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(1) Postcard from Thomas James Wise of Heath Drive, Hampstead, London to [Stewart Marsh] Ellis of Kent Gardens, Kew, Surrey, 18 Sep 1931. 'I should like to be identified as a descendant of the Wises who published some of the Shakespeare Quartos!'.
(2) Letter from Mrs Frances Louise Wise of Heath Drive, Hampstead, London to [Stewart Marsh] Ellis of Kent Gardens, Kew, Surrey, 31 Aug 1932. Arranging a meeting at the theatre. 'Tom is still improving, he hobbled into the library yesterday ...'. Autograph, with signature.

Papers of Professor Reginald Pepys Winnington-Ingram, [1922-1995] including research papers relating to Studies in Aeschylus (Cambridge University Press, 1983) comprising manuscript and typescript drafts and notes by Winnington-Ingram including on the Erines in the Oresteia, the Seven against Thebes and Prometheus Bound; off-prints of articles; correspondence with other classicists including his students John Lavery and Michael Evans. Working notes, draft articles, off-prints and correspondence on the following themes: the works of Euripedes, notably Bacchae, Heracles, Hippolytus and Electra; the works of Proclus, the works of Pindar and the works of Sophocles notably Oedipus Tyrannus, Ajax, The Trachiniae, Electra, and Philoctetes. General correspondence, 1939-1990. Papers relating to Plato including notes for Winnington-Ingram's inaugural lecture at King's College London 'The Unity of Plato's Phaedrus'. Draft lecture notes, including for 'Swan's Hellenic Cruises', 1973, lectures on Aristophanes and lectures on Greek drama for a lecture tour of USA and New Zealand. Teaching notes on Thucydides and the development of Greek prose. Unpublished articles on subjects including 'Revenge, justice and tragedy', 'The staging of the Peace of Aristophanes' and 'Greek stage conventions and their ancient critics.' Notebook containing notes on pupils and on Greek palaeography. Scrapbook containing press cuttings of reviews of Winnington-Ingram's publications, 1936-1949. Correspondence with Edward O. Symonds, a close personal friend of Winnington-Ingram, 1922-1949. Press cuttings of reviews by Winnington-Ingram.

Manuscript copies of one-act plays written by William Poel, newspaper clippings relating to a production of Samson Agonistes and a copy of "Monthly Letters" on performing Shakespeare, collected and published.

Records of the Waldorf Theatre Syndicate Limited, comprising trust deeds and other legal documents, 1905-1910.

A contract to publish music from the opera Macbeth, 1847.

The archive consists of papers relating to Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp including articles by Jill Truman for the Bristol Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) newsletter and a typescript copy of a play by Jill Truman, 'The Web', with copy photographs and related publicity material.

One file comprising a copy transcript of Ruth Tomalin's diary, May-Dec 1938 as a Journalism student at King's College London, with brief notes on College lectures attended and giving an interesting flavour of student life in London during the late 1930s with descriptions of West End theatre productions, parties and the geography of London; lecture notes in two notebooks, 1938; copies of press articles by Ruth Tomalin, 1938-1945; colour copy of the cover for Green ink (written as Ruth Leaver, Harrap, 1951); first edition of The sound of pens (written as Ruth Leaver, Blackie, London, 1955), which includes a fictionalised version of of King's College as 'Thames College' (pp 28-30); copy of Garden house diaries: life on a country estate, 1930-1945 (Ruth Tomalin, Quercus Press, Eastbourne, 2003).

Numerous publications include: All souls (Faber and Faber, london, 1952), The garden house (Faber and Faber, London, 1964), Long since (Faber, 1989), Away to the west (Faber and Faber, London, 1972).

Declaration of Trust, 1775, by (2) in (1) who have purchased on behalf of (2) from David Garrick of the Adelphi, Esq., and Willoughby Lacy, otherwise Morris, of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Esq., (administrator of Will of James Lacy, late of St. George Hanover Square) the rent or sum of £4 for every day or night when any theatrical performance publicly takes place at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and also the privilege for 40 persons to be present, free of charge, at such performance, which rent and privilege had been granted to David Garrick and James Lacy on 24th March, 1762 by Honourable Francis Russell, Marquis of Tavistock.

(1) George Garrick of St. Mary le Strand, Esq., Albany Wallis of Norfolk Street, St. Clement Danes, gent.

(2) Thomas Allan of Berners Street, St. Marylebone, Esq.,
Benjamin Aguilar of London Street, City of London, Esq.,
Thomas Leigh Bennett of Soho Square, Esq.,
Edward Barwell of Abingdon Street, Esq.,
Owen Salisbury Bracton of Soho Square, Esq.,
Richard Brown of Golden Square, Esq.,
Anthony Chamier of the War Office, Esq.,
Thomas Coutts of St. Martin in the Fields, Esq.,
Peter Castlefranc of Pall Mall, Esq.,
Monkhouse Davison of Fenchurch Street, London, Esq.,
Robert Darell of Winchester Street, London, Esq.,
Dame Elizabeth Glynn of Whitehall, widow,
Thomas Glynn of Whitehall, Esq.,
John Gazley of Northumberland Street, Esq.,
Rice James of Berners Street, St. Marylebone, Esq.,
Henry Jones of Frith Street, St. Ann Soho, Esq.,
Henry Kendall of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Esq.,
Robert Ladbroke of City of London, Esq.,
Isaac Moses Levy of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Esq.,
Nicholas Lethmere of St. James', Westminster, Esq.,
Joseph Martin of Downing Street, Esq.,
Nathaniel Newnham of Botolph Lane, London, Esq.,
Thomas Nash of Morriss Causeway, Surrey, Esq.,
Thomas Newnham of Hatton Street, Esq.,
Richard Russell of Bermondsey Street, Surrey, Esq.,
Mary Spencer of Newman Street, spinster,
Benjamin Smith of Oxford Street, Esq.,
Isaac Scria of Tokenhouse Yard, London, Esq.,
Elizabeth Turner of Bedford Street, spinster,
Henry Williams of Berwick Street, Esq.,
George Wyatt of Fleet Street, London, Esq.

