WAUUA19_15_2923WernerAugust.xml Guide to the August Werner Papers 1911-1980 Werner (August) Papers Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2006 (Last modified: 4/19/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections (Accession No. 2923-001) Werner, August, 1893-1980 August Werner papers 1911-1980 5.17 cubic feet (7 boxes) Collection materials are in English and Norwegian. Papers of a University of Washington professor of music.

August Werner was born in Bergen, Norway, on December 5th, 1893. In 1913 he received a B.S. from the College of Agriculture in Stend, Norway, and he graduated from the Masters School of Music in New York in 1924. Werner was a professor in the School of Music at the University of Washington from 1931 to 1965. He taught voice lessons, gave recitals, and made appearances in opera productions at the university. Werner also directed the Norwegian Male Chorus and the Ladies' Chorus in Seattle, as well as the Chanters of the Nile Temple Shrine. In addition, Werner acted as director in chief of the Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers' Association. Werner performed as a baritone both in the United States and in Europe. He sang as a soloist with symphony orchestras, churches, and choirs. He also performed as an invited soloist at special events in his communities.

Werner was also an artist. He painted landscapes of Norway and scenes from Norway's history. Among his creations as a sculptor are a bust of Beethoven at the University of Washington and a cast-bronze statue of Leif Eriksson, unveiled in 1962, which overlooks Shilshole Bay Marina in the Ballard area of Seattle, Washington. Werner was decorated by the King of Norway with the Order of St. Olav and as a Knight of St. Olav by the King of Sweden. He died in 1980.

Arranged in 3 series:

Personal and professional papers, 1911-1980 Committee for Seattle Visit of Crown Prince Olav & Crown Princess Martha of Norway records, 1938-1939 Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers' Association records, 1936-1963

The August Werner papers include correspondence, programs, clippings, published music, and ephemera. Writings include "A play in three scenes depicting different episodes from the first Swedish expedition to Delaware, 1637-1638." Some musical scores transcribed by Werner are also included. There is a large collection of programs and clippings. Many of the programs relate to concerts and events which August Werner attended, performed in, and/or directed. The clippings document Werner's interests and accomplishments as a musician, artist, and amateur historian. Also included are records from the Committee for Seattle Visit of Crown Prince Olav & Crown Princess Martha of Norway and the Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers' Association.

The papers are open to all users.

Request at UW

The creator's literary rights have not been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Gift of Mrs. August Werner in 1980.

Processed in 2005 by Meredith Selfon.

Mold-damaged materials were photocopied and the originals discarded.

Twenty-one photographs and one postcard were relocated to the August Werner Photograph Collection, PH Accession No. 2005-021, in the division in February 2005.

Some Norwegian-American and Norwegian newspapers were transferred to the Microform/Newspapers Section of the University of Washington Libraries in 2004. Other unrelated publications were sent to the Gifts Processing Unit of the University of Washington Libraries in 2004.

Werner, August, 1893-1980--Archives Olav V, King of Norway, 1903-1991--Travel--United States Märtha, Crown Princess of Norway,  1901-1954--Travel--United States University of Washington--Faculty Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers' Association University of Washington. University Archives College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Music teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Baritones (Singers)--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Norwegians--United States--Archives Painters--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Sculptors--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Norwegian Americans--Music Music--Manuscripts scores programs correspondence writings Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) ephemera drawings University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington) Music Seattle Colleges and Universities Fine Arts Performing Arts Scandinavian Americans

 

Personal and professional papers 1911-1980 1/1 Biographical information 1924-1972 Incoming letters 1/2 Birthday greetings 1963 1/3 Brown, Nils F. 1938-1939 6/1 Brown, Nils F. undated 1/4 Cameron, Basil 1934, 1938 1/5 Myrvik, Norman 1962 1/6 Normændenes Sangforening (Norwegian Singing Society) 1937-1938, 1944 1/7 Norwegian Embassy 1945, 1957-1958 1/8 Swedish Tercentenary Association 1937-1939 1/9-14 Miscellaneous A-Z 1918-1973 6/1 Miscellaneous 1925, 1933 1/15 Unidentified 1911-1958 1/16 Outgoing letters 1935-1940, undated 1/17 General correspondence -- Blessum, Ben (knighthood campaign) 1928-1929 1/18 Invitations 1963-1968, undated 1/19 Personal documents 1924-1925 1/20-42 Speeches and writings 1938-1976 1/43 Writings of others 1933-1937 1/44 Legal documents 1949 Subject files 1/45 Free Municipal Open Air Opera 1925 1/46 Leif Eriksson statue 1939-1962 1/47 Norwegian Male Chorus 1935-1960 Programs 1/48 17th of May Festival 1933-1967 1/49 American-Scandinavian Foundation 1955 Concert programs - August Werner

Programs list August Werner as performer/director. Local programs are from locations in the state of Washington. Other locations include cities in New York, California, Nevada, Minnesota, and Norway.

 1/50-52 Local 1933-1971 6/3-4 Local 1931-1954 1/53-2/2 Other locations 1919-1962 6/5-6 Other locations 1919-1938 Concert programs - other performers

These programs do not list August Werner. Local programs are from locations in the state of Washington. Other locations include cities in New York, California, Nevada, Minnesota, and Norway.

 2/3-4 Local 1930-1963 6/7 Local 1926-1937 2/5-14 Other locations 1911-1964, undated 6/8 Other locations 1914-1944, undated 2/15-23 Concert programs - University of Washington 1928-1964, undated 6/9 Concert programs - University of Washington 1931-1952, undated 2/24 Leif Eriksson Day Celebration 1936-1967 Movie theater programs 2/25 The Rialto Times 1923-1925 2/26 The Rivoli Times 1923-1925 2/27-28 Norwegian Male Chorus 1930-1972 2/29-30 Miscellaneous programs 1930-1980 6/2 Miscellaneous programs 1912-1929 2/31 Newsletters 1941-1973 3/1 Press releases undated, 1930 3/2 Proclamation - Leif Eriksson Day 1958 3/3 Lyrics undated 3/4 Drawings 1922, undated 3/5 Notes 1956, undated 3/6 Menus 1926-1929 3/7 Ephemera 1929-1933, 1951-1963, undated 6/11 Ephemera 1921-1954, undated 3/8 Delegate's badge 1962, undated 7 Transcribed music undated 7 Sheet music/scores 1917-1973 6/10 Miscellany 1931-1932, undated 3/9-5/2 Clippings 1926-1973 6/12 Clippings 1929-1945, undated 5/3 Committee for Seattle Visit of Crown Prince Olav & Crown Princess Märtha of Norway 1938-1939 Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers' Association 1936-1963 5/4 Incoming letters 1936-1937, 1961-1963 5/5 Programs 1936-1963 5/6 Notes 1961-1963