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Choral Music Contributions

  • Photograph of the Tuskegee School of Music faculty, 1934-1935
  • Photograph of the Tuskegee Choir and Orchestra performing "The Death of Minnehaha" at the Tuskegee Institute Chapel on April 1, 1939,
  • "One of the greatest choral organizations in the world," relays the Dunbar News of the Tuskegee Choir in January 1933.
  • The Tuskegee Institute Choir in Carnegie Hall, January 1933.
  • Listen to Dawson speak about some of the concerts his Choir gave, including Sunday radio shows, a performance at the New York residence of President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, and a performance for President Hoover at the White House. (3:20 min.)
  • Wedding photograph of Cecile Demae Nicholson
  • William Levi Dawson and Ed Sullivan on the set of the Ed Sullivan Show, 6 April 1952.
  • Listen to selections from the Tuskegee singers' first performances for the NBC network in 1937 (29:55 min.).
  • The Tuskegee Choir performing on the NBC television show “Coke Time,” December 1950.
  • Inscription in Invisible Man from Ellison to William Levi Dawson
  • Photograph of Dawson conducting, 1979
  • The Tuskegee Choir at Carnegie Hall with Leontyne Price, March 20, 1955
  • "There Is a Balm in Gilead," sheet music, 1967
  • "Ain'-a That Good News," manuscript
  • "Ain'-a That Good News," in Folk Songs of the American Negro, 61
  • Paul Laurence Dunbar
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Score: Folk songs of the American Negro, Nashville, Tenn.: [John W. Work and Frederick J. Work?, 1907?]

"Ain'-a That Good News," in Folk Songs of the American Negro, 61

In keeping with a somewhat common practice of American composers in major music departments in the mid-1900s, Dawson created his own publication series. Due to the presence of a steam press on campus (on which students were trained in the technical skills of printing), Dawson was able to have his arrangements printed on campus as part of his "Tuskegee Choir Series." Most of Dawson's arrangements are still in print and are available through the distributor Kjos Press (Monroe, 130).