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 XVII: Inventory

Box 1

Folder 1: Mens Wardrobe, July 31, 1914
Folder 2: Ladies Wardrobe, July 31, 1914
Folder 3: Materials in stock room and at Jefferson Street Carpenter shop, May 1, 1921
Folder 4: Armor Department, July 7, 1921
Folder 5: Wardrobe, Property, Electric, Scenic, and Armor Departments, House Staff and Jefferson Street, Dec 17, 1921
Folder 6: Stage Crew, Dec 19, 1921
Folder 7: Costumes and Ravina Park Electrical equipment and properties furnished, 1922
Folder 8: Electrical Department, Apr 1922
Folder 9: Property Department, Apr 1922
Folder 10: Electrical Department, Apr 1922
Folder 11: Carpenter Department, Apr 1922
Folder 12: Armor Department, Apr 8, 1922
Folder 13: Scenic Department, Apr 29, 1922
Folder 14: Scenic Department, Apr 29, 1922
Folder 15: Electrical Department, May 1, 1922
Folder 16: Stock on hand, Mar 28, 1927
Folder 17: Properties Department, Apr 2, 1927
Folder 18: Boston List [Record][while performing in Boston], 1930
Folder 19: Electric Motors, May 21, 1930
Folder 20: Boston List [Property department|office copy|while performing in Boston], 1931
Folder 21: Dead room, Dry room, North & East walls of Prop room, and Noth wall of Prop Stowage, July 1931
Folder 22: Stage Dimensions [Auditorium Theatre|Chicago], no date
Folder 23: Mens Wardrobe, no date
Folder 24: Ladies Wardrobe, no date
Folder 25: Ladies Wardrobe, no date
Folder 26: Armor Department, no date
Folder 27: Scenery belonging to Auditorium Theatre, no date
Folder 28: Supers required, no date
Folder 29: Scenic Department, no date

Oversized Folder 1: Electric Department, no date