Swanson, Gloria. Papers. Series VII. Formats, 1889-1983.
Title:
Papers. Series VII. Formats, 1889-1983.
The materials in this series were separate from other collection materials due to their formats which necessitated alternative storage. Extensive cross references appear in the collection inventory in order to link these items intellectually with the materials described in the preceding series. The art work includes drawings, a painting, and a self-sculpture by Miss Swanson. Works by talented acquaintances, fans, friends, and relatives complete this subseries. A number of these are portraits, cartoons, or caricatures of Miss Swanson. Some of the art is directly related to Swanson's career, such as a series of drawings done by John Decker for the film What a Widow! Other artists include Lewis L. Bredin, James Montgomery Flagg, William Rose, Charles Swanson, Jonathan Swanson, and Michael A. Werboff. Among the audio recordings are cassettes, discs, reels, and wire reels, both commercially and non-commercially produced. Included are recordings of autobiographical musings, songs from her films, radio and television appearances, interviews, theater rehearsals, and commercials, as well as items reflecting her interests in health and nutrition, music, politics, psychic phenomena, and religion. The bound volumes contain mostly personal financial documentation, though ledgers for several of her business concerns are also present. Numerous newspaper and magazine clippings, both loose and in scrapbook form, present Swanson's life and career as seen through the eyes of the press, ca. 1917-1983. While most of Miss Swanson's personal film collection was acquired by George Eastman House in 1967, this archive does contain a few motion picture prints and career compilation clips, and some tapes of appearances on television, as well as several home movies. The music subseries consists of miscellaneous sheet music, though some original music manuscripts are included. Most original music which is career-related is found in Series II., Career. Composers and lyricists represented include Edmund Goulding, Francis Gromon, Elsie Janis, Franz Lehar, Dorothy Parker, Vincent Youmans, and Josiah Zuro. Thousands of photographs are located throughout the collection. This subseries includes only those formats which required variant housing, such as photograph albums, negatives, slides, slide viewer, etc. Only a few original posters from Swanson's films (Beyond the Rocks, Her Gilded Cage, and Fine Manners) are among the small selection of posters in this collection. Other posters document theater or personal appearances, or miscellaneous events. One unusual poster includes the famous Edward Steichen veil portrait of Miss Swanson as part of its psychedelic art work to promote a rock concert at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, 1967. A small group of objects completes this series. Included are promotional items, props (including a jewelled fan used in What a Widow!), some wardrobe items (most notably Norma Desmond's sunglasses and a chiffon leopard print overskirt from Sunset Boulevard), and a few personal artifacts.
ArchivalResource:
147 boxes (61 linear feet).
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122625102 View
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