Historic Scenic Collection, 1865-2012 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Historic Scenic Collection, 1865-2012

ID: RBSC/SPX/012

Extent: 250.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement:

Series I: Production Notebooks, Series II: Blueprints, Series III: Floorplans, Series IV: Photographs, Series V: Illustrations, Series VI: Programs, Series VII: Libretto, Series VIII: Scripts, Series IX: Correspondence, Series X: Timesheets, Series XI: Accounts, Series XII: Expense Reports, Series XIII: Purchase Orders, Series XIV: Material Orders, Series XV: Receipts, Series XVI: Property Lists, Series XVII: Inventory, Series XVIII: Reference Material, and Series XIX: Miscellaneous.

A copy of the old finding aid is located in Series I, Box 1 and it provides details of the orginal inventory made for the collection. When the collection was fully processed this inventory was adapted and used in the current finding aid which includes how some series were arranged.

Languages: English, French, German, Italian

Abstract

The Historic Scenic Collection contains intriguing documentation, photos, blueprints, and advertisements of the Chicago Opera dating back to the early 1900s. This collection is 250 linear feet that spans an entire century of theatre performances. Some of the highlights are production photos of scenes and play actors, blueprints of the sets and stages, and old-time programs that were handed out to avid theatre goers.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists of printed paper-based materials, photographs, books, correspondence, illustrations, and blueprints that relate directly to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This collection is divided into series based upon format. Series I is composed of production notebooks; Series II and III are Blueprints and Floorplans respectively (which are currently still being processed). Series IV consists of photographs; Series V is Illustrations of sets, stage design, and costumes; Series VI consists of Programs that describe the opera acts and story; Series VII is Libretto (which are the texts of the opera, translated from their original language into English). Series VIII is Scripts; Series IX is Correspondence; Series X consists of Timesheets, which are further broken down into Timesheet subseries of Anuual Tours, Rehearsal Timesheets, and Performance Timesheets. Series XI is Accounts; Series XII Expense Reports; Series XIII is Purchase Orders; Series XIV is Material Orders; Series XV is Receipts; Series XVI is Property Lists; and Series XVII is Inventory. Series XVIII is Reference Material that includes books (some of these books have call numbers listed that can be found in our online catalogue). Lastly, Series XIX is Miscellaneous material.

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Access Restrictions: no restrictions

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I: Production Notebooks],
[Series II: Blueprints],
[Series III: Floorplans],
[Series IV: Photographs],
[Series V: Illustrations],
[Series VI: Programs],
[Series VII: Libretto],
[Series X: Timesheets],
[Series VIII: Scripts],
[Series IX: Correspondence],
[Series XI: Accounts],
[Series XII: Expense Reports],
[Series XIII: Purchase and Work Orders],
[Series XIV: Material Orders],
[Series XV: Receipts],
[Series XVI: Property Lists],
[Series XVII: Inventory],
[Series XVIII: Reference Material],
[Series XIX: Miscellaneous],
[All]

Series VI: Programs

Box 1

Folder 1: L'Africana [4 programs], Nov 23, 1923 - Jan 28, 1924
Folder 2: Aida [7 programs], Dec 15, 1923 - 1925
Folder 3: Aida [11 programs], Jan 2, 1925 - 1929
Folder 4: Aida [12 programs], 1928 - Mar 1929
Folder 5: Aida [7 programs], Mar 1928 - Nov 1928
Folder 6: Aida [41 programs], 1931 - 1995, no date
Folder 7: Alceste [1 program], 1990 - 1991

