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.