Papers relating to railways, 1839-1983, including reports, evidence and petitions relating to the construction of new lines and stations; papers relating to fires, 1522-1974, including papers on the provision of fire fighting equipment, the introduction of fire insurance policies and the establishment of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade; papers relating to the Great Fire of London, 1667-1966, including acts, orders and financial accounts relating to the rebuilding of the City of London including receipts from Christopher Wren, papers relating to the investigation into the cause of the Fire, financial accounts of funds to relieve those affected, descriptions and accounts of the Fire; papers relating to Royal and Municipal Commissions, 1816-1969; papers relating to war 1692-1995, including papers relating to the Corporation's activities during World War One; air raid precautions and casualties, Roll of Honour of Civilian War Dead in the City of London and papers relating to the bombing of Guildhall, World War Two and City of London salute to the task force, Falklands Campaign, 1982.

Papers relating to transport, 1663-1985, including hackney coaches and hackney carriages, carts and carmen, stage coaches, river traffic, tramways, omnibuses and buses, subways, Heathrow and Fairlop Airports, the London Underground and the Channel Tunnel terminal in London; papers relating to shipping, 1610-1989; papers relating to trades and crafts, 1510-1991, including bills, wages, regulations, acts and petitions regarding bricklayers, carpenters, carters, founders, glaziers, masons, painters, paviors, plasterers, plumbers, smiths, wireworkers, button makers, butchers, chimney sweeps, hairdressers, ironmongers, spoon makers, paper makers, tanners, tailors, rakers, midwives, engravers, clock makers and printers; papers relating to the Honourable Artillery Company, 1503-1967.

Papers relating to the history of London, 1565-1994, including "An exposicion of the Kinges prerogative collected out of the great abridgement of Justice Fitz-Herbert and other olde writers of the lawes of England" by Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, 1565, "Londinopolis: An Historicall Discourse or Perlustration of the City of London, The Imperial Chamber, and chief Emporium of Great Britain: Whereunto is added another of the City of Westminster, with the Courts of Justice, Antiquities, and new Buildings thereunto belonging" by James Havel, 1657, and various other antiquarian and modern books, articles and pamphlets on the history of London; papers relating to health and medicine, 1657-1994, including bills of mortality, papers relating to the outbreak of plague in London, 1665-1666, letters, reports and conference papers relating to the control of cholera; papers regarding provisions, 1607-1990, including warrant authorising the Mayor to receive venison out of the Royal Parks, 1607 and papers of committees investigating the high price of provisions, 1767-1822; papers relating to the government of the City of London and Greater London, 1849-1993; papers relating to the provision and price of gas, 1828-1918; papers relating to the supply of water to the City, 1538-1992; papers relating to the placing, erection and upkeep of statues and monuments in London, 1680-1995; papers relating to weights and measures, 1678-1997, including records of action taken against those using false weights and measures and registers of weighed goods; papers relating to seals and medals, 1285-1995, including examples of medieval seals and register of documents sealed; papers relating to insignia and plate, 1650-1993, including information on the Collar of SS, Diamond Badge or Jewel, Mace, Crystal Mace, Swords, City Purse, Mayoralty Seal, Robes and Sceptre and inventories of City plate; papers relating to the population of the City of London, 1719-1982, including "A compu tation of the increase of London and parts adjacent; with some causes thereof, and remarks thereon", 1719, population returns, 1821-1897 and population studies and articles; papers regarding tolls, 1605-1833, including Acts, bonds, exemptions and leases; papers relating to the postal service, 1741-1938, including examples of early stamps and papers relating to the Penny Post; papers relating to the carrying out of writs, 1460-1965, including writs of habeas corpus, certiorari, subpoenas and jury summons; papers relating to the textile trade, 1674-1995, including orders, rates, inventories, petitions relating to the production of textiles including cloth, lace and wool, bonds of searches and sealers of tanned leather, 1699-1804, and articles on the history of textiles.

Papers relating to probate, 1693-1786, including estate inventories, letters of administration and notes on legal customs; papers relating to the regulation of fireworks and bonfires within the City, 1673-1857; papers relating to archaeological investigations in the City of London, 1972-1989; extracts relating to archery in Finsbury Fields, 1521; reports and articles relating to the armorial bearings of the City, 1216-1973; bullion certificates, 1696-1819; licences issued for the right to use calcium carbide, 1897-1919; papers relating to convex lights, 1692-1694; papers relating to conveyancing, 1770-1948 and various other papers relating to aspects of the administration of the City of London including common soil, conservation, criminal prosecutions, city customs and liberties, the Customs House, erection of hoardings, gifts and presentations, regulation of gunpowder, income tax, the London Building Acts, licensing, lotteries, regulation and licensing of petroleum, precedent books, precepts issued by the Mayor or Common Council, bills for printing and stationery, the Olympic Games, pageantry, proclamations, brewers and public houses, the Shops Act, smoke abatement and clean air, street cleaning, theatres, the unemployed, Viewer's reports, wharves, woods and forests, newspapers and cuttings, fishing, the Festival of the City of London, coffee houses, coinage, the Bank of England and other financial institutions.

The Stephen Sondheim Society Archive documents the life and work of musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. The core of the collection was collected by antiquarian bookseller and Sondheim enthusiast Peter Wood- his collection later passed to the Society. Additional material has been added since, filling in gaps in the Peter Wood collection and documenting productions and publications that have occurred since it was transferred to the Society.

Both parts of the Collection contain a range of material on Stephen Sondheim and his work- notably programmes, leaflets, posters and press cuttings. There are also journals, books, audio visual material and collectables. The Collection dates from Sondheim's earliest work to the present and will continue to be added to as his works continue to be performed. There are also documents relating to the work of the Society itself, notably the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year awards (SSSSPOTY).

