BC
1101 THE DULCIE
HOWES PAPERS Manuscripts & Archives University of Cape Town Libraries
|
|
donated
to |
|
The University of Cape Town Libraries |
|
by |
|
Victoria Cawood |
|
A List |
|
compiled
by |
|
Karen Combrinck |
|
1997 |
|
CONTENTS |
|
INTRODUCTION |
|
Biographical
Note |
|
The
Collection |
|
A. |
PERSONAL |
B.. |
CORRESPONDENCE |
C. |
PROFESSIONAL
CAREER |
D. |
INVOLVEMENTS |
E. |
SPEECHES |
F. |
PHOTOGRAPHS |
G. |
NEWSPAPER
CLIPPINGS |
H. |
PROGRAMMES |
I. |
ARTICLES |
J. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
K. |
PAPERS
RELATING TO GUY CRONWRIGHT |
INTRODUCTION
BIOGRAPHICAL
NOTE
Dulcie
Howes was born in 1908 at Little Brak River near Mossel Bay, where the family
spent their summer holidays.
Her
father, Justice Reed Howes, came to South Africa at the end of the Anglo Boer
War. While he was the headmaster of Oudtshoorn Boys High School he married
Muriel Alice Lind. After their marriage they settled in Cape Town, where Justice
Howes practised as an advocate
Dulcie
Howes was one of the first pupils at Herschel School in Rondebosch when it
opened in 1922. She maintained her interest in the school for many years as a
ballet teacher there, and also as a member of the school council. Both her
daughters, Amelia and Victoria attended Herschel.
As
a child she took dancing lessons with Helen Webb. These classes concentrated
more on deportment and what was known then as “fancy dancing”. She later
took ballet instruction from Helen White, who had studied with Cecchetti.
In
1925 Dulcie Howes saw her first professional ballet performance when Anna
Pavlova’s Company toured South Africa. Possibly as a result of this she
decided to travel abroad to England in 1926 to study ballet, as ballet in South
Africa was then in its infancy. She spent three and a half years in England
studying different aspects of dance such as pas-des deux, ballroom, mime,
Spanish, Greek, tap and modern dance as well as anatomy and art. At the end of
her studies in England she managed to secure a small part with Anna Pavlova’s
company when they toured Europe.
When
Dulcie Howes returned to South Africa in 1930, inspired with ideas, methods and
techniques, she opened a ballet school in Rondebosch, where she taught ballet,
ballroom and Spanish dancing. Her school had grown from 3 pupils to 60 when
Prof. W Bell , Head of the College of Music at UCT, suggested that Dulcie Howes
move her school to the College of Music. This led to the founding of the UCT
Ballet School in 1932.
This
was a major development in ballet in South Africa and was also a realization of
her vision of having ballet and related subjects taught “under one roof”,
and the organisation of ballet on a professional and educational level.
Between
1932 and 1952 Dulcie Howes choreographed 30 original ballets such as La Famille,
Vlei Legend, Bach Suite and The Enchanted Well.
In
1935 Dulcie Howes was appointed Director of the Little Theatre (the first woman
to hold this position). The UCT Ballet Company was established in the same year.
It was separate from but complementary to, the UCT Ballet School, as its dancers
were drawn from the ballet school. The ballet company quickly grew and from 1941
did several tours throughout Southern Africa.
In
1950 the Dulcie Howes Ballet Trust Fund was established. Its aims were to
promote ballet in South Africa, to help dancers go abroad and to sponsor guest
artists to come to South Africa. The Fund was the brain child of Guy Cronwright.
In
1963 the UCT Ballet Company became fully professional, and in 1965 it became a
part of CAPAB (Cape Performing Arts Board) with Dulcie Howes as its Artistic
Director. She retired as Artistic Director in 1969.
Although
employed by CAPAB her ideal was the establishment of a National Ballet Company
in order to develop an “indigenous and characteristic ballet”. This was one
of her goals which was never realised.
After
1972 when Dulcie Howes retired as principal of the Ballet School, she remained
active in ballet and its development. Together with Mignon Furman and David
Poole she drew up the syllabus for the Education Dept. in 1974 when ballet was
first recognised as a subject in schools. She was also the first inspector of
ballet in the Dept. of Coloured Affairs and a moderator for Stds. 8 & 10.
During
her career she received many awards and honours such as the Cape Tercentenary
Foundation Award in 1953, Cecchetti Gold Medal in 1969, the SA Academy for Arts
and Sciences gold medal in 1970 and an Honorary Doctorate in Music by UCT in
1976.
She
married Guy Cronwright in London in 1937 and had two daughters, Amelia and
Victoria.
THE
COLLECTION
The
collection was donated to the University by Victoria Cawood.
It
consists of items such as newspaper cuttings, photographs and programmes
relating to her professional career in ballet.
Also
in the collection are some of her personal papers, correspondence and many of
the speeches she made.Evident in the speeches is a sharp wit and wonderful sense
of humour.
Included
in the collection are some papers of her husband Guy Cronwright, mainly relating
to his career as Managing Director of the Cape Times.
A. |
PERSONAL |
A1 |
Abridged
Birth Certificate, issued 1922 |
A1.1 |
Letter
to Registrar General requesting an unabridged birth certificate, 1983 |
A2 |
Herschel
School |
|
Photocopies
of pages from Admission Register and other documents, 1920 |
A3 |
Letter
enclosing a biographical data form sent to Marquis-Who’s Who, Inc., USA
1920’s |
A4 |
Letters
of appointment as Temporary Subject Inspectress from the Dept. of
Coloured, Rehoboth and Nama Relations, together with Conditions of
Service, 1975 |
A5 |
Curriculum
Vitae |
A6 |
Tributes
and Biographical Information |
A7 |
Letter
of resignation to the Council for Culture and Recreation,
1981 |
A8 |
Travel
Letters and Diaries |
A8.1 |
List
of Dulcie Howes’ travels 1945-1980 |
A8.2 |
Europe,
1954 |
|
and
photograph album of this trip |
A8.3 |
Europe
and London, 1956 |
A8.4 |
Kenya,
1958 |
A9 |
Bound
tribute to Dulcie Howes from the UCT Ballet School on the occasion of her
retirement, 1972 |
A10 |
Two
unidentified notes by Dulcie Howes |
A11 |
Obituaries |
B. |
CORRESPONDENCE |
B1 |
Family
Correspondence |
B1.1 |
Letters
from Dulcie Howes to Guy Cronwright,
1949?-1956 |
B1.2 |
letters
from Guy Cronwright to Dulcie Howes,
1946-1970 |
B1.3 |
Letters
from Dulcie Howes to her family, 1956 |
B1.4 |
Letter
from Mr. R Howes (father) to Dulcie Howes,
1944 |
B1.5 |
Card
from Victoria (daughter) to Dulcie Howes,
nd. |
B1.6 |
Telegram
re: marriage from L C Howes, 1937 |
B2 |
Two
letters from friends on the occasion of her marriage, 1937 |
B3 |
Correspondence
re: resignation from CAPAB as Artistic Director, 1969 |
B3.1 |
Administrator’s
Office of Province of the Cape of Good Hope and Dulcie Howes reply,
1969 |
B3.2 |
Mr
D J Liebenberg 1969 |
B3.3 |
Dr.
W. J. B. Slater and Dulcie Howes reply,
1969 |
B3.4 |
Diaries,
1969 |
B3.5 |
Letter
to J B Theron, 1969 |
B4 |
Correspondence,
UCT |
B4.1 |
P
R Koch of the Registrar’s Office, UCT and Dulcie Howes reply, 1970 |
B4.2 |
R
P Schell of the Registrar’s Office, UCT
1974 |
B4.3 |
Professor
L Kritzinger, President of UCT’s Staff Association and reply from Dulcie
Howes, 1972 |
B4.4 |
Letter
to David Poole, 1972 |
B4.5 |
Elizabeth
Triegaardt, Director of UCT Ballet School,
1993 |
B5 |
General
Correspondence in Alphabetical Order |
B5.1 |
AA
Life, 1990 |
B5.2 |
Abbeyfield
Society of South Africa, 1990
and 1993 |
B5.3 |
Anna
House, 1985 and 1988 |
B5.4 |
Aliwal
Road Primary School, 1982 |
B5.5 |
Avril,
1984-1993 |
B5.6 |
Elizabeth
C Balie, 1985 |
B5.7 |
Rosemary
J Bate, 1984 |
B5.8 |
Baxter
Theatre, 1990 and 1993 |
B5.9 |
Die
Burger, 1982 |
B5.10 |
Camps
Bay High School, 1983 |
B5.11 |
CAPAB,
1993 |
B5.12 |
Chancery
of Orders, 1990-1991 |
B5.13 |
Constantia
Publishers, 1969-1970 |
B5.14 |
Cultural
Affairs, Dept of 1970 |
B5.15 |
Feature
Film Sound, 1970 |
B5.16 |
Ingrid
Gaertner, 1989-1992. |
B5.17 |
Mrs
R Gaertner, nd. |
B5.18 |
M.
