+ The Dawson Papers

+ 2005 Symposium

About the Papers

Citation Info

About the Site

Contact

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
Prev_button
Next_button
Wedding portrait photograph of Cecile Nicholson Dawson, 1 September 1935

Wedding photograph of Cecile Demae Nicholson

Dawson married his second wife shortly after arriving to teach at Tuskegee. He first met Cecile Demae Nicholson when he was choir director at Ebenezer Church in Kansas City. Before her marriage, Mrs. Dawson earned a Bachelor's degree from Howard University, a Master's degree from Kansas State Teacher's College, and headed up the Home Economics Department at Morris Brown College. Following the couple’s wedding on September 21, 1935, Mrs. Dawson became active in Tuskegee's African Methodist Episcopal Church and in social and public service organizations. Also an entrepreneur, she owned an apparel and accessories boutique called the Petite Bazaar. The store sold Dawson’s sheet music and filled orders for Tuskegee Choir albums (Standifer Interview).