Records of Southbank Centre comprising:

Administrative records including:
Opening Ceremony book of distinguished visitors, 3 May 1951, containing signatures of guests; Visitors books (signed by performers), 1956-1966; Press releases, 1969-1991 (1 box); Annual Reports, 1992-present

Event diaries, 1951-present; records of attendance and ticket sales, 1957-1970s

Arts Board Recreation and Arts Committee files, 1976-1982; Visual Arts Committee files, 1978-1982; London County Council Committee orders files relating to Royal Festival Hall, 1949-1975; Southbank Board administrative files, 1985-present

Artist agreements, 1974-1976; administrative files 1970s-1980s; files relating to redevelopment

Records relating to exhibitions including administrative files, papers and photographs, 1951-1994; printed catalogues of exhibitions; card catalogue of exhibitions, 1950s-1980s; photographs relating to exhibitions, 1981-1993

Records of performances and events including Meltdown summer music festival publicity material, 1993-2000; music projects subject files, 1970s-1980s; South Bank Summer Music (SBMS) administrative files, 1969-1984

Card index of performances at Southbank Centre venues arranged by artist, instrument, conductor and composer, 1951-1985

Printed publicity material including Preview, South Bank Centre publication, 1991-1995; Scrapbooks containing printed programmes, 1951-1964 (18 vols); copies of printed performance programmes 1951-present; Exhibition programmes, 1976-1980s; publicity posters, 1980-2000; leaflets 1960s-present

Collection of published magazines containing articles or special issues relating to the Festival of Britain of the RFH, 1951-1995

Cuttings collection including newspaper cuttings, 1951-1964; Press Department cuttings, 1984-present; Education Department press cuttings, 1987-1993; cuttings and papers relating to site development, 1996; articles and speeches of Nicholas Snowman, 1992-1999; orchestral residency background, 1990-1995; redevelopment submission, 1991; seasons and launches, 1994-1996; cuttings re Festival ballet, dance, 1952, 1954; cuttings of concert reviews and events; press cuttings, 1984-2002

Scrap books of press cuttings arranged by subject including Royal Festival Hall organ, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 1954; National Theatre and South Bank Opera House, 1958-1965; Philharmonia /New Philharmonia Orchestra, 1963-1966; Royal Festival Hall Competition, 1965; Queen Elizabeth Hall opening, and acoustics, 1967; South Bank Summer Music, 1964-1968; Orchestral Resources Report, 1970; Night of Nights-Frank Sinatra, 1970; Kirov Ballet, 1979; Calas/Di Stefano, 1973; Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra, 1975; Royal Festival Hall 25th anniversary, 1976; Horowitz concert, 1982; Metropolitan Mikado, 1985; and The Soul of the Terracotta Army, 1987

Photographic collection comprising:
Files of photographs arranged by subject including aerial views, auditoria, backstage, brewer and South Bank Lion, Embankment, Festival Pier and Jubilee Gardens, Festival of Britain, foundation stone and topping out, furniture and fittings, Hayward Gallery interior and exterior, models and artists' impression, organs, Queen Elizabeth Hall under construction, exterior and interior, Royal Festival Hall construction, exterior and interior, Royal Festival Hall completion, site and views from the site, staff and miscellaneous images, 1920s-1970s
Scrap books of photographs relating to Royal Festival Hall construction, exhibitions, foyer exhibitions and other events, receptions, interior, exterior and models, Stage productions and films
Collection of photographs and negatives of artists, conductors, events and staff

Collection of visual materials including:
Portraits of - Bela Bartok, Artur Schnabel and Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir Arthur Bliss, Walter Crane, Piero De Gamba, George Gissing, Gerald Moore, Paul Tortellier, by artists including Janos Halafy, Adrian Allinson, Wyndham Lewis, Sonia Miller, Bette Flashtig
Collection of drawings by Dr Willy Dreifuss including portraits of Sir Thomas Beecham, Clifford Curzon, Jascha Horenstien, Otto Klemperer, Rafael Kubelik, Artur Ribinstein, Adrex Segovia
Prints of Ludwig van Beethoven, Clara Haskil, Double Basses of the New Philharmonia Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini, by artists including Michael Garady, Doroth Bradford, A Rienzi
Lithograph of Sir Henry Wood, view of Somerset House from Waterloo Bridge, view of Waterloo Bridge from the west; 27 prints of musicians and singers published in Vanity Fair, 1872-1908

Collection of films and videos of programmes and promotional material, relating to the Festival of Britain, Royal Festival Hall anniversaries, architecture and building development, the South Bank development, [1951], [1976] 1983 -2001

Sound recordings including:
Commercial CD (100) and audio cassettes (50) recordings of concert performances held at Royal Festival Hall
Oral history recordings (on audio cassette, DAT, and CD) of interviews with managers, London County Council members, architects, musicians, staff and patrons, including Felix Aprahamian, Hugh Bean, Lord Birkett, Tony Blackwell, Harry Blech, Jack Brymer, Shirly Cooper and Ted Higgins, Nicholas Danby, John Denison, Maura Dooley, Rober Glazebrook, Noel Goodwin, Ian Grant, Reg Fulker, Illtyd Harrington, Victor Hochhauser, R G F Howden, Michael Kaye, Frank Kellond Jones, London Festival/English National Ballet, Ruth Mackenzie, George Mann, Sir Leslie Martin, Lord Menuhin, Peter Moro, Yvonne Pegler, Anthony Phillips, Richard Pulford, David Seigle-Morris, Dennis Spall, Anthony Steele, and Christine Wilde, 1990s
Recordings of miscellaneous interviews and broadcast radio programmes relating to Royal Festival Hall and the Festival of Britain, 1957, 1990-2000

Material relating to the Festival of Britain including:
newspapers, magazines, guides, extract articles, programmes and exhibition catalogues [1951-1993]; Festival plans and posters; Festival ephemera and objects including ash tray, curtain, head scarf, press pass, presentation soap [1951]; chairs and other furniture
Cassette and CD recordings containing extracts from BBC commentaries, relating to the opening of Royal Festival Hall, various events, and interviews with Robert Matthew and William Allen; Festival Times, publication of the Festival of Britain Society, 1989-present.

