A Guide to the William David Eppes Collection of Arts Memorabilia , 1908-1998 #10582-g

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

William D. Eppes Collection, ca. 1908-1998, Accession #10582-g, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the Library by William David Eppes of New York, New York, on December 8, 1997.

Biographical/Historical Information

William David Eppes, civic worker and writer, was born in Goodwater, Alabama, in 1918. He was educated at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music, William and Mary College, George Peabody College--Vanderbilt University, the University of Miami, the University of Manchester (England), Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Durham (England). Eppes was a founder of the Film Classics League, St. Petersburg, Florida; Backstage Gallery, St. Petersburg Junior College; and the Littlebury Eppes Memorial Library, Westover, Virginia. He served on the boards of St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and the Association of Village Homeowners (New York); Associates of Earl Greg Swem Library, William and Mary College; the Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board; and, the Greenwich Village Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc. He is also a member of the Theatre Historic Society; Authors' Guild, Inc.; The Drama League; and, the Society of the Descendants of Francis Eppes I of Virginia. Books authored by Eppes are: The Empire Theatre 1893-1953 , Gertrude Michael - A Star of the Golden Age of Hollywood , and, Montgomery Theatre 1822- 1985 .

Scope and Content Information

This collection of ca. 2310 items, 1908-1998, pertains chiefly to persons in the arts and was compiled by William D. Eppes. Eppes maintained autograph letters files which include correspondence, memorabilia, photographs, and printed material by or about persons in the fine arts, theatre, literary and political worlds. In the folder of William D. Eppes correspondence, there are lists of persons represented in this collection and Eppes' notes on portions of the collection. He also kept a file of printed obituaries and tributes to persons in the arts and other venues. Printed memorabilia includes playbills, programs, announcements, and poster replicas for theaters chiefly in New York City.

Contents List

Correspondence 1927-1998

Box 1-4

Box 1
Correspondence: A 1937-1997
Box 1
Correspondence: Ba-Be 1954-1995
Box 1
Correspondence: J. Mitchell Baily (1945)1992
Box 1
Correspondence: Tallulah Bankhead 1970-1994
Box 1
Correspondence: Bi-By 1958-1997
Box 1
Correspondence: C 1951-1997
Box 1
Correspondence: D 1973-1994
Box 1
Correspondence: E 1939-1997
Box 1
Correspondence: Empire Theatre 1971-1987
Box 1
Correspondence: Empire Theatre--History--"Charles Frohman's 'Lovely and Exciting Temple'--The Empire Theatre" 1978
Box 1
Correspondence: Empire Theatre--History and Printed 1942-1981
Box 1
Correspondence: Empire Theatre--Marquee 1977-1981
Box 1
Correspondence: William D. Eppes 1980-1997
Box 2
Correspondence: F 1963-1995
Box 2
Correspondence: Malcolm Forbes 1985-1990
Box 2
Correspondence: 42nd Street Development Corporation 1985
Box 2
Correspondence: G 1971-1997
Box 2
Correspondence: Ha 1937-1998
Box 2
Correspondence: Armand Hammer 1979-1990
Box 2
Correspondence: He-Hu 1954-1994
Box 2
Correspondence: J 1971-1997
Box 2
Correspondence: K 1957-1996
Box 2
Correspondence: Anne Kaufman 1944(1971-1998), n.d.

4 folders
Box 2
Correspondence: L 1957-1997
Box 3
Correspondence: Landmarks Preservation Commission--Edna St. Vincent Millay House 1967-1979
Box 3
Correspondence: Landmarks Preservation Commission--Edna St. Vincent Millay House--Printed 1924-1994
Box 3
Correspondence: Eva LeGallienne 1953-1998
Box 3
Correspondence: Eva Le Gallienne--Photographs and Programs [1930s]-1979
Box 3
Correspondence: Eva Le Gallienne--Printed 1968-1997
Box 3
Correspondence: Eva Le Gallienne--Scrapbook, inscribed to William D. Eppes ca. 1926-1932
Box 3
Correspondence: Alfred Lunt 1987-1993
Box 3
Correspondence: M 1958-1994
Box 3
Correspondence: N 1962-1995
Box 3
Correspondence: P-Q 1952-1997
Box 3
Correspondence: R 1960-1994
Box 3
Correspondence: Sa-Si 1963-1997
Box 3
Correspondence: Sk-Sw 1957-1996
Box 4
Correspondence: Dorothy Stickney 1977-1998, n.d.

