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Helen Butler papers on Ernie McClintock

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSS 16837

Content Description

This collection contains the papers of Helen Butler, arts educator, actress, and writer, on Ernie McClintock, American director, teacher, and theatre artist. The collection contains professional correspondence, memos, pamphlets, brochures, flyers, reports, newsletters, clippings, obituaries, Articles of Incorporation of the Jazz Theater and the Afro-American Heritage Society, as well as By-Laws for Jazz theater, and a headshot of Ernie McClintock. Also included is an album of the Afro-American Studio, which consists of an essay by Barbara Lewis on the theater's history as well as fliers, clippings, and correspondence related to the Afro-American Studio.

Butler met McClintock in the mid-80s in New York. She became a performer in Jazz Actors Studio, National Black Theatre Festival, and Richmond Jazz Actors. She left New York in 1988, stayed in contact with him, and eventually moved to Richmond to continue to work with him. Butler remained close to McClintock until his death in 2003.

Dates

  • Creation: c.1970-2004

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Biographical / Historical

Helen Butler, MFA Theatre Arts, was nurtured in the cauldron of narrative artmaking and social justice. Inspired by performance artist/activist, Vinnie Burrows, Helen began her career performing story through the lens of African American poetry. In more recent years she has been exploring the complementary movements of self-reflection and community engagement through fiber crafts and theatre, respectively. Her fiber pieces invite a release from the emotional bonds of modern living while the engagement theatre practice seeks to strengthen community ties by exploring narrative through audience participation.

Extent

.2 Cubic Feet (1 document box (half-letter))

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift from Helen Butler (through Geno Brantley) to the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 9 December 2023.

Related Materials

This collection is related to the Ernie McClintock papers, MSS 16810.

Title
Helen Butler papers on Ernie McClintock
Status
Completed
Author
Ellen Welch
Date
2024-04-30
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library Repository

Contact:
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
P.O. Box 400110
University of Virginia
Charlottesville Virginia 22904-4110 United States