William Habich papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 1973_452-UA
The William Habich Papers include records on two prominent arts organizations: Louisville Dance Council and the Louisville Theatrical Association. The Louisville Dance Council boxes include business records from 1940s and 1950s as well as programs from the 1960s and 1970s. There are also photographs of the Louisville Civic Ballet Company: posed shots, images taken during performances and rehearsals, and photographs made during social events. The Louisville Theatrical Association records cover Habich’s tenure as executive director in the 1960s and 1970s. The Louisville Theatrical Association records include extensive information on individual Broadway productions that they brought to Louisville, from contracts to publicity information to tear sheets and reviews to financial information.
16.25 linear feet (13 boxes)
William Habich was born in Louisville, KY in 1908. He graduated from St. Xavier High School and worked in the advertising department of Standard Oil for thirty-four years. During this time, Mr. Habich spent much of his free time volunteering for endeavors to improve the performing arts community of Louisville. He helped found the Louisville Ballet (the performing "arm" of the Louisville Dance Council) in 1949 and also is known as the founder of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association. Mr. Habich served as the first president of the Association of American Dance Companies as well as executive director of the Louisville Theatrical Association. He was also a frequent writer/reviewer for the Courier-Journal and Dance Magazine. Late in his life, Mr. Habich worked as the manager for the Macauley Theatre where he spent much of his time booking programs. William Habich died on July 7, 1980 and was survived by his wife, Anne.
This collection was re-processed in 2017. At that time, there were folders for each year's correspondence in the Louisville Dance Council portion of the collection. However, the folder for 1949 was empty, and was thus discarded.
Part of the University of Louisville Archives and Special Collections Repository