Brian Smith's collection of theatre programmes, compiled over several decades of visiting a range of theatrical productions in London and the surrounding area. The programmes date from 1954 up until the 2000s and as well as covering productions at theatres all over London’s West End there are some from New York, Paris, Sydney and Cape Town. Brian enjoyed a wide range of theatre including plays, musicals and variety shows. There is also a large collection of opera, ballet and concert programmes.

Assignment of a rent of two shillings each night of performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and free privilege for 21 years, between Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Thomas Linley and James Ford; and Anna Maria Ford.

Business papers of George Bernard Shaw, 1872-1950, mainly comprising correspondence, royalty details, contracts, copyright notices and other financial material, including papers relating to the performance of Shaw's plays in the UK and abroad by professional and amateur companies, 1896-1950; material concerning Shaw's dealings with literary agents, publishers, translators and various regulatory bodies, 1899-1950; printed blank contracts regulating the production and performance of Shaw's work in the UK and abroad, 1900-[1950]; correspondence, contracts, statements of royalties and other papers relating to the translation, publication and performance of Shaw's plays in countries other than the UK, 1907-1950; correspondence and bills of Messrs Leighton-Straker, bookbinders, 1911-1949, and Messrs R & R Clarke, printers, 1908-1949, including details of texts, numbers ordered and cost per unit; papers relating to dealings with Constable and Company Ltd, publishers, [1919]-1950; material relating to dealings with Messrs Brentano, US publishers, 1889-1946, notably royalty statements, accounts of sales, copyright agreements, and other material related to the publication of Shaw's plays and literary works in the USA; correspondence between Shaw and Paul Reynolds, his literary agent in the USA, 1907-1922, including details of payments made to Shaw for various articles, the serialisation of his plays in magazines, and copyright details; correspondence and papers concerning Shaw's dealings with literary agents in other European countries, [1903-1949], notably relating to the translation, publication and performance of his works; papers relating to litigation about copyright in the USA, 1927-1950; material relating to legal actions brought by Shaw against various unauthorised central European productions and publications, 1906-1910; correspondence relating to the adaptation and filming of Shaw's plays, 1913-[1950], including material concerning the development of the British and Irish film industries and the funding, marketing and distribution of films; correspondence concerning broadcasting rights, 1949-1950, mainly of Shaw's talks and adaptations of his plays; papers relating to the translation of Shaw's works, 1904-1949, into Russian, Czech, French, German and Polish; correspondence, receipts and contracts relating to Shaw's personal finances, 1872-1950, including details of his insurance policies and investments, property, income tax in the UK and USA, bank statements, royalty payments, and the disposal of the estate of Charlotte Shaw; papers relating to property owned by Shaw in Ireland and at Shaw's Corner, 1920-1949; material concerning dealings with J N Mason and Co, solicitors, 1891-1948, including the post-nuptial agreement made between Shaw and his wife; bills and letters relating to the purchase and hire of motor cars, 1900-1950; engagement diaries, 1877-1950; personal and domestic bills and receipts, 1872-1950, including hotel bills collected by Shaw during tours of the UK and Europe; notebooks and ledgers containing records of royalty payments, 1898-1950; copies of letters from Charlotte Shaw, 1899-1936, including letters to Alys Russell and Blanche Patch, with photographs of Charlotte's family and friends; material given to the Library by users of the Shaw papers, 1961-1970, notably copies of The California Shavian, 1961-1962.

Letters (6) to Charles Santley, 1882-1894, including invitation to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's concert in aid of funds for the Royal College of Music (with Santley's draft letter of declining), Apr 1882; invitation from George Grove for Santley to teach male vocalists at the RCM, Aug 1882; from Arthur Sullivan, requesting a score, Nov 1885; from W S Gilbert, advising that Santley's son be appraised by Sullivan rather than himself in regard to a part at the Savoy Theatre, London, Feb 1894. The collection also includes a contract for John Benje at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, London, Apr 1842.

Theatre and opera programmes from Ekaterinburg and St Petersburg, Russia, 1912-1913; Trans-Siberian Railway dining car menu, 1915; International Sleeping Car and Express-Train Company leaflet of Far Eastern services, with map and timetables, 1919.

Archives of the Royal Opera House (ROH), comprising:
some business records of the ROH and associated companies including Board minutes and papers of various opera companies using the ROH, 1919-1939; box office returns and payment slips for artists and theatre staff, 1919-1939; individual artist files, containing biographical information, prints and photographs 18thc to present]; production files 1946-present; minutes of the Board of the Royal Opera House Ltd, sub-committees, and management groups, 1946-present; files of the General Administrator/Chief Executive Office, and Assistants to the General Administrator, 1946-present; files of the Chairman of the Board 1946-1997; files of the Company Secretary's office, 1948-1996; files of the Personnel Office -2002 (closed); Contract files 1946-1980s (closed);
Opera Company files 1970s - 1999; Ballet Company files 1947-1996; Birmingham Royal Ballet files 1970s-1991; some early performing company files are found with the General Administrator's files; Finance Department records, 1946-present;

19th century correspondence, including letters of Frederick Gye (1809-1878), opera manager; Giovanni Matteo Mario (1810-1883) Italian tenor; Giulia Grisi (1811-1869), and Michael Costa (1810-1884) conductor;

Press, Publication, Community Relations, Marketing and Box Office departmental files, 1980-2000; House Management files, 1948-1999; Orchestra Office files, 1948-present; Friends of Covent Garden files, 1964-1999;

