Judy Valentine Papers, c. 1921-2022

The collection contains digital and physical records pertaining mostly to Judy Valentine's professional career. Physical records include multiple musical scores used by Valentine as part of her singing career from the 1940s through 1960s, such as "A Dream is a Wish," "Gum Drop," and "Young and Foolish." The contents of the scores vary, with some containing only instument music and others also including the conductor's score. There are also two handwritten scores containing the conductor's outline for Valentine's songs "Oh Johnny" and "What Do You Think I Am" as well as a typed document with the introduction of a holiday performance.

There are also physical images (photographs and negatives) of Judy dating between approximately 1941 and 2022. Photographs dating between 1941 and 1950 primarily focus on her radio career, and include images of Valentine and Sherman Fuller performing both in the studio and in front of an audience. Also included are a typed song (unnamed) and an article about Sherman and Judy in Radio and Television Mirror. The remaining images, most of which date between the 1960s and 1980s, include pictures of Judy and others performing, rehearsing, posing for professional shots, and attending promotional events. This includes images from Bozo's Circus, Judy and Goggle Show, Captain Kangaroo, as well as Judy's WHDH photograph ID. There are also images of Judy performing in her hometown of Lynnfield, MA at various events both as herself and in costume.

Physical professional papers date between approximately the 1940s and 2010s, and include programs for the 1945 performance of Johnny Come Marching (in which Valentine played Fay Woodman); letters between the Berkal and Spinney families; work contracts and offer letters; promotional materials for Bozo's Circus, the Judy and Goggle Show, and Judy's recording career; as well as correspondence related to Judy's work in commercials. There are also resumes and portfolios detailing Judy's professional activities, song and poem lyrics, autobiographical writings, and publications related to Judy's charity work.

The physical ephemera in the collection dates between approximately 1942 and 2010, and includes newspaper articles, sheet music, and periodicals related to Judy's career. Some sheet music was written for Judy and includes her name and/or likeness. The collection also includes costumes and objects, including Judy's Flipette costume, an inch worm created by Elissa Della-Piana that was used for personal appearances in the North Shore Children's Hospital and elsewhere, and a five-foot tall standing figure of Judy Valentine used in promotions.

Physical video recordings include in-house training video Do It In The Daytime Game and 1968 footage of Judy singing and dancing on children's television shows. There are also multiple vinyl and shellac discs as well as other recordings, including accompaniment music and studio recordings of Judy's songs and albums. The majority of the disc recordings are children's songs, but there is also an undated WEEI interview with Judy that was conducted by Priscilla Fortescue.

Finally, there are also digital files mostly containing digitized versions of physical materials in the collection. This includes audio commercials featuring Judy (such as those for Chiquita Banana, HP Hood, and the United Way); images of the 3-D objects in the collection; and personal photographs of Judy and her family/friends from the 1920s through the 1950s. Also included are digital copies of ephemera, correspondence, photographs, and other professional documents dating between the 1930s and 2010s. There are also recordings of Judy on radio programs between the 1940s and 2000s (including broadcasts of Club Midnight and the Bob & Ray Show); digital copies of Judy's songs; video of Judy performing in various programs and commercials in the 1960s and 1970s; and a 2014 video interview with Judy. Finally, there are also autobiographical writings created by Judy Valentine.