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The Jablonski and Stewart Collection, 1931-1973 (bulk 1957-1973), was
generated by the collaborative literary efforts of Edward Jablonski and
Lawrence D. Stewart during the writing of
The Gershwin Years (1958, and 2nd edition
1973) and
The Gershwin Years in Song (1973), a music
song book with illustrations and text. Among the papers are the authors'
research materials, correspondence, transcripts of interviews, outlines,
holograph and typed manuscripts, galley proofs, page proofs, layout dummies,
illustrations and captions, bibliographical notes, and press clippings. Much of
the authors' research material was derived from Ira Gershwin's private archives
and from personal interviews of the Gershwin brothers' friends and colleagues.
The manuscripts have been profusely revised and constitute a record of the
"work in progress." Also included are a few original
manuscripts of both George and Ira Gershwin, which were a gift from Ira
Gershwin to Jablonski and Stewart. |
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The materials are arranged in two series: Works, 1932-1973 (bulk
1957-1973), and Gershwin Manuscripts, 1931-1955. The Works are arranged in
three subseries:
The Gershwin Years (1st ed., 1958),
The Gershwin Years (2nd ed., 1973), and
The Gershwin Years in Song (1st ed., 1973).
Materials in each of these subseries follows a chronological order that
reflects the process of research, writing, revision, and publication. Often the
material reflects the individual contributions of the co-authors. |
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Among the earliest items is a scrapbook which serves as an early model
of
The Gershwin Years. The scrapbook contains
clippings of articles and photographs from newspapers, magazines and other
publications, catalogs, interviews, programs, holograph and typed notes,
outlines, and early typed drafts of the text. Of special interest in the
scrapbook is the reproduced correspondence of George Gershwin and Dubose
Heyward, 1932-1937, that documents the planning and development of their
collaborative efforts on the opera
Porgy and Bess. |
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Although the bulk of the correspondence concerns research,
illustrations, permissions, and other publication matters, several significant
correspondents are included: Carl Van Vechten, Paul Whiteman, Dubose Heyward,
Eva Jessye, Vinton Freedley, Vernon Duke, Harry Ruby, Eva Ganthier, Francis
Robinson, Paul and Kathie Mueller, and Francis "Frankie" Godowsky. Also among the correspondence is the
sixteen page manuscript
"Gershwiniana" by Edward Kilenyi, which
discusses the formal music training George Gershwin received under Kilenyi's
guidance. The correspondence for the 2nd edition also includes a series of
letters between Jablonski and Stewart (1972-1973), concerning personal matters
as well as the revision. A list of all correspondents in the Jablonski/Stewart
Collection is located at the end of this inventory. |
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The Gershwin Manuscripts, 1931-1955, include original manuscripts by
both George and Ira Gershwin. George is represented by a single holograph
piano/voice score of
"Gone, Gone, Gone," from
Porgy and Bess. The Ira Gershwin items
include holograph and typescript drafts of lyrics written for the film
A Star Is Born. The several versions of
these lyrics show Ira Gershwin's creative process in construction of song
lyrics. There is also one holograph manuscript of the lyric for the song
"Of Thee I Sing." |