Merce Cunningham
1919 – 2009

Merce Cunningham

American dancer and choreographer (1919–2009)

dancerdraftspersonchoreographerballet dancermusician
Born
1919-04-16, Centralia
Died
2009-07-26
Birthplace state
Washington

Biography

Merce Cunningham was born in Centralia, Washington, in 1919 and died in 2009. He worked as a dancer, choreographer, and musician, and frequently collaborated with composers including John Cage and David Tudor, and with visual artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. His collaborations with these artists extended across dance, music, and the visual arts.

Occupation

Merce Cunningham is recorded as a dancer, a draftsperson, a choreographer, a ballet dancer, a musician, a author and a conductor, born in Washington (1919–2009).

Connections to Washington

Merce Cunningham was born in Centralia, Washington in 1919. Explore other notable figures from Washington, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Washington›Washingtonhistory ›Historic sites in Washington›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Centralia

Merce Cunningham came from Centralia. A full Aubrey report on Centralia pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Centralia report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Washington

Other historical figures born in Washington, ranked by historical prominence.

Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
American guitarist (1942–1970)
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
American rock musician (1967–1994)
Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
American singer and actor (1903–1977)
Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell
American musician (1964–2017)
George Stigler
American economist (1911–1991)
Robert Lucas
Robert Lucas
American economist (1937–2023)
George H. Hitchings
George H. Hitchings
Nobel Prize-winning American physician

Frequently asked about Merce Cunningham

Who was Merce Cunningham?
Merce Cunningham was American dancer and choreographer (1919–2009), born in Washington (1919 – 2009).
When and where was Merce Cunningham born?
Merce Cunningham was born on 1919-04-16 in Centralia.
When did Merce Cunningham die?
Merce died on 2009-07-26.
What was Merce Cunningham known for?
Merce Cunningham is recorded as a dancer, a draftsperson, a choreographer, a ballet dancer, a musician, a author and a conductor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report