Guide to the Collection on La Argentina, 1927-1984 bulk circa 1927-1935
Processed by Andre Ambrus.
© 2003
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Collection on La Argentina, 1927-1984 bulk circa 1927-1935
Collection number: MS-P35
Special Collections and Archives
The UCI Libraries
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University of California
Irvine, California
- Processed by:
- Andre Ambrus
- Date Completed:
- 2002
- Encoded by:
- Andre Ambrus
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Collection on La Argentina,
Date (inclusive): 1927-1984
Date (bulk): bulk circa 1927-1935
Collection number: MS-P035
Extent:
0.5 linear feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder)
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library.
Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: This collection consists of 45 photographs of La Argentina (Antonia Mercé), most taken during the 1930s by Monique Paravicini
and D'Ora; a program from a performance in Paris by La Argentina; and two items of correspondence and a membership card from
Monique Paravicini regarding membership in the association Les Amis D'Argentina. Also included is the pamphlet
Argentina, a brief publication about the career and life of La Argentina. The collection contains several items of La Argentina ephemera
from unknown sources as well.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
Preferred Citation
Collection on La Argentina. MS-P35. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Acquisition Information
Acquired, circa 1970-1999.
Processing History
Processed by Andre Ambrus in 2002.
Biography
La Argentina was born Antonia Mercé to her dancer parents Manuel Mercé and Josefina Luque in 1888. She learned to dance from
her father at the age of four, and by nine debuted with the Royal Opera Theater in Madrid, Spain. Following the death of her
father, at the age of fourteen, she retired from ballet, and started training with her mother in her native Spanish dances.
La Argentina awakened and reinvigorated a style which previously belonged to the Gypsies. She also reached previously unseen
levels of artistry with the Castanets while developing numerous new techniques. From 1928 to 1936 La Argentina made six transcontinental
tours of North America. She died in France in 1936 of a heart attack.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection consists of 45 photographs of La Argentina (Antonia Mercé), most taken during the 1930s by Monique Paravicini
and D'Ora; a program from a performance in Paris by La Argentina; and two items of correspondence and a membership card from
Monique Paravicini regarding membership in the association Les Amis D'Argentina. Also included is the pamphlet
Argentina, a brief publication about the career and life of La Argentina. The collection contains several items of La Argentina ephemera
from unknown sources as well.
The collection is arranged topically. Materials are arranged chronologically within each topical grouping whenever possible.
Collection Contents
Box: 1 : 1-5
Alix Grés materials on La Argentina
Box: 1 : 1
Correspondence, including one photograph,1984
Box: 1 : 2-4
Photographs of La Argentina
Box: 1 : 2
D'Ora (photographer),circa 1927- circa 1936
Box: 1 : 3
Paravicini, Monique (photographer),circa 1927- circa 1936.
Physical Description:
17 items.
Box: 1 : 4
Unidentified photographs,circa 1927- circa 1936
Box: 1 : 5
Theater Program, Théatre National De L'Opéra, Paris,1935
Box: 1 : 6
La Argentina materials from unknown sources,1924-1931.
Scope and Content Note
Includes the pamphlet
Argentina, programs and photographs.
