James Woodman Thompson papers, 1909-1955

Creator:

Extent:

109 boxes 109 boxes, 5 pkgs, 12 map case drawers

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

Correspondence, documents, memorabilia, photographs, original drawings, sketches and studies, and printed materials of Thompson. Correspondence, mostly uncataloged, relating to purchases made in Spain, France, and Italy during 1928; documents; memorabilia; photographs; printed material including publicity, books, engravings, and reproductions; an illustration file containing source illustrations for architectural details, costumes -- subdivided by century, country, societal role, sex, age, and by countries, crafts, painting, styles, etc., and including some original Thompson drawings; a production file containing related correspondence and documents; miscellaneous commissioned projects; and Thompson Studies, including studies done by Thompson, his work as a student, and materials pertaining to his activities as a teacher.

Productions and miscellaneous commissioned projects contain one or more of the following items: correspondence; contracts (not Thompson's); expense itemizations; notes; property lists; costume lists; cast lists; schedules; rehearsal schedules; scripts; music "run-throughs;" programs; publicity; blueprints and other photo-reproductions of drawings; drawings, usually schematics or prop detail, done in pencil and/or ink; sketches, generally costume but some schematics, usually in pencil (costume sketches may have swatches of material attached and may be colored); rough sketches, often quite crude, usually schematics and construction, but also costume ideas (these are always in pencil); studies, usually in color: watercolors, poster paint, melted crayon, light oil, ink, and pencil (generally of backdrops or sets); cardboard miniature mock-ups, presumably for studies of different lighting effects; photographs of sets, scenes, and the cardboard mock-ups; and source illustrations and photographs for a particular production.

Biographical / historical:

New York stage, costume, and scenic designer.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Brander Matthews Dramatic Museum. Method of acquisition--Transfer; Date of acquisition--1971. Accession number--M-71.

Transfer from Brander Matthews Dramatic Museum, 1971.

Transfer from Art Properties, 2001.

Processing information:

Processed by ELC 2/22/1973. Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/1989.

Series XI and XII contained oversized materials, and Series XIII contained an addition, all of which were otherwise related to materials in Series I through X. These materials were integrated into Series I through X and Series XI-XIII were deleted by Celeste Brewer in May 2022.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 10 series. Production files are arranged alphabetically and chronologically. Contracts are arranged chronologically.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection has no restrictions.

Boxes A and B are located on site. The following boxes are located off-site: 1-107. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms of access:

Much of the material is very fragile and must be handled with extreme care.

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); James Woodman Thompson papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
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

Collection