Grut, 1989 |
B5.19
|
Hand
spring Puppet Co. Ltd, 1985 |
B5.20 |
Haven
Night Shelter, 1991 |
B5.21 |
Val
Heard, nd |
B5.22 |
Herschel,
1988 |
B5.23 |
Human
Sciences Research Council, nd |
B5.24 |
Letter
from Dulcie Howes to HSRC, 1972 |
B5.25 |
Imperial
Society of Teachers of Dancing - Cecchetti Method, 1972-1985 |
B5.26 |
Margaret
Inglis, 1992 |
B5.27 |
Mrs
F. Mason, 1970 |
B5.28 |
Mayor’s
Office, 1990-1993 |
B5.29 |
Medical
Aid for Russia, 1942 |
B5.30 |
Ministry
of the Interior, 1977
and Dulcie Howes reply,
1978 |
B5.31 |
Peggy
Morice, 1991 |
B5.32 |
Natal
Performing Arts Council, 1988-1989 |
B5.33 |
The
National Ballet, 1987 |
B5.34 |
National
Education, Dept of, 1985 |
B5.35 |
Letter
from Dulcie Howes to PACT with biographical attachments, 1970 |
B5.36 |
Noel
Pelly, 13 May ? |
B5.37 |
Sue
Perry, 1982 |
B5.38 |
Mrs
Patricia Philander, nd |
B5.39 |
Gunter
Pulvermacher, 1984 |
B5.40 |
Radio
South Africa, SABC, nd |
B5.41 |
Rhodes
High School, 1986 |
B5.42 |
Royal
Opera House, 1946 |
B5.43 |
SA
College High School, 1987 |
B5.44 |
Sea
Point High School, 1989 |
B5.45 |
South
African Gifts and Comforts Committee,
1942 |
B5.46 |
Suid
Afrikaanse Akademie van Wetenskap en Kuns,
1970 |
B5.47 |
Syfrets
Trust Co. Ltd., 1972 |
B5.48 |
Mimi
Williams, 1951 |
B5.49 |
Pat
Williams, 1987 |
B5.50 |
Veronica
Williams, 1993 |
B5.51 |
Rex
Wilson, 1970 |
B5.52 |
Ann
Wixley, 1989 and 1992 |
B5.53 |
YMCA,
Andy Richards Centre, 1990
and 1991 |
B5.55 |
Various
Correspondence (8 items) |
B6 |
Cards
(10 items) |
C. |
PROFESSIONAL
CAREER |
C1 |
Little
Theatre, 1931 - |
|
Newsclippings,
photograph of W. Bell & letters |
C2 |
UCT
Ballet School, 1932 |
|
Brochure,
cuttings from brochure, photograph & biographical notes |
C3 |
Merry
Wives of Windsor Production by FFrangcon-Davies- Vonne Co.,
1945 |
|
Includes
agreement and programme |
C4 |
South
African National Ballet,
1947-1948 |
|
Minutes
of Annual General Meeting and Secretary’s Report, 1949/1950 |
C5 |
Union
Festival, 1960 |
|
Photograph
and letter re: Union Festival Commemorative Coin presented to Dulcie Howes |
C6 |
Dulcie
Howes Ballet Trust, 1965 |
|
Two
agreements, 1965 & 1969 |
C7 |
Cecchetti
Medal, 1969 |
|
includes
photographs, letters and newsclippings re: Award of the Cecchetti Medal |
C8 |
Retirement
from Capab, 1969 |
|
includes
newsclippings and programmes of Sleeping Beauty |
C9 |
S.
