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Finding Aid for Richard Rodgers papers, 1914-1989.

Inventory of the Richard Rodgers Papers

*T Mss 1987-006
Billy Rose Theatre Division
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10023-7498
Phone: 212/870-1688
Fax: 212/787-3852
Email: theatrediv@nypl.org
Processed by:
Mary Ellen Rogan and Jeanne Mixon
Date Completed:
February 1, 1996
Encoded by:
Mary Ellen Rogan

©1995 The New York Public Library, Billy Rose Theatre Division. All rights reserved

Table of Contents

Descriptive Summary Table of Contents

Title
Richard Rodgers Papers, 1914-1989
Collection ID
*T Mss 1987-006
Provenance
Rodgers, Richard
Extent
7.13 linear feet (17 boxes
Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10023-7498

Administrative Information Table of Contents

Access:

Collection open to the public with the exception of Series 3, Correspondence from Richard Rodgers to Dorothy Rodgers. Series 3 will be open July 1998.

Publication Rights:

For permission to publish contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division

Preferred Citation:

[Item], Richard Rodgers Papers, *T Mss 1987-006, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Custodial History:

The Richard Rodgers Papers were donated to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Billy Rose Theatre Division in March and April of 1987. Additional installments of the collection were added periodically from 1988 until Dorothy Rodgers death in 1994 when the rest of the materials were added as designated by her estate.

The Richard Rodgers Papers arrived in good condition and in good order. The files have been maintained as near to the original arrangement as possible. One change has been the creation of folders for individuals in the correspondence files in order to maintain appropriate security for letters of noted individuals in the theater world.

Correspondence between Dorothy and Richard Rodgers has been restricted until July 1998 at the request of Dorothy Rodgers. Recordings in the collection were transferred to the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound; music scores and oversized scrapbooks were transferred to the Music Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Legal Status

Public

Biographical Note: Table of Contents

Richard Rodgers, composer and producer, was born in New York on June 28, 1902. He composed his first song, My Auto Show Girl when he was fourteen years old. (This is included in the collection Box 16, Folder 6) In 1918 Rodgers met his first professional partner, Lorenz Hart. Together they presented their first hit show, The Garrick Gaieties in 1925. In 1929 Rodgers and Hart appeared in a two-reel autobiographical short, Masters of Melody produced by Paramount-Famous-Lasky Corp. and written and directed by S. J. Kaufman. In 1948, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced a biographical film about the professional relationship and career of Rodgers and Hart.

Rodgers teamed up with Oscar Hammerstein II in 1942 to produce Oklahoma!. After the death of Lorenz Hart in 1943, Hammerstein became Rodgers' permanent collaborator. They worked together until Hammerstein's death in 1960. Among the works created by Rodgers and Hammerstein are: Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, State Fair, Flower Drum Song, The King and I and Cinderella. Following Hammerstein's death Rodgers continued to produce musicals. In 1962 he wrote both the music and the lyrics for No Strings, and in 1965 he teamed up with Stephen Sondheim on Do I Hear a Waltz? His last musical was an adaptation of John Van Druten's play I Remember Mama which opened on Broadway on May 31, 1979.

Richard Rodgers married Dorothy Feiner in 1930. They have two daughters, Mary and Linda. Richard Rodgers died December 30, 1979.

Scope and Content Note: Table of Contents

The Richard Rodgers papers consist of correspondence, photographs, clippings and ephemera documenting his career as a composer and producer. Included as well, is a small amount of materials related to the political and literary activities of his wife, Dorothy Rodgers. The primary strength of the collection is in the breadth and depth of the business correspondence. The correspondence contain letters from friends and business associates throughout the career of Richard Rodgers and includes as well, carbon copies of letters sent in reply to these friends and associates giving a clear and comprehensive picture of Richard Rodgers in all facets of his professional career. There are both complimentary and uncomplimentary letters, indicating that Rodgers did not edit the materials to eliminate unfavorable information. Another strength of the collection lies in the amount of correspondence with his collaborators, particularly Oscar Hammerstein II. Lacking in the collection is correspondence between Richard Rodgers and his first collaborator, Lorenz Hart. Also missing from the collection is correspondence from Dorothy Rodgers to Richard Rodgers, although there is considerable correspondence from Richard Rodgers to his wife, Dorothy.

Organization and Arrangement: Table of Contents

The papers of Richard Rodgers are arranged in seven series and 5 sub-series. They include:

  • Series I. Richard Rodgers correspondence
  • Series II. Dorothy Rodgers correspondence
  • Series III. Dorothy Rodgers correspondence from Richard Rodgers
  • Series IV. Productions
  • Series V. Columbia University Materials
  • Series VI. Personal Papers
  • Series VII. Memorials
  • Series VIII. Photographs
    • Sub-series 1 - Personalities
    • Sub-series 2 - Events
    • Sub-series 3 - Productions
    • Sub-series 4 - Photograph scrapbooks
    • Sub-series 5 - Negatives
  • Series IX. Oversized Materials

Series Description: Table of Contents

   
Series I. Richard Rodgers Correspondence, 1937-1980 Table of Contents
[4 boxes; 1.67 lf.]

