder 8: Correspondence Misc., 1985-1995
Folder 9: Correspondence Business, 1962-1983
Folder 10: Personal/Professional Employment Correspondence, 1978-1999
Folder 11: Personal/Professional Employment Camp Pinnacle, undated
Folder 12: Correspondence U. of Calif., 1974-1976
Folder 13: Personal/Professional Employment UCSD, 1975-1977
Folder 14: Correspondence University of California at Santa Cruz, 1972-1974
Folder 15: Personal/Professional Employment UCSC, 1973-1974
Folder 16: Personal/Professional Employment U. Ill., 1969-1973
Folder 17: UIUC Employment Contracts, 1986-2001
Folder 18: Abbinanti, Frank, 1993
Folder 19: Anderson, Gill, 1992-1993
Folder 20: Applebaum, Mark, 2000
Folder 21: Atovsky, Sheldon, 1992-1993
Folder 22: Barron, David, 1980
Folder 23: Barkin, Elaine, 1981
Folder 24: Behm, Mark, 1978-1991
Folder 25: Bobak, Jacqui, 1991-2000
Folder 26: Bonin, Jean, 1977-1978
Folder 27: Brown, Chris, 1988-1999
Folder 28: Brun, Herbert, 1998
Folder 29: Bryn-Julson, Phyllis, 1978-1980
Folder 30: Burt, Warren, 1979-1992
Folder 31: Byrd, Joseph, 1978-1979
Folder 32: Cameron, Michael, 1995
Folder 33: Campana, Debbie, 1987-1992
Folder 34: Celli, Joseph, 1987
Folder 35: Chang, Jocelyn, 1990-2002
Folder 36: Chase, David, 1977
Folder 37: Chase, Gilbert, 1971-1977
Folder 38: Chase Book, 1979-1982
Folder 39: Chase Festschrift, 1980-1981
Folder 40: Choi, Insook, 1995-1997
Folder 41: Cockrell, Dale, 1978-1999
Folder 42: Code, David, 1988
Folder 43: Colgrass, Michael, 1991
Folder 44: Corbett, Sydney, 1994-1995
Folder 45: Cross, Julianne, 1997-1998
Folder 46: DeBoer, Katherine, 1999
Folder 47: Defotis, Bill, 1987-1999
Folder 48: Demare, Tony, 1992
Folder 49: Dennehy, Donnacha, 2000
Folder 50: Dick, Robert, 1993
Folder 51: Dickinson, Peter, 1979-2002
Folder 52: Diesendruck, Tamar, undated
Folder 53: Dirks, Vice Chancellor of UCSC, 1974
Folder 54: Dodge, Charles, 1987-1993
Folder 55: Duckworth, Bill, 1979-1995

