William Grant Still Exhibit in Mullins Celebrates Black History, Music History

Photo Submitted

William Grant Still, autographed to Verna Arvey, 1933. (University of Arkansas Libraries, Special Collections.)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University Libraries’ special collections department commemorates Black History Month with the exhibit, “William Grant Still: Composer, Musician, Pioneer” in the lobby area of Mullins Library through the end of March. The exhibit showcases images and manuscript scores from the archives of the Little Rock native, once known nationally as the “Dean of African American composers.”

Still was born on May 11, 1895, in Woodville, Miss., and moved with his mother to Little Rock at age one after his father’s sudden death. Carrie Still was an English teacher who remarried a few years after they relocated. William Grant Still later credited his creative interest to his mother’s love of language and reading as well as his stepfather’s phonograph collection. Still graduated as valedictorian of his high school class and enrolled at Wilberforce University in 1911. He left before finishing his degree in order to pursue his interest in arranging, performing and publishing music. Over the next several years he performed with W.C. Handy, worked for the Pace and Handy Music Publishing Co. and attended Oberlin College to study composition.

Still composed nine operas, five symphonies, four ballets and numerous smaller pieces, and starting in the 1930s his works were performed by the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony and other musical organizations around the world. In addition to two Guggenheim fellowships (1934, 1935), two Rosenwald fellowships (1939, 1940) and a Freedom Foundation Award (1953), Still received several other awards and honorary degrees.

The centerpieces of the exhibit are important tools of Still’s trade that have accompanied his music and papers to holdings of the University Libraries: his music typewriter and baton. He was an accomplished pianist and images from his archives show him composing both at his piano and working with the typewriter. The papers, along with the archives of wife and collaborator Verna Arvey, are a valuable source of correspondence, business materials, research materials, published works, and memorabilia of two successful creative professionals who also had friendships and working relationships with a wide range of artists.

The William Grant Still and Verna Arvey Papers (MC 1125) are among the most frequently requested collections in the special collections department. Still’s life and work as a composer remain important areas of study for American and international scholars. The exhibit also provides a chronology of his many achievements displayed beside pictures and works from every stage of his life.