Guide to the Lee Simonson theater collection M2972
Emma Frothingham and Alyssa Tou
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2024
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
Fax Number: (650) 723-8690
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Lee Simonson theater collection
Identifier/Call Number: M2972
Physical Description:
28 Linear Feet
(1 manuscript box, 9 flat-boxes, 51 map-folders)
Date (inclusive): 1920s-1960s
Abstract: Designs for stage settings and costumes drawn by Lee Simonson primarily for New York theater productions during the 1920s
through the 1950s. Also included are materials from an exhibit on Simonson at Stanford Libraries.
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was given by Simonson to Stanford University, Special Collections.
Biographical / Historical
Lee Simonson (1888-1967) was an American stage setting designer based out of New York. Simonson graduated from Harvard in
1909 and moved to Paris, France, with thoughts of becoming a mural painter. After being immersed in the European theater scene,
he returned to New York in 1912 and began his career as the set designer for the Washington Square Players, which became the
Theatre Guild in 1919. He remained at the Theatre Guild until 1940. Simonson's 1932 book 'The Stage Is Set' was, at the time,
considered to be the authoritative book on stage design. Among his design credits, Simonson designed the costumes and sets
for the Metropolitan Opera's 1948 'Ring' Cycle.
Scope and Contents
The Lee Simonson theater collection consists of designs for stage settings and costumes drawn by Lee Simonson. Most of the
designs are for productions in New York City around Broadway, but there are also designs for a production of
Romeo and Juliet put on at Stanford University by Simonson. Materials in the collection include a variety of sketches at different points
in the design process, blueprints for stage sets, photographs of finished productions, and posters drawn by Simonson. Series
3 contains materials that were pulled from the collection for an exhibit on Simonson at Stanford Libraries in 1986.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Lee Simonson theater collection (M2972). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American theater
stage, set design
Costume design.
Series 1. Set Design Blueprints
Scope and Contents
Series 1 includes blueprints for stage sets drawn by Lee Simonson.
map-folder 1
The Adding Machine
(March 18, 1923)
map-folder 2
The American Dream
(February 8, 1933)
map-folder 3
Amphytrion 38
(November 1, 1937)
map-folder 4
Apple Cart
(February 24, 1930)
map-folder 5
Call It A Day
(January 28, 1936)
map-folder 6
Camel Through the Needles Eye
(April 15, 1929)
map-folder 8
Damn Your Honor
(undated)
map-folder 9
Days Without End
(January 8, 1934)
map-folder 10
Dynamo
(February 11, 1929)
map-folder 11
Elizabeth the Queen
(November 3, 1930)
map-folder 12
End of Summer
(February 17, 1936)
map-folder 14
Idiots Delight
(March 26, 1936)
map-folder 15
Jane Eyre
(January 11, 1937)
map-folder 17
Lean Harvest
(October 13, 1931)
map-folder 19
Love Is Not So Simple
(undated)
map-folder 20
Madame Bovary
(November 16, 1937)
map-folder 21
The Mask and the Face
(May 8, 1933)
map-folder 22
Masque of Kings
(February 8, 1937)
map-folder 23
Miracle at Verdun
(March 16, 1931)
map-folder 24
Prelude to Exile
(November 30, 1936)
map-folder 27
Rain from Heaven
(December 24, 1934)
map-folder 28
Red Planet
(December 17, 1932)
map-folder 29
School for Lovers
(October 16, 1933)
map-folder 30
Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles
(May 10, 1935)
map-folder 31
Sleeping Clergyman
(October 8, 1934)
map-folder 32
They Shall Not Die
(January 21, 1934)
map-folder 33
Treasure
(October 4, 1920)
map-folder 35, map-folder 36, map-folder 37
Virginia
(September 7, 1937)
map-folder 34
Volpone
(October 9, 1928)
Series 2. Photo Boards
Scope and Contents
Series 2 includes photographs of stage sets and costumes designed by Simonson. Many of the photographs are taken by New York
photographer Florence Vandamm's studio and are mounted on poster boards.
