Helen Butler papers on Ernie McClintock

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

MSS 16837, Helen Butler papers on Ernie McClintock, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Summary

Extent:
.2 Cubic Feet 1 document box (half-letter)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 16837, Helen Butler papers on Ernie McClintock, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

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.

Acquisition information:
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.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Theater
African American artists
Names:
McClintock, Ernie