Finding Aids to the Special Collections in the VMFA Archives | Robert S. Telford Personal Papers SC-05
Special Collection 05 (SC-05)
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Archives
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Business Number: 804-340-1495
library@vmfa.museum
URL: https://vmfa.museum/library/special-collections-archives/
Erica Borey, Records Manager, and Kevin Williams, Archival Intern; Finding aid encoded by Sylvio Lynch III, Archives Intern (2020)
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Custodial History
The collection was donated by Robert S. Telford.
Preferred Citation
Robert S. Telford Personal Papers (SC-05). VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.
Processing Information
In general, during processing, all publications are removed and added to the VMFA Library's holdings and original newspaper clippings are photocopied, with identifiers transferred, and then destroyed. Original folder titles are retained, when provided.
Biographical Note
As the director of the Virginia Museum Theater from 1958-1966, Robert S. Telford dramatically grew subscriptions to the theater, stabilized management and formed a strong volunteer corps. He also introduced the VMT's first musical production, "Kiss Me Kate." He is probably best known for his casting of African-American actors at a time when it was illegal in Virginia to have black and white actors together on the same stage. In 1966, he cast two black actors in the theater's production of "You Can't Take It With You," marking a major milestone in Virginia theater history. After his departure, Telford went on to direct theaters in Texas and Oklahoma, finally landing in California, where he had a successful television acting career in the 1980s and published several books.
Source: of "The Dark Side of Ambition"
Scope and Contents
This collection's inclusive dates are 1959-2008. It is comprised of newspaper clippings, letters (mainly from Mallory Freeman, fellow Virginia Museum Theater actor), event invitations and programs, and an audiotape.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into one series, and items are generally organized chronologically within each folder.
- Series 1
- Personal Papers, 1959-2008, undated
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Telford, Robert S.
- Telford, Robert S.
- Virginia Museum Theatre (Richmond, Va.)
Container List
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Folder 1English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.001 SC05.01.0.001
April, 1962 edition of Chapter One1962English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.002 SC05.01.0.002
September 5, 1962 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: Miss VA contest1962English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.003 SC05.01.0.003
October 18, 1962 article from The Richmond News Leader re: National Cultural Center in DC1962English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.004 SC05.01.0.004
December 19, 1962 article from The Richmond News Leader re: Santa role1962English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.005 SC05.01.0.005
February 24, 1963 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: VMT1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.006 SC05.01.0.006
February 25, 1963 article from Richmond News Leader re: VMT1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.007 SC05.01.0.007
March 31, 1963 article from The State and the Columbia Record re: Playwright Award Competition1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.008 SC05.01.0.008
April 5, 1963 article from The Nashville Tennessean re: SETA and controversial plays1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.009 SC05.01.0.009
April 5, 1963 article from the Nashville Banner re: SE Theater Convention1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.010 SC05.01.0.010
April 5, 1963 article from The Nashville Tennessean re: Theater Conference1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.011 SC05.01.0.011
April 7, 1963 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: Mellon Exhibition1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.012 SC05.01.0.012
April 7, 1963 article from the Richmond Times Dispatch re: "Olivet to Calvary"1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.013 SC05.01.0.013
April 17, 1963 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: Gainsborough exhibit1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.014 SC05.01.0.014
May 18, 1963 article from the Richmond News Leader re: speaking engagement at 1st Unitarian Church1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.015 SC05.01.0.015
June 8, 1963 front page of The Richmond News Leader1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.016 SC05.01.0.016
June 14, 1963 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: the Parody Ball1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.017 SC05.01.0.017
January 12, 1964 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: "The World of Shakespeare"1964English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.018 SC05.01.0.018
October 18, 1964 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: Thalhimers Italian extravaganza1964English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.019 SC05.01.0.019
November 1, 1964 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: 'Local Theatricals'1964English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.020 SC05.01.0.020
January 7, 1965 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: state Artmobile1965English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.021 SC05.01.0.021
