Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1845-date (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
59 boxes, 7 albums, plus books and oversize material
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Stephen Sondheim Society was established in 1993 to promote the works of the musical theatre composer and lyricist in the UK and elsewhere, and to build an appreciation and interest in them. The Society has a number of patrons connected to the world of musical theatre, including Sondheim himself. Their work includes running a website and forums dedicated to Sondheim, sharing news of performances of Sondheim’s shows and arranging trips to see them, and publishing a magazine on Sondheim’s work. They also run an annual competition for student performers, the Stephen Sondheim Society Performer of the Year awards (or SSSPOTY), as well as organising other events such as an annual garden party. As part of their aim to educate others on the work of Sondheim, the Society has built up an archival collection relating to him and his work. The core of the Collection was formed by antiquarian bookseller Peter Wood which was then passed to the Society, and it has since continued to be added to. The Archive will continue to grow as more items are collected.
Repository
Archival history
The core of the Stephen Sondheim Society's archive is formed by the Peter Wood Collection. The Peter Wood Sondheim Collection was collected by bookseller Peter Wood over many years, it then passed to the Society in 2008 and has been held by its committee since. Additional material has since been collected by various members and collated by the Society's secretary. The Collection is now held by Kingston University Archives and Special Collections.
GB 2108 KUAS96 1845-date Collection (Fonds) 59 boxes, 7 albums, plus books and oversize material Stephen Sondheim Society
The Stephen Sondheim Society was established in 1993 to promote the works of the musical theatre composer and lyricist in the UK and elsewhere, and to build an appreciation and interest in them. The Society has a number of patrons connected to the world of musical theatre, including Sondheim himself. Their work includes running a website and forums dedicated to Sondheim, sharing news of performances of Sondheim’s shows and arranging trips to see them, and publishing a magazine on Sondheim’s work. They also run an annual competition for student performers, the Stephen Sondheim Society Performer of the Year awards (or SSSPOTY), as well as organising other events such as an annual garden party. As part of their aim to educate others on the work of Sondheim, the Society has built up an archival collection relating to him and his work. The core of the Collection was formed by antiquarian bookseller Peter Wood which was then passed to the Society, and it has since continued to be added to. The Archive will continue to grow as more items are collected.
The core of the Stephen Sondheim Society's archive is formed by the Peter Wood Collection. The Peter Wood Sondheim Collection was collected by bookseller Peter Wood over many years, it then passed to the Society in 2008 and has been held by its committee since. Additional material has since been collected by various members and collated by the Society's secretary. The Collection is now held by Kingston University Archives and Special Collections.
Kingston University Archives and Special Collections are storing and giving access to the material on behalf of The Stephen Sondheim Society.
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).
The Collection will continue to grow as the Society continues its work, and as Sondheim shows continue to be performed.
The collection is split into two sub-fonds- the Peter Wood Sondheim Collection and the Stephen Sondheim Society Additional material. The Peter Wood collection is being kept in its original order (ie by format), the additional material has been arranged by theme and show.
The collection is able to view by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Copying is restricted due to copyright law and to protect the physical condition of the items. Please refer any requests for copies to a member of staff.
Mainly English, with a small amount of material in German and French.
Full catalogue listings of the archival material are being added to our Archives catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk. Catalogue listings for the books and audio visual material will be added on to our library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 2014 Press cuttings Incidental music Theatre music Visual materials Posters Theatre management Theatrical performances Publications Leaflets Newspaper press Musical theatre Theatre Performing arts Theatre programmes Documents Musical comedy Opera Theatre reviews Reviews Musical appreciation Musicology Musical competitions Musical performances Music Sondheim , Stephen , b 1930 , composer Press Dramatic criticism Information sources Communications media Information sciences Literary criticism Literature
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Kingston University Archives and Special Collections are storing and giving access to the material on behalf of The Stephen Sondheim Society.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
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).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
The Collection will continue to grow as the Society continues its work, and as Sondheim shows continue to be performed.
System of arrangement
The collection is split into two sub-fonds- the Peter Wood Sondheim Collection and the Stephen Sondheim Society Additional material. The Peter Wood collection is being kept in its original order (ie by format), the additional material has been arranged by theme and show.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The collection is able to view by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copying is restricted due to copyright law and to protect the physical condition of the items. Please refer any requests for copies to a member of staff.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Mainly English, with a small amount of material in German and French.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Full catalogue listings of the archival material are being added to our Archives catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk. Catalogue listings for the books and audio visual material will be added on to our library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Visual materials
- Visual materials » Posters
- Theatre management
- Theatre management » Theatrical performances
- Press » Newspaper press
- Theatre
- Performing arts
- Documents
- Theatre » Opera » Musical comedy
- Theatre » Opera
- Music » Musicology
- Music » Musical performances
- Music
- Press
- Information sources
- Information sciences
- Literature » Literary criticism
- Literature
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English