Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1926, Dec. 21 | Born, Washington, D.C. |
| 1942 | Began taking part in theatrical and musical productions through Scarsdale Congregational Church |
| 1945-1946 | Editor of Colgate University Jabberwock |
| 1948 | Received Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Colgate University Became Assistant Director of Drama at Colgate University |
| 1949-1950 | Worked as television director at WXEL-Cleveland |
| 1950, Sept. 28 | Joined U.S. Army |
| 1951 | Passed courses in photography at U.S. Army Signal School |
| 1952 | Began experimenting with tape music |
| 1953-1960 | Took part in Bennington Composers' Conference |
| 1957 | Received Master of Arts in Composition from Columbia University Studied with Otto Luening and Jack Beeson |
| 1957-1958 | Editor of the American Composers Alliance |
| 1961 | Founded American Theatre for Poets with Diane Di Prima, Amiri Baraka, James Waring, and Alan Marlowe |
| 1961, Aug. 18 | Paul Taylor's Insects and Heroes premièred |
| 1962-1968 | Provided film music for collaboration with Brian De Palma |
| 1962 | Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship in composition Began collaborating with other artists at Judson Memorial Church |
| 1963 | McDowell's first noteworthy choreographic work, First act finale, premièred |
| 1963, Aug. 25 | James Waring and Diane di Prima's Poet's vaudeville premièred |
| 1965 | Oklahoma danger remark, collaboration between Arthur Williams, James Waring, Joanna Vischer, Joanna Schielke, and John Herbert McDowell, premièred |
| 1966 | Lyra Davidica premièred at Judson Memorial Church |
| 1968 | Founded New Gaiety American Operetta Theatre with James Waring and Arthur Williams |
| 1969 | Taught classes in sound-movement experiments with the professional workshop of La Mama |
| 1970s | Music director for Paul Taylor, Cliff Keuter, Elina Mooney, and others |
| 1971 | Tumescent lingam premièred Michael Smith's A Dog's Love premièred |
| 1973-1977 | Became music auditor for New York State Council of the Arts Taught at New School for Social Research |
| 1974 | Cliff Keuter's Christmas story premièred |
| 1977 | Taught at Gulbenkian Foundation's National Choreographic Summer School |
| 1978 | Taught choreographic seminar at York University |
| 1985, Sept. 3 | Died, Scarsdale, NY |