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 IX: Correspondence

Box 1

Folder 1: Beatty correspondence, 1916 - 1931
Folder 2: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1922 - 1930
Folder 3: Sound Engineering correspondence, 1922 - 1931
Folder 4: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1922 - 1963
Folder 5: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1923
Folder 6: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1923 - 1929
Folder 7: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1923 - 1930
Folder 8: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1923 - 1930
Folder 9: Electrical Lighting Companies correspondence, 1923 - 1930
Folder 10: Miscellaneous correspondence telegrams and stage dimensions, 1924, 1928
Folder 11: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1924 - 1931
Folder 12: Studio and storage building addition correspondence [located 26th and Dearborn], Nov 1925
Folder 13: Security Companies correspondence, 1925, 1928 - 1929
Folder 14: Stage Effects correspondence, 1925
Folder 15: Unions correspondence, 1925
Folder 16: Furniture Property correspondence, 1925
Folder 17: Metal Mlg correspondence, 1925 - 1926
Folder 18: General correspondence [pertaining to Chicago Opera Co. and operas], 1925 - 1926, 1930
Folder 19: Travel correspondence, 1925 - 1928
Folder 20: Carpentry correspondence, 1925 - 1928
Folder 21: Metal Companies correspondence, 1925 - 1930
Folder 22: Machine Companies correspondence, 1925 - 1930
Folder 23: Machinery [tools] Companies correspondence, 1925 - 1930
Folder 24: Stanley Field correspondence, 1925 - 1931
Folder 25: Architectural correspondence, 1926 - 1931
Folder 26: Theatrical Supply Companies correspondence, 1926 - 1931
Folder 27: Milwaukee, Wisconsin [scenery and other] correspondence, 1928 - 1931
Folder 28: R.D. Gallagher Orchestra Equipment correspondence, 1929
Folder 29: Marshall Field and Co. correspondence, 1929 - 1931
Folder 30: Scenery correspondence, 1930
Folder 31: Invitation to Mr. H.W. Beatty to the Indiana Society of Chicago, 1930 - 1931
Folder 32: Pique Dame [Queen of Spades] correspondence to Mr. Beatty regarding costumes, sketches, acts, and scenes, Aug 26, 1931
Folder 33: Transportation and baggage correspondence, 1931
Folder 34: General Business correspondence, 1976