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Haiku Poetry created by the children at Wilhelm School- parts of the orchestra: violin, viola, cello, bass

 File — Box: 7, Folder: 5

Scope and Content

From the Sub-Series:

During the 1970s, Marilyn Lingle Wilhelm, founder and director of the Wilhelm School in Houston, Texas, had her students write Haiku poems. The poems were later compiled into a book called Haiku Poetry-A Children's Collection Volume I by the Franklin Press. The students' work received international attention when it was added to a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and the California Museum of Science and Industry. Subsequently, Wilhelm asked Richard Ralf if he could set some of the Haiku poems to music so that they could be sung at the exhibition opening in Los Angeles. Ralf created music for eleven of the Haiku poems which were performed by the children's choir and small orchestra of the Dixie Canyon Elementary School in Sherman Oaks, California. Even President Richard Nixon got involved and served as Honorary Chairman for the event. The subseries includes correspondence, mostly from Wilhelm to Ralf regarding his work with the project, receipts for his work, a certificate of copyright for the music, and newspaper clippings about the ordeal. The titles of the works are The Wind Blows My Hair,Friendly Clouds,Rainy, Rainy Day,Puddle to Puddle,Warm Summer-Sunday,Such a Pretty Day,Buzz-Buzz-Buzz,Sad, Sad Insect,Warm and Sunny Day,Green Body,Black Tail,and Morning Sun.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1930s-1974

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

The materials in the collection are in German and English.

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Extent

From the Collection: 22.08 Linear Feet (23 boxes)

Repository Details

Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States