2020-09-01 Guide to the J. Donald Smith Collection on Theatre History, 1864-2025 SPEC.TRI.JDS Finding aid prepared by Zoe MacLeod; Nicole Miller Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2016 October; 2019 May

b80720481; catalog record only contains boxes, needs full catalog record

 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2025-09-23T09:25-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard J. Donald Smith Collection on Theatre History SPEC.TRI.JDS Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 4.672 Cubic feet 1864-2025 As of 2025, J. Donald Smith is a retired Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and a Gilbert and Sullivan and theatre collector. The J. Donald Smith Collection on Theatre History is comprised of late 19th through 21st century theatre production materials, particularly those related to Gilbert & Sullivan operas, including illustrated sheet music, and caricatures of people who had connections to the theatre. Also included are programs, postcards, cabinet cards, handbills, images of actors, and lobby cards. Materials date from 1864 to 2025. (5) flat boxes; (3) oversize folders; (3) 2.5" letter document boxes; (1) 2.5" legal document box; (1) 5" letter document box; (1) carton; (1) legal file folder; (1) oversize flat box English Smith, J. Donald (Professor of chemistry and biochemistry) Arrangement of Materials

The processed portion of the J. Donald Smith Collection on Theatre History is arranged in two series. The materials in these series are arranged alphabetically by title of the production, song, or person's name.

Series 1: Productions Series 2: People

Seven unprocessed additions (listed as Accession No. TRI.2016.0126, Accession No. TRI.2019.0040, Accession No. TRI.2019.0058, Accession No. TRI.2025.0035, Accession No. TRI.2025.0036, Accession No. TRI.2025.0037, and Accession No. TRI.2025.0038) follow the processed portion of the collection; the unprocessed additions are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. TRI.2016.0061: J. Donald Smith, 2016; Accession No. TRI.2016.0126: J. Donald Smith, 2016; Accession No. TRI.2019.0040: J. Donald Smith, 2019 April; Accession No. TRI.2019.0058: J. Donald Smith, 2020 January; Accession No. TRI.2025.0035: J. Donald Smith, 2021 May; Accession No. TRI.2025.0036: J. Donald Smith, 2021 November; Accession No. TRI.2025.0037: J. Donald Smith, 2023 July; Accession No. TRI.2025.0038: J. Donald Smith, 2025 April

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], J. Donald Smith Collection on Theatre History, SPEC.TRI.JDS, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Audio/visual materials and computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. The remainder of this collection is available for patron research, but may be used only in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Zoe MacLeod, 2016 October; Finding aid written by: Zoe MacLeod, 2016 October; Nicole Miller 2019 May; Audrey Wimbiscus, 2025 September

 Historical Note

As of 2025, J. Donald Smith is a retired Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. He is also a well-known Gilbert and Sullivan and theatre collector. Smith served as President of the New England Gilbert and Sullivan Society for nine years. His collecting interests focus on late 19th and early 20th century theatre.

 Scope and Contents

The J. Donald Smith Collection on Theatre History contains late 19th through early 21st century theatre production materials and illustrations of people who were connected to theatre, especially focusing on materials related to the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan. The collection is comprised of illustrated sheet music, programs, production posters, cabinet cards, lobby cards, caricatures published in Vanity Fair, and programs and fliers from the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. Materials date from 1864 to 2025.

 Cabinet photographs Caricatures Handbills Lobby cards Postcards Programs (documents) Sheet music Theater--History--19th century Theater--History--20th century Theater--History--21st century Productions Series 1 1864-1901 Scope and Contents

Series 1, Productions, contains illustrated sheet music, programs and photographs for specific theatre productions.

 “Les Cloches de Corneville Lancers” illustrated sheet music 1 7 undated “Les Cloches de Corneville Quadrilles” illustrated sheet music 1 1 undated “Falka Valse” illustrated sheet music 1 4 undated “The Geisha Lancers” illustrated sheet music 1 5 1896 "The Grand Duchess" Lillian Russell photograph 2 2 1864 "The Grand Duchess" Soldene English Comic Opera Company, Globe Theatre Boston program 2 1 1876 December 2 “Hush! The Bogie!” illustrated sheet music 1 3 undated “La Perichole Waltz” illustrated sheet music 1 2 undated “The Toreador Lancers” illustrated sheet music 1 6 1901 People Series 2 1869-1893 Scope and Contents

Series 2, People, contains Vanity Fair caricatures of people who have a connection to theatre and famous historical figures.

