MATERIALS USEFUL FOR RESEARCHERS IN THE PERFORMING
ARTS
An individual's creative, personal and family
materials
professional and personal correspondence to and from performers, managers, production staff, designers critics, playwrights, television and film personnel, and other colleagues in the performing arts as well as from/to family and friends; incoming correspondence and drafts, carbons, or copies of outgoing letters
diaries and journals giving a day-by-day view of the individual's ideas and activities, performances, productions, travels, exhibits
design work including ground plans, draftings, blueprints, elevations, sketchbooks, loose sketches, finished designs, maquette
material documenting the individual's work including scrapbooks, clippings, posters, and programs
visual and audio materials including photographs, slides, videotapes, films, audiotapes, and sound recordings of work as well as of the individual, family and friends
all writings or creative works (preferably from first draft to last) including plot summaries, treatments, notes, clean and annotated scripts, lectures, addresses, published or unpublished work, musical manuscripts, choreographic sketches and notations
teaching material including lecture notes, reports, comments
personal financial and legal papers including bills, receipts, lists, ledgers, contracts
Organizational and administrative records:
organizational papers such as charters, articles of incorporation, organizational charts, and any materials documenting the establishment and operation of the organization, minutes, internal and public reports, studies
correspondence including memos
personnel records
records of fund-raising activities
booking, touring, and appearance records
financial and legal materials including box office records, administrative financial records, contracts
promotional materials including posters, programs, news releases, press kits, publicity photographs
production records including director, stage manager, designer, producer and other production staff records, design work, notes
literary department or dramaturg records including scripts submitted for review, research
This list is intended to provide suggestions of the kinds of material which may be useful. Depending on the type of organization or the nature of an individual's interests and activities, many other kinds of material, including books, may be appropriate. If you have questions, please consult with the curator who will be happy to advise you.
Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee - November, 1986