Box 2

Folder 1: Amistad [1 program], 1997 - 1998
Folder 2: El Amor Brujo [1 program], 1969
Folder 3: L'Amore Dei Tre Re [The Love of Three Kings] [15 programs], 1928 - 1930, no date
Folder 4: Andrea Chenier [4 programs], Dec 6, 1923, 1996
Folder 5: Anna Bolena [1 program], 1985 - 1986
Folder 6: Antony and Cleopatra [1 program], 1991 - 1992
Folder 7: Arabella [1 program], 1984
Folder 8: The Ardis Krainik Celebration Gala [1 program], Oct 13, 1996
Folder 9: Ariadne Auf Naxos [3 programs], 1964, 1981
Folder 10: Attila [1 program], 1980
Folder 11: Un Ballo In Maschera [4 programs], 1968, 1972, 1976
Folder 12: Un Ballo In Maschera [3 programs], 1980, 1986 - 87, 1992 - 93

Box 3

Folder 1: Barber of Seville [7 programs], Jan 5-6, 1928, 1931 - 1932, 1956, 1958, 1989 - 1990, 1994 - 1995
Folder 2: Barber of Seville [31 programs], Dec 21, 1923 - Dec 28, 1928, no date
Folder 3: IL Barbiere Di Siviglia [Barber of Seville] [4 programs], 1958, 1971, 1984
Folder 4: The Bartered Bride [1 program], 1992 - 1993
Folder 5: Billy Budd [1 program], 1970
Folder 6: Bluebeard's Castle [1 program], 1970
Folder 7: La Boheme [6 programs], 1925 - 1929
Folder 8: La Boheme [9 programs], 1928 - 1965
Folder 9: La Boheme [3 programs], 1972, 1973, 1983

Box 4

Folder 1: La Boheme [31 programs], 1986 - 1987, 1992 - 1993, 1997 - 1998, no date
Folder 2: Boris Godunoff [10 programs], Jan 22, 1924 - Jan 24, 1925
Folder 3: Boris Godunoff [10 programs], Jan 28, 1925 - 1927, Nov - Jan 1928 - 29, 1931 - 1932
Folder 4: Boris Godunoff [18 programs], 1966, 1980, 1994, no date
Folder 5: I Capileti EI Montecchi [1 program], 1985 - 1986
Folder 6: Carmen [8 programs], Nov 30, 1923 -Feb 8, 1927
Folder 7: Carmen [8 programs], Oct 31, 1928 - 29, Jan 11, 1928 - 29

Box 5

Folder 1: Carmen [49 programs], Feb 22 - 23, 1929 - 1931-32, 1964, 1973, 1984, 1990-91, no date
Folder 2: Carmina Burana [1 program], 1965
Folder 3: Candide [1 program], 1994 - 1995
Folder 4: Capriccio [1 program], 1994 - 1995
Folder 5: Cavalleria Rusticana [15 programs], Dec 22, 1923 - Jan 10, 1924, 1927 - 1928, 1928 - 1929
Folder 6: Cavalleria Rusticana [29 programs], 1928 - 1929, 1931, 1966, 1978, no date
Folder 7: La Cenerentola [Cinderella] [2 programs], 1976, 1983
Folder 8: La Cena delle Beffe [12 programs], no date
Folder 9: Le Cid [1 program], 1992 - 1993
Folder 10: Chicago Symphony Orchestra [1 program], 1931 - 1932
Folder 11: La Clemenza Di Tito [1 program], 1989 - 1990
Folder 12: Cleopatre [5 programs], Dec 28, 1923 - Mar 19, 1924
Folder 13: The Consul [1 program], 1996 - 1997

Box 6

Folder 1: Les Contes d'Hoffmann [2 programs], 1976, 1982
Folder 2: Cosi Fan Tutte [Thus Do They All or The School for Lovers] [4 programs], 1972, 1982, 1987-88, 1993-94
Folder 3: Daughter of the Regiment [8 programs], no date
Folder 4: Diavolo [1 program], 1924 - 1925
Folder 5: Dinorah [3 programs], 1923 -1924
Folder 6: Don Carlo [3 programs], 1971, 1989-90, 1996-97
Folder 7: Don Giovanni [5 programs], 1927, 1928 - 1929, 1956, 1980
Folder 8: Don Giovanni [11 programs], 1988 - 1989, 1995 - 1996, no date
Folder 9: Don Pasquale [4 programs], 1928 - 1929, 1963, 1968, 1974
Folder 10: Don Pasquale [4 programs], 1978, 1995 - 1996, no date
Folder 11: Don Quichotte [3 programs], 1974, 1981, 1993 - 1994
Folder 12: I Due Foscari [1 program], 1972