Arranged alphabetically.

This series consists of personal and professional correspondence to Richard Rodgers. Included is correspondence about his productions, tributes and events, as well as relationships with friends and business associates. This series was originally arranged in alphabetical order with no folders for individuals. For security purposes, individual folders were created for correspondence from famous individuals. Some of these include: Brooks Atkinson, Noel Coward, Bing Crosby, Russel Crouse, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas Fairbanks, Edna Ferber, John Green, Oscar Hammerstein II, Moss Hart, Helen Hayes, Leland Hayward, Theresa Helburn, John Hersey, Lawrence Langner, Arthur Laurents, Howard, Lindsay, Joshua Logan, Frederic March, Mary Martin, Ferenc Molnar, Ogden Nash, Eugene Ormandy, Paul Osborn, Cole Porter, Nelson Rockefeller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Billy Rose and Harry Ruby, among others.

   
Series II. Dorothy Rodgers Correspondence, 1942-1987 Table of Contents
[1 box; .41 lf.]

Arranged alphabetically.

This series consists of correspondence to Dorothy Rodgers from friends and acquaintances dealing with personal issues and events and political and charitable fundraising.

This series is divided into two sub-series:

   
Sub-series 1 - General correspondence Table of Contents

Includes personal and fundraising correspondence.

   
Sub-series 2 - Condolence Letters Table of Contents

Includes correspondence to Dorothy Rodgers from friends, fans and business associates on the death of Richard Rodgers. Letters from many well-known celebrities as well as political, literary and business figures.

   
Series III. Dorothy Rodgers correspondence from Richard Rodgers, 1926-1974 Table of Contents
[2 boxes; .82 lf.]

Arranged chronologically.

Series closed until July 1998.

This series contains private and personal correspondence to Dorothy Rodgers from Richard Rodgers. For the early years [1926-1935] correspondence is extensive with letters written sometimes daily. In later years the correspondence is less frequent. The letters deal with both their personal lives and the career of Richard Rodgers. The letters are important in that they trace Rodgers' career during the early years giving his personal feeling about his growing fame and popularity.

   
Series IV. Productions, 1943-1972 Table of Contents
[1 box; .41 lf.]

Arranged alphabetically by title.

This series contains production files, interoffice memos and some correspondence dealing with the daily operations of Richard Rodgers' theatrical and film productions. The files are not extensive and much of the production materials are not included. Largest amounts of materials exist for South Pacific, Oklahoma! (Motion picture), and The King and I, though none are more than one or two folders of materials. There are scripts and production materials for a 1950's television series entitled Victory at Sea (Television program). The following is a complete list of titles included:

  • Carnegie Hall Concert [1954]
  • Do I Hear a Waltz [1965]
  • Flower Drum Song [1961]
  • I Picked a Daisy [1962] (later known as On a Clear Day You Can See Forever)
  • The King and I [1951-1972]
  • Me and Juliet [1953]
  • The Music and the Words [n.d.]
  • No Strings [1961]
  • On Your Toes [1954]
  • Oklahoma! [1943-1954]
  • Pal Joey [1951-1952]
  • South Pacific [1950-1965]
  • The Sound of Music [1963]
  • Two by Two [n.d.]
  • Victory at Sea (Television program) [1951-1952]

   
Series V. Columbia University Materials, 1923-1972 Table of Contents
[1 box; .41 lf.]

Arranged alphabetically.

This series contains Columbia University ephemera from Richard Rodgers' days as a student, as well as information about Columbia's Oral History project and Richard Rodgers' oral history interview. Included is the 1924 Columbia Songbook, The Columbian of 1923 and the transcript of Richard Rodgers' oral history interview.

   
Series VI. Personal Papers, 1954-1978 Table of Contents
[.5 box; .2 lf.]

Arranged alphabetically.

This series contains miscellaneous personal papers, honorary degrees, articles, songbooks, biographical materials and the transcript for Richard Rodgers autobiography Musical Stages.

   
Series VII. Memorials, 1979-1989 Table of Contents
[.5 box; .2 lf.]

Arranged alphabetically .

This series contains clippings, articles, a transcript of Richard Rodgers' memorial service and other programs and materials on posthumous tributes to Richard Rodgers and his work.

   
Series VIII. Photographs, 1931-1972 Table of Contents
[5 boxes; 2.25 lf.]

