Sigmund A. Lavine Gilbert and Sullivan Collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS 001

Staff Only

Cover of Gilbert and Sullivan program

Scope and Contents

This collection contains materials dating from 1867 to 1988 related to the works of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. The collection includes programs, scripts, librettos, musical scores and sheet music, photographs, drawings and artwork, advertising materials, souvenirs, magazines, recordings, correspondence and writings about Gilbert and Sullivan, and a large collection of newspaper clippings about Gilbert and Sullivan and their fourteen comic operas. Much of the material is related to performance by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, as the first and longest running company performing exclusively Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The collection contains material from many of the original productions of the operas, including photographs and programs. There are also a number of materials created independently of the partnership, such as musical scores written by Arthur Sullivan, and librettos, plays, and other writings created by W.S. Gilbert. The collection includes some works created by and related to Sigmund A. Lavine and his work as a producer, theatre manager, and scholar in the Gilbert and Sullivan community.

Dates

Bulk(1881-1945)
1860 - 1988

Creator

Lavine, Sigmund A. (Person)

Language of Materials

Records in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Some materials may be subject to copyright. No part of the materials protected by copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the copyright holder. Researchers are required to seek permission from the copyright holder to reproduce and/or publish materials under copyright.

Extent

6.75 linear feet

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into fourteen series:

Series 1: Programs

Subseries A: All at Sea

Subseries B: Arthur Sullivan Productions

Subseries C: The Gondoliers

Subseries D: The Grand Duke

Subseries E: H.M.S. Pinafore

Subseries F: Iolanthe

Subseries G: The Mikado

Subseries H: Multiple productions

Subseries I: Patience

Subseries J: The Pirates of Penzance

Subseries K: Princess Ida

Subseries L: Ruddigore

Subseries M: Song revues and tribute productions

Subseries N: The Sorcerer

Subseries O: Trial by Jury

Subseries P: Utopia, Limited

Subseries Q: W.S. Gilbert Productions

Subseries R: The Yeomen of the Guard

Series 2: Scripts and librettos

Subseries A: Bab Ballads

Subseries B: Box and Cox

Subseries C: The Gondoliers

Subseries D: H.M.S. Pinafore

Subseries E: Iolanthe

Subseries F: The Mikado

Subseries G: Multiple operas

Subseries H: Patience

Subseries I: The Pirates of Penzance

Subseries J: Ruddigore

Subseries K: The Sorcerer

Subseries L: Trial by Jury

Subseries M: W.S. Gilbert Productions

Subseries N: The Yeomen of the Guard

Series 3: Musical scores

Subseries A: Arthur Sullivan songs

Subseries B: The Gondoliers

Subseries C: H.M.S. Pinafore

Subseries D: Iolanthe

Subseries E: The Mikado

Subseries F: Multiple operas

Subseries G: Patience

Subseries H: The Pirates of Penzance

Subseries I: Ruddigore

Subseries J: Trial by Jury

Subseries K: W.S. Gilbert operas

Subseries L: The Yeomen of the Guard

Subseries M: Oversize musical scores

Series 4: Photographs

Subseries A: Gilbert and Sullivan

Subseries B: The Girl Said No

Subseries C: The Gondoliers

Subseries D: H.M.S. Pinafore

Subseries E: Iolanthe

Subseries F: The Mikado

Subseries G: Multiple productions

Subseries H: Patience

Subseries I: The Pirates of Penzance

Subseries J: Princess Ida

Subseries K: Pygmalion & Galatea

Subseries L: Ruddigore

Subseries M: The Sorcerer

Subseries N: Theatre Personalities

Subseries O: Trial by Jury

Subseries P: Utopia, Limited

Subseries Q: The Yeomen of the Guard

Subseries R: Oversize photographs

Subseries S: Duplicate photographs

Series 5: Drawings

Series 6: Advertising

Subseries A: Auction catalogs

Subseries B: Published books, scores, recordings, etc.

Subseries C: D'Oyly Carte

Subseries D: The Girl Said No

Subseries E: H.M.S. Pinafore

Subseries F: The Mikado

Subseries G: Multiple productions

Subseries H: Trade cards

Subseries I: Oversize advertising

Series 7: Souvenirs

Series 8: Magazines

Series 9: Writings about Gilbert and Sullivan

Series 10: Clippings and newspapers

Subseries A: Arthur Sullivan

Subseries B: Books, records, and other merchandise

Subseries C: D'Oyly Carte

Subseries D: General Gilbert and Sullivan material

Subseries E: The Gondoliers

Subseries F: The Grand Duke

Subseries G: H.M.S. Pinafore

Subseries H: Iolanthe

Subseries I: The Mikado

Subseries J: Miscellaneous

Subseries K: Multiple productions

Subseries L: Pages from "Fun"

Subseries M: Patience

Subseries N: The Pirates of Penzance

Subseries O: Princess Ida

Subseries P: Ruddigore

Subseries Q: Sigmund A. Lavine

Subseries R: The Sorcerer

Subseries S: Trial by Jury

Subseries T: Utopia, Limited

Subseries U: W.S. Gilbert

Subseries V: The Yeomen of the Guard

Subseries W: Oversize newspapers and clippings

Series 11: Correspondence

Subseries A: Sigmund A. Lavine correspondence

Subseries B: Miscellaneous correspondence

Subseries C: Letterhead and envelopes

Series 12: Miscellaneous

Series 13: Recordings

Series 14: Books

Subseries A: Published works

Subseries B: Lavine scrapbooks

Custodial History

The collection was assembled by Sigmund A. Lavine and placed on loan at Emerson College Archives in 1994, with ownership of a portion of the collection transferring to Emerson each subsequent year. Following Lavine's death in 1996, the entire collection became the sole property of the Archives, according to his wishes, and at the behest of his family.