Box 7

Folder 1: Elektra [2 programs], 1975, 1992-93
Folder 2: L'Elisir d'Amore [21 programs], 1928 - 1929, 1962, 1977, 1981, 1991-92, no date
Folder 3: Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail [1 program], 1984
Folder 4: Ernani [1 program], 1984
Folder 5: Eugene Onegin [2 programs], 1984, 1990-91
Folder 6: Falstaff [8 programs], 1967-68, 1974, 1988-89, no date
Folder 7: La Fanciulla Del West [2 programs], 1978, 1990-91
Folder 8: Faust [8 programs], Feb 1924 - Dec 1928-29
Folder 9: Faust [29 programs], 1929, 1987-88, 1995-96, no date
Folder 10: La Favorita [1 program], 1974
Folder 11: Fedora [1 program], 1994 - 1995

Box 8

Folder 1: Fidelio [2 programs], 1975, 1981
Folder 2: Figaro [3 programs], 1928 - 1929
Folder 3: La Fille Du Regiment [1 program], 1973
Folder 4: Die Fledermaus [6 programs], 1989 - 1990, no date
Folder 5: Der Fliegende Hollander [2 programs], 1969, 1983
Folder 6: Forza Del Destino [3 programs], Dec 1923, Jan 1924, 1987-88
Folder 7: Die Frau Ohne Schatten [1 program], 1984
Folder 8: Gala Performance [5 programs], 1923 -1924, 1924 - 1925, 1933 - 1934, 1979
Folder 9: The Gambler [1 program], 1991 - 1992
Folder 10: The Ghosts of Versailles [1 program], 1995 - 1996
Folder 11: Gianni Schicchi [9 programs], 1926 - 1927, no date
Folder 12: La Giaconda [23 programs], 1924 - 1925, 1928, 1930, 1986 - 1987, no date
Folder 13: Gioielli [3 programs], 1924 - 1925, 1926 - 1927
Folder 14: Gotterdammerung [2 programs], 1974, 1995 - 1996
Folder 15: Gounod's Faust [1 program], 1929

Box 9

Folder 1: Hamlet [1 program], 1989 - 1990
Folder 2: Hansel and Gretel [10 programs], 1923 - 1924, 1924 - 1925, no date
Folder 3: Idomeneo [2 programs], 1977, 1997 - 1998
Folder 4: Italian Earthquake Relief Benefit Concert [1 program], Dec 7, 1980
Folder 5: L'Italiana in Algeri [2 programs], 1970, 1987 - 1988
Folder 6: Jewels of the Madonna [21 programs], 1927 - 1928, no date
Folder 7: The Jewess [26 programs], 1923 - 1924, 1924 - 1925, 1928 - 1929, no date
Folder 8: Jongleur De Notre Dame [Juggler of Notre Dame] [9 programs], Jan 1924 - Dec 1924, 1930, no date
Folder 9: Jooss European Ballet [1 program], 1937 - 1938
Folder 10: Katya Kabanova [1 program], 1986 - 1987
Folder 11: Khovanshchina [2 programs], 1969, 1976
Folder 12: Koenigskinder [1 program], Jan 1924
Folder 13: La Cena [1 program], 1926 - 1927
Folder 14: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk [1 program], 1983
Folder 15: Lakme [14 programs], 1923 - 1925, 1928 - 1929, 1983, no date