A. Akademie Award, 1970 |
|
includes
correspondence, newsclippings and photographs re:Award of Gold Medal by
S.A. Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns to Dulcie Howes. |
C10 |
Retirement
from UCT Ballet School, 1972 |
|
includes
an invitation to the farewell presentation, photographs, newsclippings,
program of the Nutcracker, and correspondence. |
C11 |
Civic
Honours, 1974 |
|
includes
an invitation to a dinner in honour of Dulcie Howes and Prof. Inskip, and
newsclippings. |
C12 |
Cecchetti
Society International and Commonwealth Conference, 1976. |
|
paper
delivered by Dulcie Howes |
C13 |
Doctorate
in Music, UCT 1976 |
|
includes
correspondence, invitation to the graduation ceremony, citation,
programme, photographs, a tribute to Dulcie Howes by Yvonne
Williams-Short, newsclippings and an article in “UCT NEWS” |
C14 |
Woman
of the Year, 1976 |
|
includes
an autographed copy of the list of luncheon guests and newsclippings. |
C15 |
Opening
of the Baxter Theatre, 1977 |
|
includes
correspondence, newsclippings and a brochure of the Baxter Theatre |
C16 |
SABC
Documentary Series “Six Women”,
1978 |
|
includes
correspondence, biographical notes, script and a filming schedule |
C17 |
Nederburg
Awards, 1979 |
|
includes
invitation to Nederburg Award presentation and newsclippings. |
C18 |
Adelaide
Ristori Award, 1982 |
|
includes
a programme and newsclippings |
C19 |
75th
Birthday, 1983 |
|
Newsclippings |
C20 |
Naomi
Press Award, 1984 |
|
Newsclippings |
C21 |
SACPAC
Award, 1987 |
|
Newsclippings,
photographs, correspondence and two programmes. |
C22 |
80th
Birthday, 1988 |
|
Biographical
note on Dulcie Howes by Florence Short, birthday cards, photographs, two
invitations, newsclippings, correspondence and a “Thank You” notepad
with a list of names. |
C23 |
UCT
Ballet School production of “Water Babies” as a tribute to Dulcie
Howes on her 80th birthday.(includes a page from an article signed by
Elizabeth Triegaardt.) |
C24 |
State
President’s Award, 1989 |
|
includes
an invitation from the State President, a list of seating arrangements,
correspondence, warrant by the State President, programme, newsclipping
and photograph |
C25 |
Cape
Town City Honours, 1989 |
|
Two
typed copies of the wording(with corrections) for the Civic Honours Book,
newsclippings and photographs |
C26 |
Maynardville
Plaque, 1990 |
|
Newsclippings
and correspondence |
C27 |
Biographical
note on Dulcie Howes for the SABC’s “Famous Women”, 1992 |
D. |
INVOLVEMENTS |
D.1 |
Dulcie
Howes Community Centre Brochures and a copy of the Constitution |
D.2 |
Pages
of an article in the Annual Report of the Silvertree Youth Club,
1974 |
D.3 |
Minutes
of the Baxter Governing Board Meeting |
D.4 |
Baxter
200 membership card and brochures. |
D.5 |
Herschel
School brochures, 1972-1993? |
E. |
SPEECHES |
|
Arranged
in Chronological Order |
E1 |
1950-1984 |
E2 |
1985-1991 |
E3 |
Undated
Speeches |
E4 |
Newsclippings
of speeches made by Dulcie Howes |
E5 |
Newsclippings
and articles re: speechmaking. |
F. |
PHOTOGRAPHS |
F1 |
Personal |
|
(includes
Dulcie Howes as a child, portraits of Dulcie Howes, and members of the
family.) |
F2 |
Ballet |
|
(includes
Lausanne, 1972) |
F3 |
The
launch of the Arabesque Magazine, 1980 |
F4 |
Social |
F5 |
Houses
and Interiors of Houses |
F6 |
Miscellaneous |
G. |
NEWSPAPER
CUTTINGS |
G1 |
General
and Ballet |
G2 |
Social
Events |
H. |
PROGRAMMES |
H1 |
African
Consolidated Theatres |
H2 |
CAPAB
(1965-1993) |
H3 |
EOAN
Group, 1956 |
H4 |
UCT
Ballet, (1947-1984) |
I. |
ARTICLES
about Dulcie Howes and ballet |
J. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
J1 |
SAIRR
Presidential Address “Do We Care?”,
1982 |
J2 |
Article
from the journal “Physiotherapy”, Volume 39 Numbers 3 & 4, Dec’
1983 |
J3 |
Article
published by the Centre for Intergroup Studies,
1985 |
J4 |
Music
Scores |
J5 |
Poem |
J6 |
Various
extracts from articles on ballet |
J7 |
Poster
of the Dulcie Howes exhibition at the Irma Stern Museum, 1994
(O/S) |
K. |
PAPERS
RELATING TO GUY CRONWRIGHT |
K1 |
Letter
from Guy Cronwright to his mother,
1918 |
K.2 |
A
speech? titled “The Master” by Guy Cronwright,
nd |
K3 |
Correspondence
& papers relating to the Cape Times and South African Associated
Newspapers |
K4 |
Newsclippings
re: Louis Luyt’s bid for South African Associated Newspapers. |
K5 |
Diary
re: Bid for South African Associated Newspapers |
K6 |
Obituaries |