 Aziz (Abdul) Sutlan of Turkey, Vanity Fair "Sovereigns No.5" 1 10 1869 October 30 Isabella II of Spain, Vanity Fair "Sovereigns No. 2" 1 11 1869 September 18 Leopold II of the Belgians, Vanity Fair "Sovereigns No. 3" 1 9 1869 October 9 Napoleon III, Vanity Fair "Sovereigns No. 1" 1 8 1869 September 4 Penley (William Sydney), Vanity Fair "Men of the Day No. 567" 1 13 1893 June 22 Shaw (Captain E.M.), Vanity Fair "Men of the Day No. 24" 1 14 1871 June 3 Taylor (Tom), Vanity Fair "Men of the Day No. 126" 1 12 1876 March 11 Accession No. TRI.2016.0126 0.32 Cubic feet 1877-circa 1900s, 1992-2003 Gay (John) "The Beggar’s Opera”/ Edward German “Tom Jones (highlights)" 2016 TRI Accessions Box 3 2003 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

CD, two discs, disc one: 65 minutes, disc two: 69 minutes

 Smith (Marilyn Hill) “Edwardian Echoes” 2016 TRI Accessions Box 3 1992 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

CD, total time 61 minutes 03 seconds

 Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society "The Grand Duke" 2016 TRI Accessions Box 3 1999 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

three CDs, total time for disc one: 45 minutes 41seconds, total time for disc two: 43 minutes 22 seconds, total time for disc three: 67 minutes 02 seconds

 “Miss Hook of Holland” A Dutch Musical Incident 2016 TRI Accessions Box 3 1999 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

CD

 The Gilbert and Servalan Songbook Accession No. TRI.2016.0126.001 1998 “Poulet and Poulette" program, Boston Globe Theatre Accession No. TRI.2016.0126.001 1877 April 9 "Hymn" written by The Bishop of Wakefield and set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan Accession No. TRI.2016.0126.001 1897 "The Pirate Movie" movie poster Accession No. TRI.2016.0126.001 undated Songbook Accession No. TRI.2016.0126.001 circa 1890s-1900s Accession No. TRI.2019.0040 0.5 Cubic feet circa 1870s-1930s (1) 2.5" letter document box and (1) flat box Arrangement of Materials

This addition is unprocessed; materials are arranged in the order received.

 Scope and Contents

This accession contains a scrapbook of theater and opera programs/handbills from the 1880s-1890s. A program for "Mr. Compton Benefit" is included. This donation also includes cabinet cards and postcards depicting actors and actresses, advertising cards, additional theater programs, and handbills.

 Scrapbook Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.001 1885-1890 "Mikado" still promotional photographs Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.002 1926 "Mr. Compton Benefit" program Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.002 1877 March 1 Actor and actress postcards Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.002 circa 1890s-1910s Cabinet cards of actresses Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.002 circa 1870s-1900s Advertising cards Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.002 circa 1880s-1930s Programs and handbills Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.002 1879,1912 Programs, handbills, and poems Accession No. TRI.2019.0040.002 circa 1870s-1880s Accession No. TRI.2019.0058 0.54 Cubic feet 1879-1905, circa 1976-2018 (2) flat boxes Pirates of Penzance movie lobby cards Joseph Papp (director) Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 circa 1983 The Marytr of Antioch flyer for Utopia Opera Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 2018 May 5 Iolanthe Waltz by Charles D'Albert sheet music Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 circa 1879-1890 Doris Waltz by P. Bucalossix Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 circa 1886 Scope and Contents

Cover only

 Miss Fortescue portrait page from Illustrated London News Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 1884 November 22 Lionel Brough as Touchstone Vanity Fair supplement illustration Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 1905 March 30 Over the Moon reproduction of a Brock illustration Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 unknown Pacific Overtures by Sondheim and Weidman photograph Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 circa 1976 January 11 International Gilbert and Sullivan Association membership pack Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.001 2018 Bound volume of sheet music Accession No. TRI.2019.0058.002 circa 1890s Accession No. TRI.2025.0035 1.4 Cubic feet 1910s, 1954-2021 (2) oversize folders; (1) carton Scope and Contents

Accession No. TRI.2025.0035 contains items related to the history of Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasm, including an incomplete run of the "Sir Arthur Sullivan Society Magazine," postcards and sheet music related to Gilbert & Sullivan, production programs, and fliers from the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. Also included are two histories of Boston Blackfriars Theatre in England. Materials date from the 1910s, and 1954 to 2021.