Box 39, folder 1
The American Dream
(February 8, 1933)
Box 42, folder 1
Amphitrion 38
(November 1, 1937)
Box 42, folder 2
Apple Cart
(February 24, 1930)
Box 39, folder 2
As You Like It
(April 23, 1923)
Box 42, folder 3
Back to Methuselah
(February 27, 1922)
map-folder 57, Item 2
Back to Methuselah oversize print
(February 27, 1922)
Box 39, folder 3
Call It A Day
(January 28, 1936)
Box 39, folder 4
Camel Through the Needles Eye
(April 15, 1929)
Box 42, folder 4
The Cat Bird
(February 16, 1920)
Box 39, folder 5
Days Without End
(January 8, 1934)
Box 42, folder 5
Don Juan
(February 5, 1921)
Box 39, folder 6
Dynamo
(February 11, 1929)
Box 42, folder 6
The Failures
(November 19, 1923)
Box 42, folder 7
The Faithful
(November 19, 1923)
Box 42, folder 8
The Goat Song
(January 25, 1926)
Box 42, folder 9
Heartbreak House
(undated)
Box 39, folder 7
Idiot's Delight
(March 26, 1936)
Box 43, folder 1
Jane Eyre
(January 11, 1937)
Box 39, folder 9
Madame Bovary
(November 16, 1937)
Box 39, folder 10
Man and the Masses / Masse Mensch
(undated)
Box 40, folder 1
The Mask and the Face
(May 8, 1933)
Box 40, folder 2
Masque of Kings
(February 8, 1937)
Box 40, folder 3
Miracle at Verdun
(March 16, 1931)
Box 43, folder 3
The Power of Darkness
(undated)
Box 40, folder 5
Prelude to Exile
(November 30, 1936)
Box 40, folder 7
School for Lovers
(October 16, 1933)
Box 43, folder 4
The Show Shop (movie)
(undated)
Box 40, folder 8
The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles
(May 10, 1935)
Box 40, folder 9
The Sleeping Clergyman
(October 8, 1934)
Box 43, folder 5
Tidings Brought to Mary
(undated)
Box 40, folder 10
Volpone
(October 9, 1928)
Box 43, folder 6
Paley or Pent House Apartment (not a play)
(undated)
Box 43, folder 7
Miscellaneous photoboards
Series 3. 'Lee Simonson Designs for the Theatre' Exhibit
Scope and Contents
Series 3 includes materials that were used for an exhibit at Stanford Libraries between June and September 1986--including
photographs, costume designs, and stage set designs. Many of the materials were pulled from the blueprints, photographs, and
sketches that make up the rest of the collection. Items used in the exhibition have custom mounts and have therefore remained
separate from the rest of the collection.
General Exhibit Materials
Box 45, folder 2
Introduction by Douglas A. Russell
Box 45, folder 3
Photograph of Lee Simonson
As You Like It
General
"By William Shakespeare. Directed by Robert Milton and produced by the American National Theatre at the 44th Street Theatre,
New York, 1923."
map-folder 46, Item 1
'Miss Brent' three costume designs
map-folder 46, Item 2
'Miss Vernon' three costume designs
map-folder 46, Item 3
'Le Beau, Duke Frederick and a Lord, Act I' three costume designs
map-folder 46, Item 4
'Rosalind and Celia, Act I' two costume designs
map-folder 46, Item 5
'The Wrestling Scene. Photograph by Vandamm'
map-folder 47, Item 1
Costume design for 'Cain, Scene 2 : Messopotamia first evening'
General
Reverse side has pencil illustrations
Elizabeth the Queen
General
By Maxwell Anderson. Directed by Philip Moeller at the Guild Theatre, New York, 1930.
Box 48, Item 1
'Three Court Ladies, Act I' costume designs
General
Costume designed for Anita Kerry
Box 48, Item 2
'Three Ladies-in-Waiting to the Queen' costume designs
General
Costumes designed for Mab Anthony, Phoebe Brand, and Edla Frankau
Box 48, Item 3
'Sir Francis Bacon, Acts I and II' two costume designs
General
Costumes designed for Morris Carnovsky
Box 48, Item 4
'Sir Walter Raleigh, Acts I and II' two costume designs
General
Costumes designed for Percy Waram
Box 48, Item 5
'Stage setting for the Prison. Photograph by Vandamm'
Box 48, Item 6
'Stage setting for the Throne Room. Photograph by Vandamm'
Goat Song
General
By Franz Werfel, translated by Ruth Langner. Directed by Jacob Ben Ami at the Guild Theatre, New York, 1926.
Box 49, Item 1
Preliminary Color Sketch Act I (6a)
Box 49, Item 2
Preliminary Color Sketches Act II & IV (6b)
Box 49, Item 3
Preliminary Color Sketches Acts III & V (6c)
The Good Earth
General
By Owen and Donald Davis, adapted from the book by Pearl S. Buck. Staged by Philip Moeller under the supervision of Laurence
Langner and Lee Simonson at the Guild Theatre, New York, 1932.
