Yale Rockefeller theatrical prints collection

Collection

Call Number: DRA 9

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises photographic prints and reproductions of theatres, costumes, scenes, companies, masks, properties, and portraits documenting the classical stage to the mid-twentieth century from around the world. The collection also contains journals recording the origin of the photographic prints by print number.

Dates

1934-1976

Creator

Nicoll, Allardyce, 1894-1976

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Rockefeller Collection was housed in the Yale School of Drama Library until its transfer to the Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library in 2008.

Arrangement

Organized into three series: I. Card Files. II. Prints. III. Miscellaneous.

The card files and prints are arranged sequentially by print classification and number. For example, “D.D.1.#” corresponds to “Costumes, 16th Century, Italy, Print number.”

A guide to the original classification system is provided below:

TOPIC

A Theatres

B Scenes

C Groups (stage groupings)

D Costumes

E Masks

F Properties

G Machines

H Lighting

I Audience (people or auditoria)

J Dances (most ballet under D)

K Portraits (non-theatrical)

L Fairs

M Commedia

MA Pantomimes

N Pageants & Processions

O Marionettes

P Circus

Q Makeup

R Film

S Misc (including non-theatrical costume)

T Ceremonials

DATE

A Greek

B Roman

C Medieval

D 16th Century

E 1600-1650

F 1650-1700

G 1700-1750

H 1750-1800

I 1800-1850

J 1850-1900

K 1900-1914

L 1914-1934

M 1935-

ORIGIN

1 Italy

2 France

3 England

4 Spain

5 Germany

6 United States

7 Austria

8 Russia

9 Poland

10 Sweden

11 Norway

12 Denmark

13 Holland

14 Belgium

15 Switzerland

16 Finland

17 Czechoslovakia

18 Greece

19 Hungary

20 China

21 Japan

22 India

23 Byzantine

24 Turkey

25 Java

26 Mexico and Central America

27 Canada

28 Africa

Extent

128.75 Linear Feet (103 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/arts.dra.0009

Additional Description

Abstract

Biographical / Historical

The Yale Rockefeller Theatrical Prints Collection was created in the 1930s under the guidance of Allardyce Nicoll, then chair of the Department of Drama in the School of Fine Arts. Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, graduate students in Drama accompanied Nicoll to Europe and generated thousands of photographic prints from libraries, museums, and private collections relating to all aspects of theatre history. The collection was supplemented by visual material collected from all over the world.