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 XVI: Property Lists

Box 1

Folder 1: Finding lists of furniture, ground cloths, carpenter boxes, and 1916 box symbols, July 1928
Folder 2: Furniture Inventory, July 1931
Folder 3: Inventory of armor, parts, and fittings [imported from Germany], Jan 1928
Folder 4: Inventory of properties of Mrs. Insull's productions, As of Oct 23, 1929
Folder 5: Aida [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 6: Aida [property plot], Apr 1930
Folder 7: L'Africana [property plot], 1928
Folder 8: Andrea Chenier [property plot], 1928
Folder 9: Barber of Seville [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 10: Barber of Seville [property plot], 1930
Folder 11: La Boheme [property plot], 1926
Folder 12: Boris Godunoff [property plot], 1928
Folder 13: Carmen [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 14: Carmen [property plot], 1930
Folder 15: La Cena Delle Beffe [The Jester's Supper] [property plot], 1927
Folder 16: Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci [property plot], 1928
Folder 17: Le Chemineau [property plot], 1928
Folder 18: Conchita [property plot], 1930
Folder 19: Daughter of the Regiment [property plot], 1927
Folder 20: Dinorah [property plot], 1928
Folder 21: Don Giovanni [property plot], 1930
Folder 22: Don Pasquale [property plot for theatre office], 1929
Folder 23: Don Pasquale [property plot], 1930
Folder 24: Don Quixote [property plot for theatre office], 1929
Folder 25: Don Quixote [property plot], 1930
Folder 26: L'Elisir di Amore [property plot], 1928
Folder 27: Falstaff [property plot], 1930
Folder 28: Faust [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 29: Faust [property plot], 1930
Folder 30: Fedora [property plot], 1928
Folder 31: Fidelio [property plot for theatre office], 1930
Folder 32: Fidelio [property plot], 1930
Folder 33: Figaro [property plot], 1928
Folder 34: Die Fledermaus [property plot], 1928
Folder 35: La Forza del Destino [property plot for theatre office], 1929
Folder 36: La Forza del Destino [property plot], 1930
Folder 37: Fra Diavolo [property plot], 1928
Folder 38: Gianni Schicchi [property plot], 1928
Folder 39: La Giaconda [property plot], 1930
Folder 40: Hansel and Gretel [property plot], 1928
Folder 41: Herodiade [property plot], 1928
Folder 42: Herodiade [property plot for theatre office], 1931 - 1932
Folder 43: Iris [property plot for theatre office], 1929
Folder 44: Iris [property plot], 1930
Folder 45: Jewels of the Madonna [property plot], 1930
Folder 46: The Jewess [property plot], 1930
Folder 47: Le Jongleur de Notre Dame [property plot], 1930
Folder 48: The Lake of the Swans [property plot], 1930
Folder 49: Lakme [property plot], 1928

Box 2

Folder 1: Linda de Chamounix [property plot], 1930
Folder 2: Lohengrin [property plot], 1930
Folder 3: Loreley [property plot], 1927
Folder 4: Louise [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 5: Louise [property plot], 1930
Folder 6: The Love of Three Kings [property plot], 1930
Folder 7: Lucia [property plot], 1930
Folder 8: Madame Butterfly [property plot], 1930
Folder 9: Madame Butterfly [property plot], no date
Folder 10: Magic Flute [property plot for theatre office], 1931
Folder 11: Manon Lescaut [property plot], 1928
Folder 12: Martha [property plot], 1928
Folder 13: Martha [property plot for theatre office], 1930 - 1931
Folder 14: Masked Ball [property plot], 1928
Folder 15: Mefistofele [property plot], 1928
Folder 16: Mignon [property plot], 1928
Folder 17: Mona Lisa [property plot for theatre office], 1931
Folder 18: Monna Vanna [property plot], 1930
Folder 19: Norma [property plot for theatre office], 1929
Folder 20: Norma [property plot], 1930
Folder 21: L'Oracolo [property plot for theatre office], 1931
Folder 22: Otello [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 23: Otello [property plot], 1930
Folder 24: Parsifal [property plot], 1928
Folder 25: Pearl Fishers [property plot], 1928
Folder 26: Pelleas et Melisande [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 27: Pelleas et Melisande [property plot], 1930
Folder 28: Prince Igor [property plot for theatre office], 1931
Folder 29: Le Prophete|The Prophet [property plot], 1928
Folder 30: Resurrection [property plot], 1930
Folder 31: Rigoletto [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 32: Rigoletto [property plot], 1930
Folder 33: Romeo and Juliet [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 34: Romeo and Juliet [property plot], 1930
Folder 35: Der Rosenkavalier|The Knight of the Rose [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 36: Der Rosenkavalier|The Knight of the Rose [property plot], 1930
Folder 37: Salome [property plot], 1928
Folder 38: Samson and Delilah [property plot], 1928
Folder 39: Sapho [property plot], 1928
Folder 40: Siegfried [property plot], 1928
Folder 41: La Sonnambula [property plot], 1928
Folder 42: Snow Maiden [property plot], 1928
Folder 43: Suor Angelica [property plot], 1928
Folder 44: IL Tabarro [property plot], 1928
Folder 45: Tales of Hoffman [property plot], 1928
Folder 46: Tannhauser [property plot], 1930
Folder 47: Thais [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 48: Thais [property plot], 1930
Folder 49: Three Kings [The Love of Three Kings] [property plot for theatre office], 1928

Box 3

Folder 1: Tiefland [property plot], 1930
Folder 2: Tosca [property plot], 1930
Folder 3: La Traviata [property plot], 1930
Folder 4: Tristan and Isolde [property plot], 1930
Folder 5: IL Trovatore [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 6: IL Trovatore [property plot], 1930
Folder 7: Die Walkure|The Valkyries [property plot for theatre office], 1928
Folder 8: Die Walkure|The Valkyries [property plot], 1930
Folder 9: Werther [property plot], 1928
Folder 10: Witch of Salem [property plot], 1930
Folder 11: Drops stored in the drop racks at the Civic Opera House, June 4, 1930
Folder 12: Musical instruments [property of the Chicago Civic Opera Company], no date