This series contains photographs of events in Richard Rodgers' life, photographs of events surrounding productions, but not traditional production photographs. There are also some photograph scrapbooks created for Rodgers.

This series is divided into five sub-series.

   
Sub-series 1 - Personalities Table of Contents

Arranged alphabetically by personality.

Included are photographs of Richard Rodgers with Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Florence Henderson, Adlai Stevenson, Helen Keller, Leland Hayward and others.

   
Sub-series 2 - Events Table of Contents

Arranged by event.

Included are photographs of Richard Rodgers at events and celebrations. Some are : NYU Happy 50th birthday, Rodgers and Hammerstein Week, Times Square tribute on the death of Richard Rodgers and others.

   
Sub-series 3 - Productions Table of Contents

Included are photographs from the following productions:

Allegro by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1947] - Rehearsal photographs. Includes photos of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Agnes DeMille and cast members at work.

Annie Get Your Gun by Irving Berlin, [1949] - Photographs of 2nd anniversary celebration for the Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun, produced by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Includes photographs of Ethel Merman, Herbert and Dorothy Fields, Rodgers and Hammerstein and other cast members.

Avanti! by Samuel Taylor, [1968] - Office photographs of Nigel Patrick, Jerome Whyte and Morris Jacobs.

Babes in Arms by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, [1937] - Snapshots by Richard Rodgers, probably taken during rehearsal of the production Babes in Arms.

Boys From Syracuse by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, [1963] - Photograph of orchestra rehearsal at the Drury Lane Theatre (London, Eng.)

Do I Hear a Waltz? By Richard Rodgers & Stephen Sondheim, [6/27/65] - Snapshots of Richard Rodgers taken during a party for the production Do I Hear a Waltz?

Flower Drum Song by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1958] - Photographs of Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers, Joseph Fields and C.Y. Lee for the production of Flower Drum Song.

General Foods 25th Anniversary Show (Television Program), [March 28, 1954] - Color photographs of scenes in the General Foods television broadcast honoring Rodgers and Hammerstein. Included are scenes from Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and Me and Juliet

Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (Motion picture), [1932] - Photograph of outdoor orchestra rehearsal. Also includes photographs of Al Jolson.

Higher and Higher by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, [1940] - Rehearsal photographs taken by Richard Tucker of Joshua Logan, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, Lee Dixon and Marta Eggert.

The Hot Heiress (Motion picture)[1931] - Outdoor photograph taken of cast and crew. Negative included.

Jumbo by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, [1935] - Snapshots taken by Richard Rodgers of the production Jumbo.

The King and I by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1953] - Photograph of the Christmas party for the children in the cast of the King and I.

Love Me Tonight by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, [1932] - Photograph and negative of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

Main Street to Broadway (Motion picture), [Jan. 1953] - Photographs of personalities involved in Main Street to Broadway.

Me and Juliet by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1953] - Color snapshots from rehearsals for Me and Juliet.

No Strings by Richard Rodgers, [1962] - Rehearsal photographs for No Strings.

Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1943-1947] - Photographs for rehearsals and other events surrounding the original production of Oklahoma! - Negative included.

Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1953 -1954] - Photographs for the revival of Oklahoma! at City Center and a production at Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Pal Joey by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, [1940] - Rehearsal photographs including Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and cast members.

Sound of Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1962 -1965] - Photograph of cast members relaxing. Also includes photograph of Richard Rodgers and Julie Andrews at the opening for the film.

South Pacific by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [n.d.] - Photographs of servicemen at special performance of South Pacific at the National Theatre. All photographs by Nate Fine.

South Pacific by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1950 - 1954] - Photographs of the Broadhurst Theatre production of South Pacific - Includes backstage shots, rehearsal photographs and photographs of special performances and events. Items were removed from a scrapbook.

South Pacific by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, [1951] - Photographs from the Drury Lane Theatre production of South Pacific- Photographs include audience views and photographs of reception and other events.

Victory at Sea (Television program), [1953] - Photographs of production staff of the television program Victory at Sea.

Too Many Girls by Richard Rogders and Lorenz Hart, [1939] - Backstage photograph from the production Too Many Girls.

Words and Music (Motion picture), [1948] - Photograph of Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Richard Rodgers

   
Sub-series 4 - Photograph scrapbooks Table of Contents

Included are the following scrapbooks.

New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra Concert , [1954] Scrapbook of rehearsal for Philharmonic Orchestra Concert. Richard Rodgers : 60th Birthday Picture Book from ASCAP, [June 28, 1962] Scrapbook of photographs documenting Richard Rodgers career on the event of his 60th birthday.

By Jupiter by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, [1942] Photographs scrapbook of rehearsal photographs and candid shots of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Joshua Logan and others.

A Celebration of Richard Rodgers (Imperial Theatre) Color photographs removed from album. Tribute to the music and work or Richard Rodgers.

