Production Photographs Collection:
An Inventory of the Collection at the Harry Ransom Center
| Creator: | Harry Ransom Center | |
| Title: | Production Photographs Collection | |
| Dates: | circa 1860-1998 (bulk 1900-1965) | |
| Extent: | 77 document boxes (32.34 linear feet), 15 oversize boxes (osb), 13 oversize folders (osf) | |
| Abstract: | The Production Photographs Collection consists predominantly of photographs documenting theatre productions, mainly in New York City, circa 1860-1998. | |
| Call Number: | Performing Arts Collection PA-00078 | |
| Language: | English |
| Access: | Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials. | |
| Use Policies: | Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of Texas at Austin assume no responsibility. | |
| Restrictions on Use: | Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom Center's Open Access and Use Policies. |
Administrative Information
| Preferred Citation: | Production Photographs Collection (Performing Arts Collection PA-00078). Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. | |
| Acquisition: | Compiled by Performing Arts staff from several collections, including the Albert Davis, Robert Downing, Messmore Kendall, W. H. Crain, and John Gassner collections. | |
| Processed by: | Dixie Owen, 2002; Helen Adair and Katie Causier, 2006; Helen Adair, 2007; Helen Baer, 2012; Libby Carr, 2020 |
| Repository: |
Scope and Contents
| The Production Photographs Collection consists predominantly of black and white publicity photographs documenting theatre productions, mainly in New York City, circa 1860-1998 (bulk 1900-1965). Approximately 1,600 productions are represented. Occasionally, a clipping, postcard, playbill, print, review, or other production-related item is present with the photographs. The collection is arranged alphabetically by production with composites, unidentified, and miscellaneous material gathered at the end of the collection. | ||
| Included are photographs from the W. H. Crain Collection, circa 1930-1950; photographs, mounted clippings, and illustrations from the Albert Davis Collection, circa 1860-1930; photographs from the Robert Downing Collection, circa 1950-1970; and illustrations and photographs added by Performing Arts staff, circa 1890-1998. | ||
| Performing Arts staff compiled the photographs and prints that make up this collection from the Albert Davis, Robert Downing, Messmore Kendall/Harry Houdini, W. H. Crain, and John Gassner collections. | ||
Related Material
| The Ransom Center holds the production photograph archives of photographers Fred Fehl and Bob Golby. Sixty-five production photographs from Moscow, Leningrad, and other cities from 1920 to 1967 are in the Russian Theatre Production Photographs Collection. The Performing Arts Glass Plate Negatives Collection includes several hundred negatives of production photographs from around 1890 to 1920. Additional production photographs are listed by performer and playwright in the Theatre Biography Collection and in the individual archives of designers, directors, performers, and playwrights across the Ransom Center. | ||