Box 12

Folder 1: Edgerton, Mike, 1994-1999
Folder 2: Edwards, Terry, 1978-1994
Folder 3: Eichman, Jennifer, 1989
Folder 4: Ellison, Mary, 1982-1994
Folder 5: Elrod, Pam, 2000
Folder 6: Endicott, Mary Jane, 1993
Folder 7: Evangelista, Jose, 1987
Folder 8: Fairchild, Charles, 1989-1993
Folder 9: Feldman, Hilary, 1993-1997
Folder 10: Feldman, Ira, 1987-1989
Folder 11: Finnissy, Michael, 1987
Folder 12: Fonville, John, 1988-1994
Folder 13: Frank, Peter, 1978-1979
Folder 14: Fravel, Carl, 1978-1980
Folder 15: Fulkerson, Jim, 1980-1990
Folder 16: Ganz, Isabelle, 1988-1994
Folder 17: Geil, Jean, 1980
Folder 18: Gilbert, Jan, 1989-1994
Folder 19: Gillespie, Don, 1987
Folder 20: Gilmore, Bob, 1994
Folder 21: Goldstein, Malcolm, 1990-1997
Folder 22: Gore, Georgianna, 1979
Folder 23: Hamm, Charles, 1978-1992
Folder 24: Hammitt, John, 1995
Folder 25: Harding, Susan, 1989-1990
Folder 26: Henkels, David, 1994-1998
Folder 27: Hannan, Joe, 1977-1996
Folder 28: Harkins, Ed, 1979-1990
Folder 29: Helms, Hans, 1979
Folder 30: Hesse, Mick, 1987-1997
Folder 31: Higgins, Dick, 1989
Folder 32: Hill, Jackson, 1980
Folder 33: Hirst, Linda, 1989-1991
Folder 34: Hitchcock, Wiley, 1989-1995
Folder 35: Hoitenga, Camilla, 1994-1997
Folder 36: Hollingworth, Robert, 1996-2000
Folder 37: Hoover, Cynthia, 1981-1987
Folder 38: Horton, Denise, 1988
Folder 39: Horn, David, 1987
Folder 40: Jensen, Karen, 1979-1980
Folder 41: Johnson, Tom, 1992-1995
Folder 42: Johnston, Ben, 1979-1999
Folder 43: Jolas, Betsy, 1992-1993
Folder 44: Jones, Ann, 1991
Folder 45: Kahn, Douglas, 1993
Folder 46: Kelleher, John & Vicki, 1978
Folder 47: Key, Steve, 1986-1995
Folder 48: Kopperud, Jean, 1990-1997
Folder 49: Kostelanetz, Richard, 1989-2000
Folder 50: Krummel, Karen, 1988-1995
Folder 51: Kurowski, Kerry, 1992-1995
Folder 52: Larsen, Libby, 1990-1995
Folder 53: Larson, Philip, 1998
Folder 54: Lawrence, Lucinda, 1987-1993
Folder 55: Leach, Mary Jane, undated
Folder 56: Liptak, David, 1992-1997
Folder 57: Lockwood, Annea, 1991-1994
Folder 58: London, Edwin, 1979-2000
Folder 59: Lynne, 2011
Folder 60: Marder, Norma, 1990
Folder 61: Marsh, Roger, 1992
Folder 62: May, Beth, 1998-2000
Folder 63: Martland, Steve, 1988-1990
Folder 64: Mayer, Julia, 1993
Folder 65: Mendoza, Emilio, 1994-1995
Folder 66: Mercer, Janis, 1988-1994
Folder 67: Middleton, Richard, 1980
Folder 68: Miles, Steve, 1988-1995
Folder 69: Montague, Steve, 1990-1996
Folder 70: Mumma, Gordon, 2000
Folder 71: Murphy, Hilary, 1987-1988
Folder 72: Nally, Donald, 1991-1996
Folder 73: Narmour, Eugene, 1978
Folder 74: Neely, Bruce, 1978-1997
Folder 75: Neely, Bruce, 1982-1986
Folder 76: Nelson, Mark, 1991-1995
Folder 77: Nicholls, David, undated
Folder 78: Nyman, Michael, 1979
Folder 79: Ogle, Nancy, 1990
Folder 80: Oja, Carol, 1996
Folder 81: Oliveros, Pauline, 1977-1978
Folder 82: Olson, Lesley, 1992-1998
Folder 83: Osborn, Mark, 1994
Folder 84: Parenti, Susan, 1990-1999
Folder 85: Passler, Jan, 1991
Folder 86: Paul, Jessica, 1994-1998
Folder 87: Pelzer, Dwight, 1977-1979
Folder 88: Perlis, Vivian, 1978
Folder 89: Potter, John, 1978-1979
Folder 90: Potter, Keith, 1980-1996
Folder 91: Poyourow, David, 1977-1996
Folder 92: Preston, Kitty, 1988-1996
Folder 93: Radano, Ron, 1987
Folder 94: Rands, Bernard, 1977-1993
Folder 95: Repar, Patricia, 1992-1997
Folder 96: Reynolds, Roger, 1977-1979
Folder 97: Rhode, Alissa, 1993-1994
Folder 98: Richey, John, undated
Folder 99: Rivest, Johanne, 1999
Folder 100: Rosenberg, Pamela, 1977
Folder 101: Rosenboom, David, 1997
Folder 102: Ruffer, Nancy, 1980-1981
Folder 103: Scaletti, Carla, 1993
Folder 104: Schneider, Daphne, undated
Folder 105: Senn, Dan, 1987-1996
Folder 106: Shapiro, Gerald, 1993
Folder 107: Shatin, Judith, 1992-1994
Folder 108: Shultis, Chris, 1990-1994
Folder 109: Spark, Clare, 1986-1994
Folder 110: Stabler, Gerhard, 1987-1995
Folder 111: Stanfield, Laura, 1993
Folder 112: Sterne, Tracy, 1977
Folder 113: Stowe, Sondra, undated
Folder 114: Tagg, Philip, 1978-1993
Folder 115: Taylor, Janet, 1993
Folder 116: Tenney, Jim, 1988
Folder 117: Tick, Judith, 1997
Folder 118: Tiley, Allison, 1998
Folder 119: Todd, George, 1990
Folder 120: Twining, Toby, 1995
Folder 121: Udow, Michael, 1977-1993
Folder 122: Von Foerster, Heinz, 1977
Folder 123: Vorwerk, Paul, 1982-1988
Folder 124: Watson, Claudia, 1991
Folder 125: Weber, William, 1977
Folder 126: Weintraub, Becky, 1995-1996
Folder 127: Winslow, Dick, 1970-1997

Box 13

Folder 1: Winslow, Sandy, 1995
Folder 2: Wishart, Trevor, 1988-1993
Folder 3: Wolff, Christian, undated
Folder 4: Wolman, Amnon, 1989-1997
Folder 5: Wood, James, undated
Folder 6: Yates, Elizabeth, 1979-1995
Folder 7: A.M.T.G., 1993
Folder 8: Danforth Conference, 1965
Folder 9: Danforth Conference, 1967-1968
Folder 10: De Volharding, 1978
Folder 11: Electric Pheonix, 1982-1990
Folder 12: E.V.T.E., 1977-1978
Folder 13: IASPM, 1982-1996
Folder 14: Industrial & Domestic Theatre Contractors, 1984
Folder 15: Kronos Quartet, 1990-1995
Folder 16: Mayfield Publishing, 1988
Folder 17: Muzak, 1975
Folder 18: National Radio Theatre, 1983-1985
Folder 19: Oakley Dam, 1967-1968
Folder 20: Sonneck Society, 1976-1995
Folder 21: Sonneck Society-Oxford Conf., 1987-1988
Folder 22: University of Akron, 1995
Folder 23: U. of Illinois, 1964-1975
Folder 24: UIUC School of Music Memos and Polemics, 1970-1989
Folder 25: Personal, Parents, 1965-1969
Folder 26: Parents, 1970-1985
Folder 27: Jacky, ca. 1981

Box 35

Folder 2: POEMPIECE II, 1970-1979

Box 36

Folder 6: Professional correspondence, 2005-2014: Cambridge University Press, University of Illinois Press, University of York, The Crossing Choir, Ryedale Festival, and Universitaire Pers Leuven.
Folder 7: Correspondence re: Pragmatics of Silence, 2006
Folder 8: Personal correspondence, 2013

Box 39

Folder 1: Smith, Stuart, 1997: Folder was originally located in Box 12; it was moved on May 24, 2023 in order to accomodate additional materials received by Brooks.