Ballet for All - education initiative files, 1964-1970s; London Opera Centre records, 1963-1970s; Production Office files, 1946-1980; Fly Department files, 1947-1977; Technical Department files, 1952-present;

audiovisual collection comprising:
audio recordings of oral history interviews relating to the Royal Opera House Development Project, 1997-2000; Verdi Centenary, 2001-2002; recordings of interviews and events at the Royal Opera House, 1964-2003;

photographic collection comprising:
photographs by Donald Southern, including black and white negatives and colour transparencies of performances, events and personnel at the ROH, 1959-1991; photographs by John Graham, including negatives of ballet and opera performances at the ROH, 1940s-1950s; photographs by Felix Fonteyn, including negatives of ballet productions from 1950s; photographs by Richard Holttum, including black and white negatives and colour transparencies of the ROH interior and exterior prior to development 1988-1991; photographs by Rob Moore including contact prints and colour transparencies of the ROH development, 1997-2001; Schal time-lapse photography of the development of the ROH, 1996-1999; Historic Monuments Commission photographic survey of the ROH interior and exterior prior to site development 1990-1996; two albums of photographs compiled by Edwin Sachs of the redevelopment of the ROH stage, 1899-1900, and the workshops; glass plate negatives used to create ballet post cards, 1950s-1960s;

collection of music and choreographic scores comprising:
printed songs, 18th -early 19th century; operas scores (vocal and orchestral) and stage managers scores, 1840s-1939; annotated opera stage managers scores 1946- present; annotated ballet stage managers scores, 1946-present; Staff Director's annotated scores for opera productions, 1946-present; Ninette de Valois' printed and manuscript music for ballet, 1920s -1930s; printed and manuscript ballet music, 1840s-1950s;
choreographic scores for ballets performed by The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet;

design and costume and collections comprising:
Yolanda Sonnabend design collection including notebooks, reference files, and related material, 1973-1995;
Ian Spurling collection of designs, photographs and press cuttings, 1975-1994; Toby Ward collection of drawings of the ROH prior to and during development 1996-1999;
Glynne Boyd Hart collection of watercolours of the ROH development, 1998-1999;
Ruth Hurle collection of drawings of back state, craft workrooms, opera and ballet rehearsals, 1930s-1940s;

costumes and accessories, such as headdresses, jewellery, shoes and wigs, worn by artist appearing at he ROH, 1920s-2003;
Comelli costume design collection including artwork by Attilio Comelli and others for costumes of operas performed at the ROH 1880s-1920s;
Costume design artwork, 1946-present; design artwork for sets and props, 1946-present; models of sets for productions, 1946-present; Model Room files relating to ground plans, and technical drawing or set and prop construction 1946 to present; stage and ground plans, 1939; Production Wardrobe files relating to costume and accessories design 1946-present;

miscellaneous large prints and drawings of performers and performances 19th and 20th century;

collection of advertising posters, 19th century-present;

programme collection including programmes for Gala and Special performances, and decorative programmes 1750s-present;

press cuttings of announcements, reviews, interviews, 18th century, 1847-1939; Harold Rosenthal collection of press puttings, relating mainly to the ROH performances, 1847-1950s; press cuttings of reviews and articles about performers and performances, 1946-present;
miscellaneous albums and scrap books relating to Anna Pavlova, and Nellie Melba, amongst others 1920s;

library collection comprising books, periodicals and specialist publication relating to ballet, dance, opera, music and theatre; libretti, 1840-present; playtexts 1776-[1850]; reports commissioned by the ROH and general arts reports 1946-present; ROH publications and souvenir year books 1956-2002;

special collections comprising:
Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund collection of material relating to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Royal Ballet (RB), including papers, photographs, press cuttings, programmes concerning the RB and its predecessors - Vic Wells and Sadler's Wells Ballet companies 1931- 1950s;

Spellman Song Sheet Covers containing illustrations of operas, and ballets late 19th-early 20th century;

albums of Lady de Grey albums containing photographs of singers, composers, conductors, mostly autographed, dedicated to (Constance) Gladys De Grey, (1859-1917) Marchioness of Ripon, and opera patron, 1870-1920;

collection of Dame Margot Fonteyn De Arias (1918-1991) ballet dancer, including costumes, accessories, photographs, correspondence and books, 1920s-1980s;

collection of Dame Ninette de Valois (1898-2001) founder of The Royal Ballet, including awards, honours and correspondence, 1947-1993;

collection of Leslie Edwards (1916-2001), principal dancer The Royal Ballet, including photographs 1920s-1980s;

collection of Eva Turner (1892-1990) English soprano, relating to her singing career, including costumes, accessories, photographs, press cuttings, music and books 1920s-1940s;

diaries of Frederick Gye (1809-1878), Royal Italian Opera General manager, 1847-1878, his daughter Clara Gye, and son Ernest Gye, ROH Manager, 1847-1877;

collection of Olive Grime, dancer with the Beecham Opera Company, including press cuttings, contracts, correspondence, photographs, books and costumes, 1920s-1930s;

collection of Reginald Goodall (1901-1990) English conductor, including correspondence and personal papers, 1900-1958.

The Roy Waters Theatre Collection is a privately created collection of theatrical material amassed as a result of forty years of collecting by Roy Waters. The collection primarily comprises of theatrical ephemera, though it also includes the personal papers of Roy Waters, documenting both his career as teacher and later as a school inspector, and his collecting habits and cultural interests.

The nature of the material is diverse, with the printed ephemera including a sizeable collection of programmes from the 19th to the 21st century, collectable items such as cigarette cards, press cuttings collected for their relevance to named individuals and events and photographs reflecting a range of formats including postcards, cartes de visite and cabinet photographs. Toy theatre and juvenile drama are well represented with loose character and scene sheets, tinsel prints and twentieth century stage and script packs forming part of the collection. In addition, the prints series, although primarily consisting of portrait and scene prints of theatrical individuals, also includes a range of topographic and general entertainment prints. Artefacts and commemorative ornaments comprise a series, as do sound recordings relating to the specialisms of the collection in particular productions and well known individuals.

