Yiddish Theatre Collection, 1899-1962, 1899-1962, bulk 1925-1950, bulk 1925-1950

Summary Information

Abstract

The Yiddish Theater collection includes material on the Yiddish theater collective The Vilna Troupe (Di Vilner trupe) regarding their shows in Europe (press clippings and programs). The collection also includes a few ephemera (autographed pictures), some correspondence of M. Schneidow/Shnatman, Kalisch, and Jonas Jacobson, and a variety of typescripts/manuscripts (incl. film exposés by M. Schneidow). The collection also includes the Bergen Belsen photo albums and Yiddish sheet music of the twentieth century published in New York City (primarily by Hebrew Publishing Co. and Metro Music).

At a Glance

Arrangement

• Series I: The Vilna Troupe, 1919-1949
• Series II: Bergen Belsen Troupe, circa 1940s
• Series III: Yiddish Sheet Music, 1899-1960

Description

Scope and Contents

The Yiddish Theater collection includes material arranged in three series on the Yiddish theater group "The Vilna Troupe" (Di Vilner Trupe), the Bergen Belsen photo albums, and Yiddish sheet music. The material on the Vilna Troupe spans seven folders: The first folder contains press clippings of reviews and other articles relating to the Troupe from Austrian, Ukrainian, and other newspapers. The second folder contains programs in Yiddish, Romanian, German, Ukrainian, Czech, French, and more. The third folder contains a booklet "For the Lodz Committee to the 15th Anniversary of the Vilna Troupe" (Lodzer kom. tsum XV yorikn yubileum fun der vilner trupe). The fourth folder contains typescripts and manuscripts in Yiddish and German, including a manuscript by N. Mayzl "hoypt-rikhtungen fun teater" and film exposés by M. Schneidow. The fifth folder contains correspondence with M. Schneidow/Schnattmann, Kalisch, Jonas Jacobson in Yiddish, German, and Hebrew. The sixth folder contains ephemera such as autographed pictures of Maurice Schwartz (?). The seventh folder contains miscellaneous material.

Bergen Belsen troupe photo albums.

The Yiddish sheet music collection contains 76 items (including several duplicates) published between 1899 and 1960 primarily by Hebrew Publishing Co. and Metro Music. The collection features many well-known classics such as Raisins and Almonds (rozhinkes mit mandlen), King Ahasverus, and Ven ich kuk oif dir. One item is autographed by Yiddish actress Molly Picon. The songs are Yiddish, English, Russian, Hebrew or instrumental. Many songs are composed and/or arranged by A. Goldfaden, J.M. Rumshinsky, H. A. Russotto, and Perlmutter and Wohl.

• Series I: The Vilna Troupe, 1919-1949

• Series II: Bergen Belsen Troupe, circa 1940s

  Photographs from the "Bergen Belsen Theatre Troupe" in the late 1940s

• Series III: Yiddish Sheet Music, 1899-1960

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Curator of Manuscripts/University Archivist, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Yiddish Theatre Collection; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject