Description: |
The collection consists of photographs related to Noel Coward (British, 1899-1973). They include portraits of him as well as stills from productions of his plays. Most of the photographs are contained in the following albums:
Album 1 (997:0050:0029-0069) -- Ring binder, labeled on the spine "Noel Coward / Photographs from Plays", containing 41 photographic prints that date from 1933 to 1948. Inside the binder, tabs indicate different titles of plays. Inside the binder is the bookplate of Herbert Schimmel.
Album 2 (997:0050:0070-0095) -- Ring binder, labeled on the spine "Noel Coward 'Ivor Novello' / Photographs", containing 26 photographic prints that date from 1936 to 1959.
Album 3 (997:0135:0001-0323) -- Maroon leather-bound album, in case labeled "Ivor Novello, England & Hollywood, 1929-1935, Original, Photographs", containing 323 gelatin silver prints; inscribed inside "Ivor from Bob, December 1928." The images are primarily snapshots of Novello's travels in England and during his years in Hollywood. Other places depicted include France, Stonehenge, New York, Chicago, Santa Monica, and his home, "Redroofs," in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Many of the snapshots were taken during events including garden parties, pool parties, weddings, and the play "Proscenium". Most of the snapshots are of Novello, but other individuals include Noel Coward, Laurence Olivier, Joan Crawford, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Hand-written captions appear throughout, and one photo and some loose clippings and notes are laid in. Additional handwritten notes identify many individuals and places.
Album 4 (997:0136:0001-0271) -- Blue leather-bound album, in case labeled "Ivor Novello, European Travels, 1934-1937, Original Photographs", containing 271 gelatin silver prints and photomechanical postcards of Ivor Novello's travels in Europe. The images are primarily snapshots of Novello and other,s but also included are commercial prints and postcards. Locations depicted include: Algiers; Jerusalem, Jordan; Cairo, Egypt; Athens, Greece; Pompeii, Rome and Venice, Italy; Versailles, France; Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia; and Vaynol, Wales. Some handwritten captions appear with the photographs.
Album 5 (997:0137:0001-0272) -- Red leather-bound album, in case labeled "Ivor Novello, European Travels, England, 1934-1937, Original Photographs", containing 272 gelatin silver prints of Ivor Novello's travels in Europe and northern Africa. Many of images are duplicates or variants of photos found in Album 4, but this album also includes images of Madeira, Portugal; Gibraltar; Cannes, France; images taken aboard ships and garden parties at Novello's home "Redroofs."
Album 6 (997:0138:0001-0136) -- Album entitled "Touring in South Africa" with a hand-painted cover, in case labeled "Ivor Novello, South African Tour, 1947-1948, Original Photographs", containing 136 gelatin silver prints. The images are snapshots of Ivor Novello and unidentified companions during his travels in South Africa. The photographs document Novello arriving and leaving South Africa by plane; at a radio interview; at garden parties, pool parties, and formal dinner parties; touring unidentified areas of South Africa and viewing traditional customs; and at the beach. Some photographs are lacking.
Album 7 (997:0139:0001-0062) -- Black album, in case labeled "Noel Coward, The Scoundrel, 1934, In Which We Serve, 1941, Original Film Stills", containing 62 gelatin silver prints. The images are primarily film stills of Coward in The Scoundrel but also include scenes from the set and head shots of Coward. There do not appear to be any images from In Which We Serve.
Album 8 (997:0140:0001-0023) -- Teal album with decorative cover, in case labeled "Lila Field, Scrapbook, Noel Coward, in 'The Goldfish,' London, 1909-1912", containing numerous clippings and playbills for dramatist and soprano Lila Field's productions, including "The Goldfish," a play with an all-child cast. The album also includes 19 photographs of the child actors and 4 mounted photographs of the production. Two photographs and some loose clippings are laid in; the mounted photos are in an envelope in the case.
Please consult finding aid for more detailed information on information on the loose prints and Albums 1 and 2, and to page materials to the Reading and Viewing Room..
Further descriptions of some items may be available in a card catalog in the repository.
This collection forms a part of the Literary File Photography Collection that is comprised of photographs and albums withdrawn from the libraries and/or papers of literary figures, and generally includes portraits and images collected by or of those figures. |