The theatrical ephemera, although initially collected with a broad interest in the theatre in mind, does reflect the specific areas of interest which developed as the collection grew; discreet collections of material relate to specific individuals or events, for instance Noel Coward and Oscar Wilde.

The collection also contains hundreds of individual autograph letters dating from the 18th to the 20th century representing the variety of professions involved in the performing arts, including letters from George Arliss, Sir James Barrie, Phineas Taylor Barnum, Charles Dickens and a sick note for J.S.Grimaldi [Joseph Samuel Grimaldi]. In addition, there are a small number of original art works relating to the theatre.

This collection is divided into two sections. Section one contains material on capital punishment and the death penalty, against which Hewitt campaigned. Section two covers material concerned with obscene publications and other forms of media, including censorship, Obscene Publications Acts and other allied topics. The papers contain many printed examples of C H Rolph's articles and materials by organisation such as the Howard League for Penal Reform and the National League for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. Infamous legal cases such as the obscenity trials in the 1960s relating to 'Oz' magazine and Hubert Selby's novel 'Last Exit to Brooklyn' are discussed.

The collection contains administrative papers relating to Company contracts and internal and external correspondence; financial papers relating to budgets and funding, miscellaneous personal papers of the Company's director, Jonathan Holloway; production records including scripts, technical notes, rehearsal and production notes and directions, stage directions, information on casts, and tour and venue information; audiovisual recordings of productions; promotional, marketing and educational-outreach material; press-cuttings and reviews, photographs of named and un-named actors and productions; publications inspiring Red Shift productions; a study of the Company's production of 'The Love Child'; and an untitled script.

Two notebooks containing notes and newspaper cuttings concerning Purdon's production of As You like It, 1949 and Macbeth in 1951.

Papers of Serge Prokofiev, [1915]-1936, mainly comprising private and business correspondence relating to the performance and publication of Prokofiev's compositions. Much of the collection consists of personal correspondence concerning his working relationship with other artists including conductors Albert Coates, Sir Henry Wood, Sergei Koussevitsky, Hermann Scherchen, and Ernest Ansermet; soloists Joseph Szigeti, Pablo Casals, Robert Soëtans and Fyodor Shalyapin; composers Igor Stravinsky, Nikolai Miaskovsky, Maurice Ravel and practically all French composers of the 1920s and 30s; theatre directors Vsevolod Meyerhold and Alexander Tairov; the Director of the Ballets Russes, Serge Diaghilev; poets and writers such as Konstantin Balmont and Vladimir Maiakovsky; and chess grandmaster José Capablanca. The papers also include financial material such as bills and accounts, legal papers and correspondence concerning concerts in the USA, France, Italy, Spain, England, the Soviet Union and Germany; and the publication and copyright of Prokofiev's work. Individuals and companies with which Prokofiev dealt in these matters included musical societies such as the Aeolian Company in the USA, Concerts Populaires de Bruxelles, and Concerts Pasdeloup in Paris; music publishers such as Breitkopf and Härtel in Leipzig, Russicher Musikverlag in Berlin and Edition Russe de Musique in Paris; and Soviet music publishing and arts authorities including the State Publishing House, the Moscow and Leningrad conservatories, and the Direction of State Theatres. There is also correspondence regarding the composition of ballets and operas, notably The Love for Three Oranges, Chout, the Fiery Angel and Le Pas d'Acier. The remainder of the collection consists of diaries, personal notes and press cuttings relating to Prokofiev's work.

Items related to musical theatre collected by scholar and musician Alan Poulton. Includes programmes, books, research and other items relating to the work of Stephen Sondheim, and other items relating more widely to the world of musical theatre including journals, books and recordings.

Records of the organisation known variously as the Polytechnic Sports Club, the The Institute of the Polytechnic Sports and Social Clubs, and The Polytechnic Sports Club Committee, as well as records of the Polytechnic's Men's and Women's Council, and Joint Council.

This collection includes all records relating to the organisation of sports and social activities by members of the Polytechnic except for records of the individual clubs themselves, which are catalogued as separate collections. However it does include correspondence with the clubs by the Secretary and Committees. This collection also includes papers relating to the award of Polytechnic-wide medals and trophies, including the Elsie Hoare Trophy, Studd Trophy and Ditchman Trophy.

Photographs of the staff and students of Bedford College, [1849-1985], including academic and domestic staff, members of the governing body, and union committees. Photographs of the buildings of Bedford College, 1849-[1975]. Photographs of special events, 1913-1985, including royal visits, opening ceremonies, garden parties and the final reunion. Photographs concerning academic departments, 1922-1985, and resident students, 1946-1963. Photographs of student activities, 1887-[1970], including sports and drama. Correspondence relating to the photographic material, [1913-1985]. Photographic negatives and lantern slides, [1890-1940].

A score of one of Perez's operas, mid 18th century, Didone Abbandonata (Didone in Salveterra).

Papers of Christopher Palmer, [1928-1989], comprising scrapbooks collated by Palmer containing printed articles, press cuttings, draft articles and programme notes relating to the work of Serge Prokofiev, including sections on Prokofiev's operas, ballets, symphonies and orchestral works, as well as general biographical material. There is also material relating to Palmer and Oleg Prokofiev's edition of Serge Prokofiev's Soviet Diary 1927 and other writings, (Faber and Faber, 1991), including corrections and editorial notes; and various drafts of articles and programme notes on Prokofiev written by Palmer, [1988-1992].

Manuscript operetta in several hands, perhaps including that of the author, Patrick Robertson, entitled 'La festa d'overgroghi, operetta seria comica, in due atti...parole inglesi-italiane dal Signor Coccalicchi. Rappresentata nella Casa Skenea, Edinburgo, Marzio 1832', and containing instructions to the printer. The manuscript is bound with a printed copy of Nugae Legales (according to the half-title only), containing the printed operetta and some other items. The printed version is fuller than the manuscript, and the leaves are laid down to the size of the manuscript leaves.

