An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
Creator:
Sundgaard, Arnold,
1909-2006
Title:
Arnold Sundgaard Papers
Dates:
1938-2004, undated
Extent:
7 document boxes (2.94 linear feet)
Abstract:
The Arnold Sundgaard Papers consist
of typescripts of works, incoming and outgoing correspondence, subject files,
agreements, and contracts that document Sundgaard’s varied writing
career.
Call Number:
Performing Arts Collection
PA-00188
Language:
English
Access:
Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to
the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials.
Use Policies:
Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential
information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and
regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information
pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in the collections without
the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of
action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning
an
individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive
to a
reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of Texas at
Austin
assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use:
Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the
owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of
the
copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information
please see the Ransom Center's Open Access and Use Policies.
Administrative Information
Acquisition:
Gift, 2004
Processed by:
Helen Adair, 2005; Helen Baer, 2015; Daniela Lozano, 2017
Arnold Sundgaard (1909-2006) was a lyricist, librettist, and playwright who worked
with many leading composers including Kurt Weill, with whom he wrote the folk
opera
Down in the Valley (1948), Alec Wilder, with whom
he wrote The Lowland Sea (1952), and Douglas S.
Moore, with whom he wrote the operas Giants in the
Earth (1951) and Gallantry (1962). Plays
written by Sundgaard include the documentary play Spirochete:
A History (1938), which chronicled the spread of syphilis, and Of Love Remembered (1967). He is also the author of
several children’s books including The Lamb and the
Butterfly (1988) and The Bear Who Loved
Puccini (1992). His children’s album, An Axe, an
Apple, and a Buckskin Jacket (1957), was written with Wilder and
recorded by Bing Crosby. In addition to writing, Sundgaard taught drama at the
University of Texas, Columbia University, University of Illinois, and Bennington
College.
Sources:
In addition to material found in the Arnold Sundgaard Papers, the following source
was used:
Fox, Margalit. "Arnold Sundgaard, Lyricist and Playwright,
Is Dead at 96."
New York Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/obituaries/31sundgaard.html (accessed 24 August
2017).
Scope and Contents
The Arnold Sundgaard Papers, 1938-2004, undated, consist of typescripts of works,
correspondence, subject files, agreements, and contracts that document Sundgaard’s
varied writing career. The collection is arranged in two series: I. Works,
1947-1996, undated; and II. Personal and Career Related, 1938-2004.
Series I. Works consists of typescripts of works by Sundgaard including the
children’s album An Axe, an Apple, and a Buckskin
Jacket, the plays Forests of the Night,
The Great Campaign, and Of
Love Remembered, and the operas Giants in the
Earth and Mosaic among others. The works
are arranged in alphabetical order.
Series II. Personal and Career Related is divided into two subseries: A.
Correspondence and Subject Files, 1941-2004; and B. Contracts and Agreements,
1938-2001. The folder titles in this series are taken from Sundgaard’s original
files and are arranged in alphabetical order.
Subseries A. Correspondence and Subject Files consists of incoming and outgoing
correspondence as well as various subject files related to organizations,
publishers, and people. Correspondents include Willem Breuker, Eric Carle, Val
Holley, and Ronald Prather.
Subseries B. Contracts and Agreements is made up of material related to Sundgaard’s
writing career. Some of the files are labeled with the title of the work with
which
the material pertains, while some are labeled with the name of the publisher or
company. Correspondence is included in some of the files, especially the children’s
books files which also include reviews.
Related Material
Additional Arnold Sundgaard materials are located at George Mason University.