May 11, 1965 edition of the Washington County News1965English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.022 SC05.01.0.022
July 21, 1965 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: conversational French class1965English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.023 SC05.01.0.023
September 12, 1965 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: Jim Walsh1965English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.024 SC05.01.0.024
November 4, 1965 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: food at VA Museum1965English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.025 SC05.01.0.025
February 13, 1966 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: museum architecture1966English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.026 SC05.01.0.026
February 26, 1966 article from unknown pub. re: awards1966English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.027 SC05.01.0.027
March 19, 1966 letters to the editor from unknown pub.1966English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.028 SC05.01.0.028
May 29, 1966 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: quadrennial exhibition1966English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.029 SC05.01.0.029
September 7, 1989 article from the Los Angeles Time re: Telford's video store1989English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.030 SC05.01.0.030
November 12, 1989 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch re: Cheek Award1989English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.031 SC05.01.0.031
Several smaller articles re: VMT from various pubs.undatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.032 SC05.01.0.032
Several smaller articles re: VMT and death of John Koenig from various pubs.undatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.033 SC05.01.0.033
Undated article from unknown pub. re: Janet KennedyundatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.034 SC05.01.0.034
Undated article from unknown pub. re: Telford as judge for Playwright's Award Contest in Columbia, S.C.undatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.035 SC05.01.0.035
Undated article from unknown pub. Re: death of Nat King ColeundatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.036 SC05.01.0.036
Undated article from unknown pub. Re: theater trainingundatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.037 SC05.01.0.037
Undated article from unknown pub. Re VMFAundatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: SC05.01.0.001 SC05.01.0.001
-
Folder 2English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.038 SC05.01.0.038
Postcard to Mr. and Mrs. Telford from friends in Egypt1962English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.039 SC05.01.0.039
Rafting Trip Invitation1962English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.040 SC05.01.0.040
Program for "An American Pageant of the Arts"1962English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.041 SC05.01.0.041
Receipt for Scott Telford Talent Fee1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.042 SC05.01.0.042
Program for Richmond Symphony1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.043 SC05.01.0.043
Invitation to the White House for Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.044 SC05.01.0.044
Program for The Stuart Avenue Theater production of "The Visitors"1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.045 SC05.01.0.045
Thank you letter for donation to John Koenig collections fund1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.046 SC05.01.0.046
VMFA Fellows Dinner Program1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.047 SC05.01.0.047
Invitation to Virginia Civil War Commission Stonewall Jackson DinnerundatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.048 SC05.01.0.048
First Unitarian Church Program1963English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.049 SC05.01.0.049
Invitation to Collectors Circle events1963-1966English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.050 SC05.01.0.050
Program for VMT "School for Scandal"undatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.051 SC05.01.0.051
Programs from the VMT presentation of "Fast/Forward"1993English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.052 SC05.01.0.052
Letters from G. Mallory Freeman, Feb. 1990 - Aug. 20011990-2001English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.053 SC05.01.0.053
2008 Letter from Robert Telford to Courtney Yevich, Asst. Fine Arts Librarian, VMFA2008English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.054 SC05.01.0.054
List of Theatre Virginia Musicals, 1959-19891959-1989English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.055 SC05.01.0.055
Biography of Robert Telford by Theatre Virginia NewsundatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.056 SC05.01.0.056
Draft of Biography of Robert Telford (2 pages)undatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.057 SC05.01.0.057
Draft of Biography of Robert Telford (1 page)undatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.058 SC05.01.0.058
Actor headshots of Robert Telford (3)undatedEnglish
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: SC05.01.0.038 SC05.01.0.038
-
Folder 3English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 3 Item: SC05.01.0.059 SC05.01.0.059
Correspondence with G. Mallory Freeman, 1990-19961990-1996English
- mixed materials SC-05 Box 1 Folder 3 Item: SC05.01.0.059 SC05.01.0.059
-
Folder 4English
- Audio SC-05 Box 1 Folder 4 Item: SC05.01.0.060 SC05.01.0.060
Audiotape of Telford speaking about VMT1966English
- Audio SC-05 Box 1 Folder 4 Item: SC05.01.0.060 SC05.01.0.060