 "Sir Arthur Sullivan Society Magazine" numbers 10-23 Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1981-1986 "Sir Arthur Sullivan Society Magazine" numbers 24-35 Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1987-1992 "Sir Arthur Sullivan Society Magazine" numbers 36-49 Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1992-1999 "Sir Arthur Sullivan Society Magazine" numbers 67-104 Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 2008-2021 D'Oyly Carte Opera Company season schedule Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1966 Gilbert & Sullivan postcards, notecard Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1980s-1990s Gilbert & Sullivan programs Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1910s, 1954-2000s International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival fliers Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 2018-2020 "George Ticknor Visits Monticello, 1815" Ticknor Society Keepsake Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 2016 May 10 "Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centre Through the Decades: 1966-2016" Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 2016 "Boston Blackfriars: From Priory to Arts Centre" edited by W. M. Ormrod Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1990 "The Gondoliers" D'Oyly Carte Opera Company program Accession No. TRI.2025.0035.001 1970 February 17 Gilbert & Sullivan sheet music covers 2025 TRI Accessions Box 1 1910s "Good-bye, Eliza Jane" and "The Duke of Seven Dials" sheet music 2025 TRI Accessions Box 1 1910s Accession No. TRI.2025.0036 0.43 Cubic feet 1880-2021 (1) 2.5" letter document box; (1) oversize flat box Scope and Contents

Accession No. TRI.2025.0036 contains items related to the history of Gilbert and Sullivan, including postcards and sheet music, clippings, lobby cards from films based on Gilbert & Sullivan operas, the first eight issues of "DC: The Magazine of The Friends of D'Oyly Carte," a program and flyer from the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, and other Gilbert & Sullivan ephemera. Materials date from 1880 to 2021.

 27th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival flyer, program Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.001 2021 Opera della Luna Gilbert & Sullivan greeting cards Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.001 2000s "Mikado" postmarked envelope Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.001 1976 Gilbert & Sullivan postcards Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.001 1910s-1920s Anderson (Mary) as Galatea in "Pygmalion and Galatea" cabinet card Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.001 1880s "DC: The Magazine of The Friends of D'Oyly Carte" issues 1-8 Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.001 1991-1994 Green (Martyn), Roy Campanella award photograph Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.001 1950s "Topsy-Turvy" French lobby cards Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1999 "The Return of Gilbert & Sullivan" lobby card Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1952 "The Pirate Movie" lobby cards Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1982 Sudbury Savoyards "HMS PInafore," "The Grand Duke" production posters Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 2006, 2011 "The Boston Globe" Gilbert & Sullivan clippings Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1975 May, September Illustrated sheet music Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1890s "The Land of Gilbert & Sullivan" magazine clipping Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1948 October 11 "Fortune" magazine Gilbert & Sullivan clipping Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1937 February "The Illustrated London News," "The Graphic" theater clippings Accession No. TRI.2025.0036.002 1880-1893 Accession No. TRI.2025.0037 0.25 Cubic feet 1881-1908, 1975-2022 (1) 2.5" legal document box Scope and Contents

Accession No. TRI.2025.0037 contains ephemera related to Gilbert and Sullivan, including a cigar box label, production programs, advertising materials such as a cancelled postmark and a trade card, and an illustrated childrens book. Items date from 1881 to 1908, and 1975 to 2022.

 Sir Arthur Sullivan Cigars box label Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 1890s "Tom Jones" original production photo postcard Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 1907-1908 Sudbury Savoyard "The Yeoman of the Guard" postmark cancellation Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 1997 March 22 Russell (Lillian) as Aline in Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Sorceror" trade card Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 1882 Gilbert & Sullivan Centenary Service program Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 1975 March 24 "Billie Taylor" illustrated childrens book Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 1881 "The Rose of Persia" program Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 1998 October 21-24 28th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival fliers, program Accession No. TRI.2025.0037.001 2022 July-August Accession No. TRI.2025.0038 0.5 Cubic feet 1880s-1910s, 1960s-2025 (1) 5" letter document box; (1) oversize folder Scope and Contents

Accession No. TRI.2025.0038 contains ephemera related to Gilbert and Sullivan, including clippings, programs from amateur and professional productions, theatrical sheet music, programs from the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, and brochuress for Theatrical Adventures cruises. Materials date from the 1880s to the 1910s, and the 1960s to 2025.

 International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival programs Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 2023-2024 "Illustrated Interview. No. IV.-Mr. W. S. Gilbert" from Strand Magazine Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 1891 Gilbert & Sullivan opera fliers, images Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 1880s-1910s Gilbert & Sullivan postcards, cancelled stamps Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 1890s, 1992 The Midwestern Gilbert & Sullivan Society stationary Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 1980s European Gilbert & Sullivan productions programs Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 2023-2025 New England amateur Gilbert & Sullivan productions programs Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 2010-2025 "Patience or the Poet and the Milkmaid" by Peter G. Thomson Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 1882 Theatrical Adventures cruise brochures Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 2022-2025 Savoy Theatre D'Oyly Carte programs Accession No. TRI.2025.0038.001 1890s, 1960s Theatrical sheet music 2025 TRI Accessions Box 1 1890s