Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Biography / Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection
Dates: 1913-1984
Collection number: ARS-0004
Creator:
Richard and Mildred Crooks
Collection Size:
9 linear ft.
Repository:
Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound
Stanford University Libraries
Stanford, California 94305-3076
Abstract: Materials documenting virtually every stage of Crooks career.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection is open for research. Listening appointments may require 24 hours notice. Contact the Archive Operations Manager.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.
Preferred Citation
RIchard and Mildred Crooks Collection, ARS-0004. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Biography / Administrative History
Alexander Richard Crooks, tenor, was born in Trenton, N.J. on June 26, 1900. He toured widely, and sang with the Metropolitan
Opera Company from 1933 to 1942. Crooks recorded extensively for the Victor record company, and was featured on several radio
series from 1929 to 1945. He married his childhood friend Mildred Pine in 1921 and they had two children, Patricia and Richard,
Jr. In retirement, the couple settled in Portola Valley. Richard Crooks died on September 30, 1972.
Scope and Content of Collection
Materials documenting virtually every stage of Crooks' career, starting with newspaper clippings and programs apparently kept
by his mother from his appearances as a boy soprano in churches, at resort concerts and in vaudeville. Included are materials
related to Crooks' high school classmate George Antheil. The collection contains photographs, programs, and other items for
nearly every role Crooks undertook at the Metropolitan Opera and memorabilia from the numerous concert tours and the years
broadcasting the Voice of Firestone radio program (1932-1945), as well as sheet music. Included are letters from colleagues
and friends from throughout his career and into retirement. Finally, Crooks' own recording collection, with test pressings,
privately recorded materials, and several air checks (with Bing Crosby) are included.
Arrangement
Organized into 12 series. I. Correspondence. II. Documents. III. Programs. IV. Photographs. V. Scrapbooks. VI. Clippings.
VII. Publications. VIII. Libretti. IX. Sheet music. X. Sound recordings. XI. Audio-visual materials. XII. Miscellany.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Crooks, Richard, 1900-1972.
Voice of Firestone (Radio program)
Tenors (Singers)
Opera.