Box 10

Folder 1: Linda di Chamounix [4 programs], no date
Folder 2: Lodovico Oliviero [1 program], 1925
Folder 3: Lohengrin [15 programs], 1927 - 1929
Folder 4: Lohengrin [19 programs], 1928 - 1929, 1930 - 1932, 1980, no date
Folder 5: Loreley [8 programs], 1918 - 1919, no date
Folder 6: Louise [15 programs], 1923 - 1925, no date
Folder 7: The Love for Three Oranges [2 programs], 1976
Folder 8: Luica Di Lammermoor [7 programs], 1918 - 1919, 1924 - 1927
Folder 9: Luica Di Lammermoor [9 programs], 1930, 1931, 1970

Box 11

Folder 1: Luica Di Lammermoor [19 programs], 1975, 1986 - 1987, 1990 - 1991, no date
Folder 2: Luisa Miller [1 program], 1982
Folder 3: Lulu [1 program], 1987 - 1988
Folder 4: Macbeth [1 program], 1981
Folder 5: Madame Butterfly [8 programs], 1916 -1917, 1924 - 1925, 1928 - 1929, 1930 - 1932
Folder 6: Madame Butterfly [9 programs], 1960, 1962, 1970, 1974
Folder 7: Madame Butterfly [21 programs], 1978, 1982, 1985 - 1986, 1991 - 1992, 1997 - 1998, no date
Folder 8: The Magic Flute [2 programs], 1931 - 1932, 1986
Folder 9: The Makropulos Affair [1 program], 1995 - 1996
Folder 10: Manon [4 programs], 1923 - 1924, 1973, 1983
Folder 11: Manon Lescaut [2 progams], 1968, 1977
Folder 12: Maria Stuarda [1 program], 1973

Box 12

Folder 1: The Marriage of Figaro [1 program], 1997 - 1998
Folder 2: The Marriage of Figaro [5 programs], no date
Folder 3: Martha [27 programs], 1922 - 1925, no date
Folder 4: Masked Ball [12 programs], 1927 - 1929, no date
Folder 5: McTeague [1 program], 1992 - 1993
Folder 6: Mefistofele [5 programs], 1923 - 1924
Folder 7: Mefistofele [6 programs], 1925, 1991 - 1992
Folder 8: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg [3 programs], 1931 - 1932, 1977, 1985 - 1986
Folder 9: The Merry Widow [2 programs], 1981, 1986 - 1987
Folder 10: A Midsummer Night's Dream [1 program], 1954
Folder 11: The Mikado [1 program], 1983
Folder 12: Mignon [1 program], 1931 - 1932
Folder 13: Monna Vanna [9 programs], 1921 - 1924, no date
Folder 14: Nabucco [1 program], 1997 - 1998
Folder 15: Norma [10 programs], 1928 - 1929, 1954, 1968, 1996 - 1997, no date

Box 13

Folder 1: Le Nozze Di Figaro [3 programs], 1962, 1975
Folder 2: Le Nozze Di Figaro [2 programs], 1987 - 1988, 1991 - 1992
Folder 3: The Nutcracker [1 progam], 1967
Folder 4: Orfeo ed Euridice [3 programs], 1962, 1975, 1977
Folder 5: Orlando [1 program], 1986 - 1987
Folder 6: Othello [8 programs], 1923 - 1929
Folder 7: Othello [25 programs], 1963, 1975, 1985 - 1986, 1992, no date
Folder 8: I Pagliacci Cavalleria [3 programs], 1924 - 1925, 1926 - 1927, 1982
Folder 9: Paradise Lost [2 programs], 1978
Folder 10: Parsifal [3 programs], 1931 - 1932, 1986 - 1987
Folder 11: The Pearl Fishers [1 program], 1997 -1998