Copies of the papers of Maria Nermi-Egounoff, opera singer, 1938-1990, including Nermi-Egounoff's cv, replete with press cuttings of reviews of her work; short biographies of British residents of Hungarian extraction who were anti-Semitic; newspaper articles and biographical notes.

Papers and books belonging to the theatre critic Sheridan Morley (1941-2007). Includes correspondence, records relating to his various productions, volumes of press coverings covering his reviews, research notes and transcripts of some of his publications, photographs, records relating to his father Robert Morley and Grandmother Gladys Cooper, records relating to Noel Coward, theatre memorabilia and ephemera and objects.

Theatrical columns of "The Referee", 1903-1909, and "The Curtain", 1922-1933; notebooks with lists of plays Morley acted in, c1904-1964; notebooks on plays seen, 1955-1966; articles by Morley, c1925-1965; London play diaries, 1932-1964; "Historical and Descriptive Accounts of Theatres of London" by Edward Wedlake Brayley, 1833; correspondence regarding publication of a manuscript by Morley, 1984-1986; scrapbook of productions in Canada, 1947-1950; minutes of Everyman Theatre Guild Limited, 1929-1931; autobiographical drafts and correspondence, 1913-1972; typescript plays by Alexander Ostrovsky, Nella Nagra, Etienne Rey, Alfred Savoir, August Strindberg, Franz Werfel, Herman Voaden, Astrid Arygll, Alice Gerstenberg, Sacha Guitry, Bjornson, Karen Bramson, Henri Gheon (undated).

Letters (10) and papers of or relating to Giacomo Meyerbeer, including to Giovanni Ricordi, 29 Jun 1824; to Leopold Ganz, 17 May 1847; to Jean-Antoine-Just Géraldy, c1850; to Annette Le Brun, ?before 1854; to James Steuart Bowes, ?1854; to C L Gruneisen, [14 Apr 1860]. With two testimonials for Leopold Ganz, 1845.

Working papers of the university administrator and scholar Anne Marie Meyer, c 1940-1990, on topics including: Dance; Costume; Opera; Ballet and Aby Warburg, art historian.

Papers of John Masefield, 1907-1971. Manuscripts 951 and 952 contain photographs of Masefield, Mrs Ethel Stockdale Ross, theatre productions and HMS Conway (?). B/W and colour photographs and negatives. Manuscript 953 contains watercolours and one ink drawing by Masefield. Manuscript 966 contains a watercolour, 'The Dalgoner', 1920s.

The archive consists of a typescript autobiography (about 350 pages, unbound, on 'flimsy' paper).

Correspondence and papers of Margaret Macintyre, 1889-1902, comprising 30 letters from various admirers and acquaintances including Fitzroy Gardner, H Rider Haggard, Sims Reeves, Giulio Ricordi, Arthur Shadwell, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Ellen Terry, (Francesco) Paolo Tosti, Charles H Wade, Cosima Wagner, Siegfried Wagner; correspondence with Adolf von Gross, Bayreuth Festival, regarding her appearance as Sieglinde, 1895; contracts for appearances at Covent Garden, 1889, 1892, 1897; passes for Royal Opera Company performance at Windsor Castle, 24 May 1895; undated cutting from Il Trovatore on Macintyre's performance as Elisabeth in Tannhauser.

Records relate to the organisation and running of LIFT festivals and other events from 1981-2001 and include material about the companies that performed, planning documents, directors' notebooks, technical and artistic documents, and research and marketing material. Records exist here that also show the history of the company since its inception and include board papers and funding documents. The photograph and video series includes promotional material from companies and documentation of festival events, and spans 1981-2001, as does the audio collection which mainly includes recordings of LIFT talks and discussions. There are also some objects in the collection that are related to LIFT events. A large collection of international festival programmes also spans 1981-2001 and print material such as programmes, flyers, and posters exists for this period also.

Musical scrapbook of Jenny Lind, 1847, containing manuscript transcriptions of six songs in German, with signatures and dedications of Luigi Lablache, Sigismond Thalberg, Arthur Saint-Léon and Fanny Cerito, London, Aug 1847; three account sheets relating to Lind's financial affairs, 1870-1871, including accounts, 1847-1848; statement of condolence from Royal College of Music on the death of Otto Goldschmidt, 16 Mar 1907; letter from Gill Bevan, Jenny Lind's grand-daughter, to Sir Ernest Bullock on provenance of the volume, 13 Jul 1959.

Original correspondence between the Polizeipräsident of Berlin and the KBDJ concerning all the activities of the organisation, eg. theatrical performances, engagement of the actors, venues etc, 1933-1935; forbidden Jewish texts including essays, lectures, poems, play scripts, short stories, anecdotes etc; general file containing programs pamphlets, correspondence between KBDJ and Staatskommisar, also Jüdischer Kulturbund, Berlin, 1938-1939; Kulturbund correspondence with groups, members, lawyers, Nazi authorities (Blank and Hinkel), reports and 3 copies of the Monatsblätter, 1933-1935; JKB Orts and Landesgruppe (except Berlin): mainly correspondence, pamphlets, programmes and other documents of the organisation in the different cities viz: Hamburg, Breslau, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Dresden, Hildesheim, Kassel, Bayern, Erfurt, Königsberg, Mecklenburg-Lübeck, Oberschlesien, Ost-Westfalen, Rhein-Ruhr, Schwarzwald, Stettin, Wien.

Papers relating to Peter Kien, 1943-1995, including original and copies of manuscripts and transcriptions of Kien's writings, personal documentation and sketches; publicity material relating to the performance of the Der Kaiser von Atlantis oder der Tod dankt ab, for which Peter Kien wrote a libretto; articles about his life and work and transcript of Petra Kiener's radio programme 'Peter Kien nicht vergessen'.

