Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. .4 lin. ft. (1 flat box)

Summary

1. The Lily Yuen Papers provides some documentation of the dancing and entertainment career of this revue performer, in addition to containing personal family papers. A small number of papers pertain to Yuen's mother, brother, husband, and her sister and colleague, Libo (Olivia) Yuen. Of interest are two manuscript joke books containing hundreds of jokes, many titled, often about the relationship between men and women. There are also programs for the Brownskin Models, "Fast and Furious" and "Yeah Man," and sheet and manuscript music, some with parts, and most annotated, including "Can't Believe" and "Why Do I Lie to Myself About You?" A scrapbook of newsclippings documents Yuen's career as a Brownskin Model during the group's nationwide tours (1926-1930). The scrapbook emphasizes Yuen's fellow dancer, Blanche Thompson, who was a principal dancer in Brownskin Models, as well as Florence Mills of "Bye Bye Blackbirds" fame. Yuen's sister, Libo, is also mentioned in the scrapbook as a dancer.

Subject

1. African American entertainers
2. Yuen, Lily, 1908-
3. Women entertainers > United States
4. African American theater
5. African Americans in the performing arts
6. Scrapbooks
7. Women in the performing arts > United States
8. Revues > United States
9. African American wit and humor
10. Brownskin Models (Dance company)
11. Dance, Black > United States
12. Thompson, Blanche
13. African American women entertainers

Genre/Form

1. Scrapbooks.

Call number

1. Sc MG 643

Note

1. Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.

Source (note)

1. Rose Dezonie

Biography (note)

1. Lily Yuen was a singer and dancer, who also considered herself a comedienne, performer of novelty songs, parodies and specialty acts, as well as an emcee, during the 1920's and 1930's. She was a principal in the Brownskin Models, an annual touring revue produced by Irvin C. Miller in which her sister, Libo, also appeared. Yuen performed in "Broadway Rastus," "Fast and Furious" and "Yeah Man." Lily Yuen, also known as "Hoy Hoy" and "Pontop," was born in Georgia and lived her adult life in New York City.

Indexes/finding aids (note)

1. Finding aid available.

Processing action (note)

1. Processed
2. Cataloged

Author

1. Yuen, Lily, 1908-

Title

1. Lily Yuen papers, 1926-1992.

Biography

1. Lily Yuen was a singer and dancer, who also considered herself a comedienne, performer of novelty songs, parodies and specialty acts, as well as an emcee, during the 1920's and 1930's. She was a principal in the Brownskin Models, an annual touring revue produced by Irvin C. Miller in which her sister, Libo, also appeared. Yuen performed in "Broadway Rastus," "Fast and Furious" and "Yeah Man." Lily Yuen, also known as "Hoy Hoy" and "Pontop," was born in Georgia and lived her adult life in New York City.

Indexes

1. Finding aid available.

Connect to:

1. NYPL Digital Collections
2. Finding Aid

Research call number

1. Sc MG 643