Box 14

Folder 1: Pelleas Et Melisande [12 programs], 1924 - 1929, 1972, 1992 - 1993, no date
Folder 2: Pescatori [4 programs], Nov 1924 - Dec 1924
Folder 3: Peter Grimes [3 programs], 1974, 1977, 1997 - 1998
Folder 4: Prophete [1 program], 1924 - 1925
Folder 5: I Puritani [1 program], 1991 - 1992
Folder 6: The Rake's Progress [1 program], 1994 - 1995
Folder 7: Un Re In Ascolto [A King Listens] [1 program], 1996 - 1997
Folder 8: Resurrection [20 programs], 1927 - 1928, no date
Folder 9: Das Rheingold [3 programs], 1971, 1992 - 1993, 1995 - 1996
Folder 10: Rigoletto [7 programs], 1923 - 1925
Folder 11: Rigoletto [9 programs], 1927 -1929, 1931 - 1932, 1940, 1971

Box 15

Folder 1: Rigoletto [29 programs], 1976, 1990 - 1991, no date
Folder 2: Rinaldo [1 program], 1984
Folder 3: Romeo and Juliet [18 programs], 1923 - 1925, 1928 - 1929, 1981, no date
Folder 4: La Rondine [1 program], 1985 - 1986
Folder 5: Der Rosenkavalier [18 programs], 1928 - 1929, 1931, 1970, 1973, 1989 - 1990, no date
Folder 6: Salome [5 programs], 1921 - 1922, 1971, 1978, 1988 - 1989, 1996 - 1997
Folder 7: Sampson and Delilah [7 programs], 1924 - 1925, 1928 - 1929
Folder 8: Sampson and Delilah [23 programs], 1931 - 1932, 1981, 1985 - 1986, 1989 - 1990, no date

Box 16

Folder 1: Sapho [10 programs], 1928 - 1929, no date
Folder 2: Satyagraha [1 program], 1987 -1988
Folder 3: Semiramide [1 program], 1971
Folder 4: Siegfried [3 programs], 1924, 1994 - 1996
Folder 5: Simon Boocanegra [4 programs], 1974, 1979, 1995 - 1996
Folder 6: Snow Maiden [12 programs], 1923 - 1924, 1928, no date
Folder 7: La Sonnambula [9 programs], 1924, 1988 - 1989, no date
Folder 8: Susannah [1 program], 1993 - 1994
Folder 9: Tales of Hoffman [13 programs], 1925, 1928 - 1929, 1942, no date
Folder 10: Tancredi [1 program], 1988 - 1989
Folder 11: Tannhauser [24 programs], 1924 - 1925, 1928 - 1929, 1930, 1988 - 1989, no date

Box 17

Folder 1: Thais [7 programs], 1918 - 1919, 1923 - 1924
Folder 2: Thais [23 programs], 1928 -1930, no date
Folder 3: Three Kings [3 programs], 1924 - 1925
Folder 4: Tiefland [9 programs], no date
Folder 5: Tosca [9 programs], 1918 - 1919, 1921 - 1925, 1928 - 1929, 1931 - 1932
Folder 6: Tosca [7 programs], 1971, 1973, 1976, 1982, 1987 - 1988
Folder 7: Tosca [20 programs], 1989, 1993 - 1994, no date
Folder 8: La Traviata [7 programs], 1923 - 1925

Box 18

Folder 1: La Traviata [10 programs], 1927 - 1930, 1942, 1970, 1972, 1975
Folder 2: La Traviata [38 programs], 1985 - 1986, 1988 - 1989, 1993 - 1994, no date
Folder 3: Tristan Und Isolde [6 programs], 1926 - 1927, 1931 - 1932, 1982
Folder 4: IL Trittico [1 program], 1996 - 1997
Folder 5: IL Trovatore [43 programs], 1923 - 1925, 1927 - 1930, 1987, 1993 - 1994, no date
Folder 6: Turandot [4 programs], 1935, 1970, 1991 - 1992, 1996 - 1997
Folder 7: The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe [1 program], 1990 - 1991

