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Myra Wykes Rigor Selvadurai papers and artifacts

 Collection 0106-SCPA

Myra Wykes Rigor Selvadurai (1936-2012) was a performer, researcher, art therapist and Fulbright Scholar specializing in the indigenous artistic forms of Sri Lanka. The collection consists of books, posters, postcards, statues, masks, instruments, costumes, and jewelry from her time in Sri Lanka.

Dates

  • 1959-2012
  • Majority of material found within 1965-1970

Use and Access to Collection

There are no restricted files in this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact

Extent

7.75 Linear Feet

Scope and Content of Collection

The Myra Wykes Rigor Selvadurai papers and artifacts cover the period from 1959 to 2012; the bulk of the materials date from 1965 to 1970. The collection consists mainly of personal possessions; much of them relating to her time spent in Sri Lanka. This includes books, posters, postcards, statues, masks, instruments, costumes, and jewelry. The papers are arranged into series by the types of materials with almost the entirety of the contents being related, in some way, to Sri Lankan culture with the exception of the biographical materials.

Biography

Myra Wykes Rigor Selvadurai (1936-2012) was a performer, researcher, artist and Fulbright Scholar specializing in the indigenous artistic forms of Sri Lanka.

She was born in Haddon Heights, New Jersey and attended The University of Maryland, College Park where she obtained the first undergraduate degree majoring in dance. Furthering her studies, she also earned an MFA in Dance and Related Arts from The Women's College of the University of North Carolina in 1961.

A Fulbright Scholarship in 1965 took her to Sri Lanka where she was immersed in the local arts including dance, Batik weaving, and puppetry. She also undertook oil painting as well as art therapy work later in her life.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into five series.

  1. Biographical materials
  2. Instruments
  3. Books and posters
  4. Costumes and jewelry
  5. Statues and masks

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland in 2012 and transferred to Special Collections in Performing Arts. In July 2016, the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies transferred an original copy of Selvadurai’s MFA thesis.

Title
Myra Wykes Rigor Selvadurai papers and artifacts
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Sarah Lindblom, June 2012; updated 13 July 2016
Date
2012-06-01, 2016-07-13
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Library Details

Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
8270 Alumni Drive
College Park MD 20742 United States