Sigel, Madeleine Bartfeld, b. 1924.

Madeleine Bartfeld Sigel (b. 1924) began collecting performing arts autographs as a teenager in 1930s Vienna. The daughter of Albert Bartfeld, theatre manager and owner of a thriving cabaret, she inherited an interest in collecting autographs from her father who also kept performing art scrapbooks and collected autographs starting as far back as 1904. In his position as the theatre management, Mr. Bartfeld came into contact with many performers who gave him signed photographs, some inscribed to him and others to his daughter. Mrs. Sigel also collected autographs and pictures in scrapbooks she created herself in addition to collecting autographs on calling cards and scraps of paper. A few of the more notable autographs in the collection include Marlene Dietrich, Franz Lehar, Ewald Balser, Josephine Baker, Fred Liewehr, Arturo Toscanini, and Julie Harris. In addition, Mrs. Sigel collected materials relating to a popular singing group from the 1930s, the Comedian Harmonists, whose Jewish members were forced to emigrate when Hitler came to power.

From the guide to the Madeleine Bartfeld Sigel Collection of Autographs and Performing Arts Memorabilia, 1899-2003, 1930-2001, (Special Collections in Performing Arts)

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