Collection Overview
Title: Margaret Belknap Allen Papers, 1943-1991
ID: RG 09/9.02
Creator: Allen, Margaret Belknap
Extent: 3.0 MS boxes
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in series as follows: Personal/Biographical; Correspondence; Windswept; Photographs; Writings; Miscellaneous
Languages: English [eng]
Abstract
Margaret Allen was born in Oak Park, Illinois on October 19, 1898. She received her public school education in Illinois and Wisconsin. She began her college career at Oberlin College (1915 – 1918), but received her A.B. degree from Wisconsin University in 1919 in t he field of English Education and Drama. Her Graduate studies where done at Columbia University and Stanford University, where she received her M.A. degree in 1957.
In 1944 Margaret Allen was appointed an Instructor in Piano and continued as Associate Professor of Music until her retirement in1966. She was a published author and during her time spent in Berea she initiated renovations and redecoration of listening rooms, meeting spaces, furniture and instruments for the music hall. Mrs. Allen donated the Holtzkamp Organ in Gray Auditorium. In 1950 she founded the Windswept Music Workshop.
Mrs. Allen was a member of the Unitarian Church. She was survived by her daughter, Katheryn Allen Taylor; her son, John Milton Allen; a sister, Dr. Helen Belknap; and eight grandchildren.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection contains the papers of and materials related to the life of Margaret Belknap Allen. Included in the collection are letters, writings, copies of published materials, clippings, and programs and other materials related to the Berea College Music Department, Windswept music workshop, and Windswept home.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions:
Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College.
Use Restrictions:
Federal copyright regulations apply to all works within the collection. All works must be cited.
Preferred Citation:
[Object/Folder/Box], RG 09/9.01: Margaret Belknap Allen Papers, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, KY.
Processing Information:
The finding aid was updated in May 2016 with addition of a complete box list.
Other Note:
Record Group 9/9.02
Box and Folder Listing
- College Archive Record Group 9.02
- Series 1: Personal/Biographical
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Programs from Berea College Music Department, 1965
- Folder 2: Itinerary for trip abroad, 1966
- Folder 3: Newspaper articles on Allen, 1968-1983
- Folder 4: Program and tape of funeral, June 11, 1983
- Folder 5: Miscellaneous biographical, 1965-1977
- Series 2: Correspondence
- Box 1
- Folder 6: Letters to M. Allen, 1943-1983, 1991
- Folder 7: Correspondence to Dean Trivette, 1963-1984
- Folder 8: Letters and telegrams to Allen, 1965
- Folder 9: To family and friends, 1971-1977
- Folder 10: Scrapbook, 1987
- Series 3: Windswept
- Box 1
- Folder 11: Clippings, articles and information regarding Windswept
- Series 4: Photographs
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Photographs of Margaret Allen
- Folder 2: Berea College, Presser Hall, Berea College Graduation, Country Dancers, Windswept Residence
- (all items removed from photobook as it was in poor condition)
- Folder 3: Windswept Residence and Farm, Big Hill, Kentucky
- Folder 4: Vermont Residence and Home, postcards
- Series 5: Writings
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Creative motion; inner experience, energy, outer expression , 1971
- (Droke House) by M. Allen and Anne Niles; notes on learning to teach creatively
- Folder 2: Family memories of Four Sisters, 1976
- by Margaret Allen
- Folder 3: A Farmyard Full of Song
- musical pieces with words by M. Allen, influenced by her work in building Windswept farm, Big Hill, Kentucky
- Folder 4: Forty-Four Sonnets, 1977
- by M. Allen (Lake Garden Press)
- Folder 5: Inner Image, 1980
- by M. Allen and Donna Karn (Berea College Press)
- Folder 6: Rhythmic Play-Songs , 1954
- by Margaret Allen Franke (Berea College)
- Folder 7: Sonnets by Margaret Allen, 1975
- (Lake Garden Press)
- Folder 8: Sheet music used by Margaret Allen
- Folder 9: Twenty-Six Sonnets, 1975
- by Margaret Allen (Berea College Press)
- Folder 10: Work done by Infranization Students at Berea College, 1950
- musical pieces with words, originally drawings and art
- Series 6: Miscellaneous
- Box 3
- Folder 11: Lonesome Tunes, Wyman and Brockway, 1916
- (with inscription by M. Allen), folk songs of Kentucky