Papers of and relating to Sidney Keyes, 1920s-1943, comprising correspondence relating to an exhibition of his work at Dartford Grammar School; press cuttings and reviews of his work;

letters of condolence on Keyes' death, including from Vita Sackville-West, [1943]; letters by Keyes, 1931, 1941-1943; examination certificates, including from Queen's College, Oxford; letters relating to Keyes' manuscripts; bills and financial papers; papers relating to the War Graves Commission; memorial service, [1943]; letters from Keyes to Michael Meyer, John Heath-Stubbs and Herbert Read; manuscripts of poems and plays, [1930s-1942]; loose typescripts; notebooks containing essays written whilst at Tonbridge School including some poetry; folder of work returned by the Royal Airforce;

reminiscences of Sidney Keyes by Alistair Dennis Goodwin; letters from Keyes to J D Fage, 1938-1942; photographs, manuscripts and notebooks of Keyes, [1930s]; photocopies of papers of Keyes from the British Library, including letters to Milein Cosman, 1941-1942;

photographs of Sidney Keyes, including portraits and groups whilst in the army, [1942-1943]; in plays, 1938; his gravestone; as a child and at Dartford Grammar School, 1920s; books of poetry by Keyes; books, magazines and periodicals of poetry by other poets.

Collection of material relating to the dramatist Henry Arthur Jones (1851-1929), collected by M.H.Spielmann, including: Five letters from Henry Arthur Jones to the Morning Post newspaper concerning the reconstruction of the theatre (1919); correspondence with James Stanley Little (1922-1929); correspondence between Jones and M.H.Spielmann (1919-1929); correspondence between Doris Thorne (nee Arthur Jones) and M.H.Spielmann (1929-1939); publications and proofs of works by H.A.Jones (1897-1921); press cuttings concerning miscellaneous topics connected to H.A.Jones, including reviews of books and plays and cuttings concerning his disputes with George Bernard Shaw and H.G.Wells (1887-1950).

Correspondence of Frank Howes, 1925-1951, comprising letter from Charles Sanford Terry (to H C Colles), enclosing Terry's edition of Coffee and Cupid (The Coffee Cantata): an Operetta by Johann Sebastian Bach (London, 1925); correspondence with Ernest Irving regarding Ralph Vaughan Williams' score for the film Scott of the Antarctic, and with Edward Joseph Dent on Gluck's Orfeo, and John Church's A Divine Hymn.

The David Heneker Archive contains the working papers of musical theatre composer David Heneker, who wrote or contributed to several well known musicals incluing 'Half a Sixpence' and 'Charlie Girl'. The Archive contains materials relating to each of the shows David Heneker worked on including drafts of songs and scripts, musicals scores, correspondence and publicity. There is also material relating to his work as a songwriter in the 1930s and 1940s (including the Second World War), and his work for films and advertising. There are also materials relating to shows and films that David Heneker worked on that never reached the final production stage.

Three files of material relating to the work of musical theatre composer David Heneker, presented by Stewart Nicholls. Includes:

1) Publicity material for 'The Biograph Girl' including press articles and reviews, posters and programmes

2) File of original and copies of David Heneker’s handwritten music for songs from ‘The Biograph Girl’

3) File of original and copies of David Heneker’s handwritten music for songs from ‘Peg’, with some published music and typed lyrics.

The archive consists of papers and publicity material relating to the Commonwealth Countries League, personal correspondence and publicity for the Women's Freedom League and the establishment of the Mermaid Theatre.

Sir Henry Head's papers, 1891-1909, consist of his casebooks of patients with Herpes Zoster, with sketches and photographs, chiefly from Head's work at the London Hospital, 1891-1909, and his casebooks of patients with various diseases, with sketches and charts, from his work at the City of London Hospital for Diseases of the Heart and Lungs, Victoria Park, 1894.

Diary of actor John Pritt Harley, 1858.

The collection consists of member lists and registers; correspondence, notes and publications relating to the building of the new theatre; financial papers relating to loans; financial papers concerning various productions; legal papers relating to the lease of land; applications to the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Greater London Council for funding, including annual reports and accounts; papers and publicity material relating to productions; scripts; programmes and posters for plays; material concerned with the Women's festival of June 1986; publications about fringe theatres and the East End of London; photographs of productions and cast; press cuttings.

Papers of the Hackney Empire collection, 1962-2009, comprising:

Material relating to the CAST theatre troupe, 1962-1985, including: papers concerning Roland Muldoon's theatre training, membership of the Unity Theatre, drama classes at the Working Men's College, London, and the foundation of CAST, 1962-1969; correspondence, financial records, publicity material, scripts, press cuttings, tour schedules, photographs and audio recordings regarding CAST productions, 1966-1985, film reels of CAST film 'Planet of the Mugs', [1972];

Material relating to CAST Presentations Ltd, CAST New Variety Ltd and New Variety Performers Agency, 1982-[mid 1990s], including: minutes of management meetings, 1982-1990; correspondence and other administrative material relating to the running of CAST New Variety, [1983]-1986; proposals seeking home venues for the CAST New Variety, 1980-1985; minutes, correspondence, reports and other material relating to Diorama Arts Ltd, 1984-1989; publicity material for comedians, musicians and other cabaret acts either for spots in CAST New Variety shows or representation by New Variety Performers Agency, 1983-[mid 1990s]; posters and flyers advertising CAST New Variety shows, [1983]-1986; financial records, 1980-1991;

Material relating to Hackney Empire Theatre and Hackney New Variety Ltd, 1986-2009, including: minutes of management meetings, 1988-2005 (very incomplete); correspondence, 1988-2004 (very incomplete); press cuttings, 1986-2007; posters and programmes for Hackney Empire productions, 1986-2009; photographs, video recordings and other material relating to New Act of the Year, 1991-[2000] (very incomplete).