Dorothy Bondurant papers

Collection

Identifier: IWA0451

Staff Only
Please navigate to collection organization to place requests.

Scope and Contents

The Dorothy Bondurant papers date from 1926 to 1999 and measure 3.75 linear feet. The papers are arranged in eight series: Teaching materials: Waterloo Community Schools; Waterloo Recreation and Arts Center: Biographical; Cultural explorations program; Iowa Arts Council; Photographs; Slides; and Scrapbooks.

The Teaching materials: Waterloo Community Schools series (1943-1983, and undated) includes music education journals, dance programs, directions for making instruments, newspaper clippings concerning cultural programs in the schools, and collections of music.

Newspaper articles, information about the 'generation to generation' program, and one pamphlet concerning the Waterloo Recreation and Arts Center are contained in the series Waterloo recreation and arts center (1981-1982; 1998).

The Biographical series contains several informational pamphlets about Friendship Village, the retirement center where Bondurant lived; graduation programs, a descriptive list of Bondurant's accomplishments and awards, and several newspaper articles about Bondurant; and Bondurant's diploma from the University of Iowa, along with various certificates of accomplishment and appreciation.

The Cultural explorations program series (1972-1985, scattered) contains newspaper clippings, annual reports, student poems, and thank you letters while programs and meeting presentation notes are contained in the Iowa Arts Council series (1974; 1978, and undated).

The Photographs series contains portrait photographs of Bondurant and photographs of Bondurant at work, as well as two photograph albums containing mostly unidentified photographs of family and friends.

The Slides series consists of two slide trays titled 'Cultural expo elementary' and two trays titled 'River Hills.'

The Scrapbooks series (1926-1993) constitutes the bulk of the Bondurant papers. Bondurant's scrapbooks contain letters, photographs, newspaper articles, theater programs, and ticket stubs, many of which concern her teaching.

Dates

Creation: 1926-1999

Creator

Bondurant, Dorothy, 1908-2002 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

However, copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge the Iowa Women’s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/

Biographical / Historical

Music educator Dorothy Bondurant was born September 29, 1908, in Waterloo, Iowa. She graduated from West High School in 1926. Bondurant received a Bachelor of Music degree in organ, piano, and composition at the American Conservatory, Chicago, in 1929. In 1932, she earned an M.A. at the University of Iowa. She taught music methodology at the University of Dubuque from 1930-1932. Bondurant also taught summer sessions at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and at the University of Nevada.

In 1935, Bondurant joined the Waterloo Community Schools as the Elementary Instrumental Music Supervisor. In the 1960s-1970s, she coordinated cultural programs for K-12 students in the Waterloo Schools. After retiring in 1976, Bondurant worked as Arts Coordinator at the Waterloo Recreation and Arts Center. Bondurant published articles in a variety of state and national journals for music professionals. She also wrote and arranged music for instructing elementary school orchestras and bands. The Willis Music Company published this material in 1957 as Music of America. Bondurant also wrote about how to set up educational dance programs across the United States and worked with the Iowa Arts Council on evaluating Iowa arts programs.

Bondurant was involved in numerous community organizations. She served as president of the Waterloo Woman's Club, the American Association of University Women, the Friday Study Club, and the B Natural Music Club. She was also active in the LMI Music Club, the Cedar Arts Forum, the Delta Omicron Music Sorority, and the United Way. Bondurant also served on the Friends of the Symphony board, the Goodwill Auxiliary board, the Junior Gallery board, and the board of the First United Methodist Church. She also played in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony for 27 years. When she retired to Friendship Village, Bondurant offered music appreciation classes to the residents. Bondurant passed away in 2002.