Guide to the Collection on La Argentina MS.P.035

Processed by Andre Ambrus.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2003
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: Collection on La Argentina
Creator: Argentina
Identifier/Call Number: MS.P.035
Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1927-1984
Date (bulk): 1927-1935
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.
General Physical Description note: 0.5 linear feet
Language of Material: English .

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. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Dancers.
Dance -- Photographs.
Dance cards
Dancers -- France -- Paris -- History -- Sources
Dancers -- France -- Paris -- Photographs
Argentina -- Archives

box 1, folder 1-5

Alix Grés materials on La Argentina

box 1, folder 1

Correspondence, including one photograph 1984

box 1, folder 2-4

Photographs of La Argentina

box 1, folder 2

D'Ora (photographer) circa 1927- circa 1936

box 1, folder 3

Paravicini, Monique (photographer) circa 1927- circa 1936

Physical Description: 17 items.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 1, folder 4

Unidentified photographs circa 1927- circa 1936

box 1, folder 5

Theater Program, Théatre National De L'Opéra, Paris 1935

box 1, folder 6

La Argentina materials from unknown sources 1924-1931

Scope and Contents note

Includes the pamphlet Argentina, programs and photographs.
box FB-048, folder 6

Oversize clipping 1924