4 folders
Box 4
Correspondence: Dorothy Stickney--Photographs 1952, 1986-1995
Box 4
Correspondence: Dorothy Stickney--Printed Articles 1927-1996, n.d.
Box 4
Correspondence: Dorothy Stickney--Research Collections 1987-1996
Box 4
Correspondence: Dorothy Stickney--Theatre Programs and other memorabilia 1960-1990
Box 4
Correspondence: T-U-V 1954-1997
Box 4
Correspondence: Harry S. and Bess W. Truman 1970-1985
Box 4
Correspondence: Wa-Wi 1908(1968-1997)
Box 4
Correspondence: Wi-Wr 1957-1996
Box 4
Correspondence: Y-Z 1953-1994

Printed Material 1939-1997

Box 5-6

Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: A 1966-1997
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: B 1979-1997
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: C 1982-1997
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: D-E 1982-1997
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: F 1978-1996
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: G 1984-1996
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: H 1982-1997
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: I-J-K 1988-1995
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: L 1977-1996
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: M 1982-1997
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: N-O 1985-1995
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: P-Q-R 1983-1995
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: S-T 1979-1996
Box 5
Obituaries and Tributes: U-Z 1983-1996
Box 5
Playbills 1939-1988

2 folders
Box 5
Postcards n.d.

2 folders
Box 6
Printed: Boothbay Theatre Museum Collection 1990
Box 6
Printed: 42nd Street Theatre 1977-1978
Box 6
Printed: Metropolitan Opera 1965-1986
Box 6
Printed: Metropolitan Opera Association 1969-1972
Box 6
Printed: New Orleans Opera 1973
Box 6
Printed: On Writers & Writing Desk Diaries, inscribed by Helen Sheehy 1992,1994
Box 6
Printed: Opera of Saint Louis 1984
Box 6
Printed: The Royal Ballet 1981
Box 6
Printed: The Ziegfeld Club, Inc. 1993
Box 6
Souvenir Program: Gone with the Wind 1939
Box 6
Theatre Announcements and Posters 1984-1987, n.d.
Box 6
Theatre Programs 1922-1928

Sound Recording 1942-1966, n.d.

"Selections from George Gershwin's Folk Opera 'Porgy and Bess' Volume Two." Includes leaflet of same title. Decca Records, Inc. Book-type cover. 1942

3 sound discs; 10 in.; Phonodisc 0618
"Dorothy Stickney in 'A Lovely Light'," a dramatization by Dorothy Stickney of the poems and letters of Edna St. Vincent Millay as presented at the Hudson Theatre in New York City. Vanguard Recording Society, Inc. Inscribed by Dorothy Stickney. 1965

2 sound discs; 12 in. Phonodisc 0619
"Opening Nights at the Met." Historic recordings of Metropolitan Opera stars re-creating their celebrated opening night roles. Limited Edition. Boxed set. RCA Victor. Includes booklet of same title, 50 pages. 1966

3 sound discs; monaural; 12 in. Phonodisc 0620
"The Music of Cabin in the Sky featuring Ethel Waters." Liberty Music Shops. n.d.

3 sound discs; 10 in. Phonodisc 0621
"Presenting Gertrude Lawrence in Glamorous Music from 'Lady in the Dark.' Victor Records. Book-type cover. n.d.

sound discs; 10 in. Phondisc 0622