Box 19

Folder 1: Die Walkure [6 programs], 1928 - 1929, 1930
Folder 2: Die Walkure [20 programs], 1931, 1972, 1993 - 1994, 1995 - 1996, no date
Folder 3: Werther [5 programs], 1924 - 1925, 1971, 1978
Folder 4: A Witch of Salem [7 programs], no date
Folder 5: Wozzeck [2 programs], 1972, 1993 - 1994
Folder 6: Xerxes [1 program], 1995 - 1996
Folder 7: Die Zauberflote [3 programs], 1986 - 1987, 1990 - 1991, 1996 - 1997
Folder 8: Program Department Booklet [1 program], seasons 1927 - 1928
Folder 9: Various [33 tour pamphlets], 1924 - 1929
Folder 10: Various [36 tour pamphlets], 1930

Box 20

Folder 1: Chicago City Opera Company [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1935
Folder 2: Chicago City Opera Company [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1936 - 1937
Folder 3: Chicago Theatres [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1933
Folder 4: College Theatre in Chicago [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], Nov 23, 1908
Folder 5: Harris Theatre in Chicago [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], Feb 4, 1935 - Feb 19, 1935
Folder 6: Illinois Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1904 - 1905
Folder 7: Illinois Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1904 - 1905
Folder 8: Illinois Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1906 - 1907
Folder 9: Illinois Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1906 - 1907
Folder 10: Illinois Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1906 - 1907
Folder 11: National Theatret [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1899
Folder 12: Powers' Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1902 - 1903
Folder 13: Powers' New Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1904 - 1905
Folder 14: Powers' Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1906 - 1907
Folder 15: Powers' Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1906 - 1907
Folder 16: Powers' Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], 1907 - 1908
Folder 17: Powers' Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], no date
Folder 18: Wyndham's Theatre [Miscellaneous Theatre Program], no date
Folder 19: Grand opera season 1916-17, 1916-1917: missing: 5/9/2019
Folder 20: Grand opera season 1921-22, 1921-1922
Folder 21: Chicago Civic Opera Company, Public Auditorium, Cleveland, February 11-14, 1924
Folder 22: Grand opera season, the Cleveland Civic Music Association presents the Chicago Civic Opera Company, Public Auditorium, Cleveland, February 19-21, 1925

Oversized Folder 1

Item 1: Various Theatres [Broadsides] [programs], various dates

Oversized Folder 2

Item 1: Chicago Civic Opera Company [Broadsides] [programs], 1930 - 1931

Volume 1-16: Bound Programs

Item 1: Bound book of programs [season 1917 - 1918], Dec 18, 1917 - Jan 20, 1918
Item 2: Bound book of programs [season 1919 - 1920], Nov 18, 1919 - Dec 24, 1920
Item 3: Bound book of programs [season 1925 - 1926], Nov 3, 1925 - Dec 13, 1925
Item 4: Bound book of programs [season 1925 - 1926], Dec 14, 1925 - Jan 24, 1926
Item 5: Bound book of programs [season 1926 - 1927], Nov 8 - Dec 19
Item 6: Bound book of programs [season 1926 - 1927], Dec 20 - Jan 30
Item 7: Bound book of programs [season 1927 - 1928, Nov 3 - Dec 17, 1927
Item 8: Bound book of programs [season 1927 - 1928], Dec 18, 1927 - Jan 28, 1928
Item 9: Bound book of programs [season 1928 - 1929], Oct 31 - Dec 15, 1928
Item 10: Bound book of programs [season 1928 - 1929], Dec 16, 1928 - Jan 27, 1929
Item 11: Bound book of programs [season 1929 - 1930], Nov 4 - Dec 21, 1929
Item 12: Bound book of programs [season 1929 - 1930], Nov 4 - Dec 21, 1929
Item 13: Bound book of programs [season 1929 - 1930], Dec 22, 1929 - Feb 1, 1930
Item 14: Bound book of programs [season 1929 - 1930], Dec 22, 1929 - Feb 1, 1930
Item 15: Bound book of programs [season 1930 - 1931], Oct 27 - Dec 7, 1930
Item 16: Bound book of programs [season 1930 - 1931], Dec 8 - Jan 25, 1931