Members and anyone with news of interest to performing arts collectors and researchers are encouraged to contact the editor of the PASIG Home Page Richard Stone with suggested contributions
| Major Transfers from The Dennis Wolanski Library, The Sydney Opera House | |
| State Library of New South Wales | Some Australian publications, archival and manuscript material, photographs, posters, and works of art |
| Performing Arts Museum, Melbourne | Archives and manuscript material, photographs and artefacts. |
| University of New South Wales | Press clippings and program collections, with indexes, and theatre books. |
| Other transfers | |
| Seaborn Broughton and Walford Foundation | Archival and manuscript material, photographs, books |
| University of Western Sydney | Dance books and serials |
| National Institute of Dramatic Art | Theatre books |
| Sydney Conservatorium | Music books |
| Rockdale City Library | Music books and scores |
| Powerhouse Museum. | Artefacts, some archival and manuscript material |
| Southern Highlands Institute for Performing Arts | Artefacts, books, press clippings 1843 – 1979 |
| Sydney Theatre Company | Model sets |
| Performing Arts Collection of South Australia | Artefacts |
| Foxtel | Small quantity of clippings about foreign films personalities |
| National Film and Sound Archive | Sound recordings |
| Queensland Performing Arts Museum | Manuscript items |
The posters number over 360 and are concentrated in the relatively short space of time between 1896-1920. The posters are included on the "Images from the Heritage Collections" website with full bibliographic records. The URL of the website is tased.edu.au/tasimg/home.htm.
Further details from:
Tony Marshall
Senior Librarian (Heritage Collections)
State Library of Tasmania
91 Murray St., HOBART 7000 Ph. (03) 6233 7498
Email: Tony.Marshall@central/tased.edu.au
The National Library is constantly adding entries on to its On Line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) for files in its performing arts collection of programs and ephemera – otherwise known as the PROMPT collection.So far there are over 1500 entries for PROMPT files on the OPAC.
PROMPT files are generally located under names of companies or groups. Files are also made for individual solo performers, for productions touring in Australia by title, for individual Australian artists working overseas, and for companies overseas in which significant numbers of Australian artists have worked.
For more details - nla.gov.au/collect/prompt.html
Holdings lists
In addition to the catalogue entries, PROMPT Holdings Lists have
been compiled for key individuals or companies for which the National
Library has developed significant collections of printed material
| Finding Aids have been compiled for – | |
| Sir Robert Helpmann (1909-1986) | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/helpmann.html |
| Ballet Rambert in Australia (1947-1949) | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/rambert.html |
| Kirsova Ballet (1941-1944) | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/kirsova.html |
| J C Williamson opera companies 1901 –1969 | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/jcwill.html |
| Barry Humphries | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/barry.html |
| The Sharp collection –Sydney theatre, 1890-1910 | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/sharp.html |
| Marie Lohr (Australian actress 1890-1975) | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/lohr.html |
| The Ballets Russes in Australia 1936-1940 | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/russes.html |
| Oscar Asche | nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/asche.html |
| Finding Aids in preparation include | |
| J C Williamson A-Z
– a complete list of all programs held from ‘The Firm’
(except opera and ballet and issues of the ‘Magazine programme’) |
|
| Finding Aids exist for a selection of Manuscript Collections from leading performing figures and theatrical companies. These include Robyn Archer, The Australian National Playwrights Conference, Harold Blair, George Dreyfus, Peter Finch, Dudley Glass, Dame Joan Hammond, Sir Robert Helpmann, Human Veins Dance Theatre, James Murdoch, Max Oldaker, Ruby Rich, Dinah Shearing, Ric Throssell etc... A list of the Relevant Manuscript Finding Aids is located at nla.gov.au/collect/prompt.html | |
The National Library has catalogued a group of ten scrapbooks of theatrical memorabilia, a category of material which is often difficult to control and house. The scrapbooks have all been microfilmed and full bibliographic records created for the original scrapbook and for the microfilm copy. Researchers are referred to the microfilm copy for use. Records for the scrapbooks can be searched through the Library's online catalogue using keywords from their created titles -
"T.J.Buckland collection of music programmes and ephemera, Melbourne, ca. 1880-1925"
"Activities of Australian performing artists at home and abroad, 1957-1979..."
"My ballet diary.... [1952-1956]"
"Ballets Russes: their Australian tours, 1938-1940..."
"Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Co.: scrapbook of Australian productions... [1920-1945]."
"Musical activities in Australia including Australian productions... [1936-1966]..."
"Programmes of concerts, musicals, theatre and other stage ...between 1857 and 1892..."
"J.C.Williamson collection of music and theatre programmes ... 1905-1921..."
"Theatre Royal, Sydney: scrapbook of flyers...[1907-1911]..."
"Circus, vaudeville, theatrical performers, sports athletes...[1912-1937]..."
It can be accessed at nla.gov.au/ausdance/
John would be very interested to hear from anyone who has information on Australian musicals.
John Thomson
Tel - 02 6281 2679
Email - randj@webone.com.au
The Secretary, Victoria Theatres Trust, C/- PKF, GPO Box 5099BB, MELBOURNE, Vic, 3001.
E-mail - andpam@bigpond.com.au
CATHS, the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, concentrates on the history of theatre buildings in Victoria. It publishes a quarterly journal CinemaRecord, as well as having an active program publishing monographs on historic theatre buildings. Importantly CATHS has established an archive. Further details and membership enquiries:
The Secretary, CATHS-V, PO Box 476, BENTLEIGH, VIC 3204.
Or have a look at the very colourful and informative CATHS website which includes an impressive list of relevant links and resources: www.caths.org.au