Scrapbook of Richard Rodgers Shows Two volumes of photographs with a collection of Rodgers' shows. Items removed from scrapbooks and place in folders.

Scrapbook of Drury College (Springfield, Missouri) Honorary Degree, [11/3/1949] Photographs removed from scrapbook for the honorary degree award ceremony for Richard Rodgers from Drury College.

New York Illustrated (Television program) Scrapbook, [12/23/1965] Photographs removed from scrapbook from the NBC television program, New York Illustrated. Photographs by Richard Wolf.

100 Year Association of New York Award Scrapbook, [11/1950] Photographs commemorating award given to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Richard Rodgers with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, [2/22/1953] Photographs of Richard Rodgers conducting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in a program of Rodgers' own compositions.

   
Sub-series 5 - Negatives Table of Contents
Four folders of approximately 125 negatives.

All photography done by: Gerald Kraus, (212) 473-5570; (516) 473-9105

   
Series IX. Oversized Materials, [1917-1965] Table of Contents

This series contains all oversized materials. Included are photographs of productions and individuals and some sheet music. Copy of the song Auto Show Girl is included. Productions included are: Flower Drum Song, The Sound of Music, No Strings and The King and I.

Container Listing Table of Contents

   
SERIES I - RICHARD RODGERS CORRESPONDENCE Table of Contents
b. 1     
Correspondence "A" - "E"
b. 2     
Correspondence "F" - "H"
b. 3     
Correspondence "J" - "M"
b. 4     
Correspondence "N" - Z"
   
SERIES II - DOROTHY RODGERS CORRESPONDENCE Table of Contents
   
Sub-series 1 - General correspondence Table of Contents
b. 5     
Correspondence "A" - "Z"
   
Sub-series 2 - Condolence letters Table of Contents
b. 5     
Condolence correspondence on the death of Richard Rodgers "A" - "Z"
   
SERIES III - R. RODGERS CORRESPONDENCE TO DOROTHY RODGERS Table of Contents

(closed until July 1998)

b. 6     
Correspondence, 1926 - July 1934
b. 7     
Correspondence, August 1934 - 1974; also undated
   
SERIES IV - PRODUCTIONS Table of Contents
b. 8     
Production Files
   
SERIES V - COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MATERIALS Table of Contents
b. 9     
Columbia University School Ephemera Columbia University Oral History Transcript
   
SERIES VI - PERSONAL PAPERS Table of Contents
b. 10     
Biographical materials Copy of Musical Stages including photographs Certificates, awards and honorary degrees
   
SERIES VII - MEMORIALS Table of Contents
b. 10     
Text of memorial service Wall to Wall Rodgers program 31st Annual Grammy Awards program Clippings about the death of Richard Rodgers
   
SERIES VIII - PHOTOGRAPHS Table of Contents
   
Sub-series 1 - Personalities Table of Contents
b. 11     
Photographs of Personalities
   
Sub-series 2 - Events Table of Contents
b. 12     
Photographs of events
   
Sub-series 3 - Productions Table of Contents
b. 12     
Photographs of productions
   
Sub-series 4 - Photograph scrapbooks Table of Contents
b. 13     
Scrapbook of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra Concert [1954]
b. 14     
Scrapbook of Richard Rodgers : 60th Birthday Picture Book
b. 15     

Scrapbooks for the following:

  • By Jupiter
  • Richard Rodgers celebration at the Imperial Theatre
  • Richard Rodgers Shows - v. 1
  • Richard Rodgers Shows - v. 2
  • Drury College (Springfield, Missouri)
  • New York Illustrated (Television program)
  • 100 year Assn. of New York - Award to Rodgers & Hammerstein
  • Richard Rodgers conducting St. Louis Orchestra

   
Sub-series 5 - Negatives Table of Contents
b. 15     
Negatives
   
SERIES IX - OVERSIZED MATERIALS Table of Contents
b. 16     
Sheet music Oversized photographs
b. 17     
Portrait of Rodgers and Hart

Separated Material Table of Contents

Audiovisual materials separated from archival collections are cataloged individually and can be found in the Library catalog. Search CATNYP, The New York Public Library catalog.

Photographs Table of Contents

  • Ethel Merman (3) - ["B" file]

Autographed photographs Table of Contents

  • Edythe Baker (1927) -1 photograph
  • Charlotte Greenwood (1954) -1 photograph (as Aunt Eller)
  • Oscar Hammerstein -1 photograph
  • Beatrice Lillie - 1 photograph
  • Myrna Loy -1 photograph
  • Mary Martin (1947-48) - 1 photograph (as Annie Oakley)

Audiotapes Table of Contents

Text of memorial service at funeral of Richard Rodgers [January 3, 1980]

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