Box 49, Item 4
Stage settings for 'A Street in a Southern City' and the 'Tea House'
Madame Bovary
General
Adapted by Benn Levey from the French of Gaston Baty. Produced by the Theatre Guild at the National Theatre, Washington, DC,
1937. Production stared Constance Cummings as Emma Bovary.
Box 48, Item 7
Emma Bovary (sketch and photo), Act I, Scene 6
Box 48, Item 8
Emma Bovary (sketch and photo), Act II, Scene 1 opera dress
Box 48, Item 9
Emma Bovary (sketch and photo, Act II, Scene 1
Marco Millions
General
By Eugene O'Neil. Staged by Rouben Mamoulian at the Guild Theatre, New York, 1928.
map-folder 50, Item 1
Eight costume designs for 'Courtiers in the Venetian Banquet Scene'
map-folder 50, Item 2
Three costume designs for 'Episode in Morroco'
map-folder 51, Item 1
Three costume designs for 'Episode in Acre'
Miracle at Verdun
General
By Hans Chlumberg, translated by Julian Leigh with incidental music by Aaron Copeland. Staged by Herbert Biberman for the
Theatre Guild at the Martin Beck Theatre, New York, 1931.
map-folder 52, Item 1
Color Sketch for Last Act
map-folder 52, Item 2
Photograph of Stage Setting by Vandamm
Pas d'Acier
General
Ballet scenario by Lee Simonson to music by Prokofiev. Staged by the League of New York Composers for the Strawbridge Ballet
Company, Leopold Stokowki conducting, 1931
Box 48, Item 10
'Laborers' costume designs
Peer Gynt
General
By Henrick Ibsen. Adapted and directed by Theodore Komisarjevsky for the Theatre Guild at the Garrick Theatre, New York, 1923.
Box 49, Item 5
'Asra's Death' stage setting
Box 49, Item 6
'The Cairo Mad House' stage setting
Box 49, Item 8
'Egypt, with projection of Sphinx' stage setting
map-folder 53, Item 1
'Bride and Bridegroom' costume designs
map-folder 53, Item 2
'The Wedding Scene' costume designs
map-folder 53, Item 3
'Old woman, Girl, and two others' four costume designs
Pierre Pathelin (The Farce of Perre Pathelin)
General
Produced by the Washington Square Players, 1916.
map-folder 54, Item 2
'Street curtain - Scene 1' stage setting
The Queen of Sheba
General
An unproduced project, 1929
map-folder 55, Item 1
'Costume design for Otho, Herald of Sheba'
map-folder 55, Item 2
'Costume design for Zabud, Solomon's Minister'
Red Planet
General
By John Balderston and J.E. Hoare. Staged by Buck Symon and produced by Rowland Stebbins, Laurence Rivers and others at the
Cort Theatre, New York, 1932.
Box 48, Item 12
Stage setting for exterior : 'Calder's Hut'
Box 48, Item 13
Stage setting for interior : 'Prime Minister's Room, House of Commons'
Romeo & Juliet
General
By William Shakespeare. Directed by F. Cowles Strickland and produced by the Stanford Players, Stanford University, 1948.
Box 45, folder 5
Costume Sketches with Fabric Samples
Box 49, Item 9
Costume Sketches for Paris & Tybalt
Box 49, Item 10
Costume Sketches for Prince Escalus & Man at Arms
Box 49, Item 11
Costume Sketches for Montague & Lady Montague
Box 49, Item 12
Costume Sketches for Capulet & Lady Capulet
The Tidings Brought to Mary
map-folder 56, Item 1
Costume Sketches for Pierre de Craon & Vislaine
Series 4. Sketches, Posters & Miscellany
Scope and Contents
Series 4 includes sketches for costumes and stages done by Simonson, as well as posters for Theatre Guild performances illustrated
by Simonson.
Box 58, Item 1
'The Goat Song' stage set sketch
(January 25, 1926)
Box 58, Item 2
'Pas D'Acier' costume sketch for Ed Strawbridge
Box 58, Item 3
'Peer Gynt' design negatives of costumes and stage settings
Box 58, Item 4
'Peer Gynt' troll designs
Box 58, Item 5-8
'Prelude to Exile Scene' sketches
map-folder 59
'Idiot's Delight' scenic color sketch
(1936)
map-folder 60
'Pierre Patelin' Scene III backdrop sketch and xerox of stage photo
map-folder 61, Item 1-2
Poster for 'The Game of Love and Death' by Romain Rolland at the Guild Theatre
map-folder 61, Item 3
Poster for 'R-U-R' at the Frazee Theatre
map-folder 61, Item 4
Poster for 'From Morn to Midnight'
map-folder 61, Item 5
Poster for 'Porgy' by DuBois [sic] & Dorothy Heyward at the Republic Theatre
map-folder 61, Item 6
Poster for 'Porgy' by DuBose & Dorothy Heyward
map-folder 61, Item 7
Poster for 'Marco Millions' by Eugene O'Neill at the Guild Theatre