Peter Harvey personal and professional diaries, 1964-2012

Collection context

Creator:
Harvey, Peter, 1933-
Extent:
2.5 linear feet (2 record cartons)
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

The collections contains Harvey's personal and professional diaries (1964 to 1967, 1969 to 2012) as well as a drawing that he had made for the Coconut Grove Playhouse production of "Orpheus Descending."

Biographical / historical:

Peter Harvey was born in Guatemala in 1933 of British parents. Graduating as an art student from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, in 1955, he was immediately hired as a stage designer by the Coconut Grove Playhouse, a position that he held until the autumn of 1958 when he settled permanently in New York City with his partner, artist Peter Thek. For the Coconut Grove Playhouse he designed the set of their revival of Tennessee Williams' "Orpheus Descending," a production supervised by the playwright, who liked his work very much. Mr. Harvey has given his set drawing to RBML for the Tennessee Williams Collection.

In New York, Peter Harvey created theatrical designs for George Balanchine and the New York City Ballet, including the spectacular "Jewels" of 1967 that he redesigned for the Company in 2004, and also recreated for the Marinsky in St. Petersburg, for the Semperoper in Dresden , and for La Scala Ballet in Milan. Other highlights of his 30 years in the theater have been the full-length Balanchine ballet "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for the Zurich Opera Ballet, the original New York and London productions of "The Boys in the Band," and the hit musical "Dames at Sea."

Access and use

Restrictions:

Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Peter Harvey Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu