Finding Aid to Eric A. Gordon's Mark the Music: The Life and Work of Marc Blitzstein Collection, 1850-2011 Coll2012.121

Finding aid prepared by Loni Shibuyama
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
(c) 2012


Title: Eric A. Gordon's Mark the Music: The Life and Work of Marc Blitzstein Collection
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.121
Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 6.0 linear feet. 5 archives boxes + 1 archive binder box + 1 archive flat box.
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1980-1991
Date (inclusive): 1850-2011
Abstract: Correspondence, playbills, programs, clippings, photographs, notes, grant proposals and other research material collected for the book, Mark the Music: The Life and Work of Marc Blitzstein (St. Martin's Press, 1989), by Eric A. Gordon. An American composer and gay man, Marc Blitzstein is perhaps most well-known for his 1937 musical, The Cradle Will Rock. The collection includes materials documenting Blitzstein's musical works, as well as correspondence files between biographer Eric A. Gordon and Blitzstein's family, friends and collaborators.
creator: Gordon, Eric A., 1945-

Biography on Marc Blitzstein

Marc Blitzstein was born in Philadelphia, March 2, 1905. At the age of 6, he played his first solo piano recital in public; at 16, he performed a piano concert with the Philadelphia Symphony. He went on to study with teachers such as Nadia Boulanger in Paris. While in Europe, Blitzstein came to be influenced by modernists like Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.
Upon returning to the United States, he began writing his own political operas, notably the pro-union musical, The Cradle Will Rock (1936), and No For An Answer (1940). The same year in which The Cradle Will Rock was produced, Blitzstein's wife, Eva Goldbeck, died after three years of marriage.
In 1942, Blitzstein enlisted in the Air Force and spent three years in the military. Out of this experience came his Airborne Symphony (1946). After the Air Force, Blitzstein wrote for films and theater, including Regina, Juno, and adaptations of Mother Courage and The Threepenny Opera. He was commissioned to compose an opera based on the Sacco and Vanzetti case of the 1920s. He completed two acts and outlined a third when, while on vacation in Fort-de-France, Martinique, Blitzstein got into a physical confrontation with three merchant seamen and subsequently died of a brain injury on January 22, 1964.
Source: Box 3, folder 30, Eric A. Gordon Collection on Marc Blitzstein, Coll2012-121, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

Biography on Eric A. Gordon

Born in 1945, Eric A. Gordon is a graduate of Yale University, and holds both an M.A. (in Latin American studies) and a Ph.D. (in history) from Tulane University. In the 1980s, he worked as a publicity manager for the music publishing house of G. Schirmer. Beginning in 1995, Gordon was the director of the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, Southern California District.
A member of the National Writers Union, he served on the board of the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research, on the Western Region Administrative Committee of the Jewish Labor Committee, and on the editorial advisory board of Jewish Currents magazine. In the late-1970s, Gordon began his research for a biography on American composer Marc Blitzstein, Mark the Music, which was published in 1989. In addition to Mark the Music, Gordon is the co-author of Ballad of an American (Scarecrow Press, 1997), as well as hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.
In 2012, Eric Gordon continues to live in Los Angeles, CA.
Source:
(last accessed October 25, 2012.)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Eric A. Gordon, April 12, 2011.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder #, or item name] Eric A. Gordon's Mark the Music: The Life and Work of Marc Blitzstein Collection, Coll2012-121, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Processing Information

Collection processed by Kyle Kaplan and Loni Shibuyama, November 2012.

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises correspondence, playbills, programs, clippings, photographs, notes, grant proposals and other research material collected for the book, Mark the Music: The Life and Work of Marc Blitzstein (St. Martin's Press, 1989), by Eric A. Gordon. An American composer and gay man, Marc Blitzstein is perhaps most well-known for his 1937 musical, The Cradle Will Rock, his opera Regina, as well as his adaptation of The Threepenny Opera. The Marc Blitzstein Resource Material Series includes photocopied and original materials documenting Blitzstein's life and musical works. The bulk of the Correspondence and Research Series includes correspondence (and related notes) between biographer Eric Gordon and Blitzstein's family, friends and collaborators. The Publication Records Series includes grant proposals, photographs, promotional material, permissions and other administrative records in the publication and promotion of Gordon's biography on Blitzstein.

Separated Materials

Following items have been separated from the collection:
Denson, Joan. Except for One Little Problem: Memoir of a Life in Hiding. Fort Lee, NJ.: Barricade Books, 2001. (signed copy to "Susan")
The Making of "From Walls to Roses" [sound recording], produced by Eric A. Gordon, 1978. (1/4 in. open reel audiotape)
Show: The Magazine of the Arts. New York: Hartford Publications, Inc. Vol. IV, No. 6 (June 1964)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Blitzstein, Marc
Gay and lesbian writers
Gay composers
Gay musicians
Jewish gay men
Musical theater
Opera

 

Marc Blitzstein resource material Series 1.  1905-2011

Physical Description: 3.0 linear feet.

Series Description

This series comprises playbills and programs, photographs, clippings, notes, manuscripts, correspondence, flyers, an FBI report and photocopies of Blitzstein's personal papers, compiled by Eric Gordon, documenting Blitzstein's life (1905-1964) and creative works. Materials document Blitzstein's compositions, theatrical and concert productions (contemporary and posthumous), his activism in the Jewish community, his interpersonal relationships, his political activities and his murder in 1964. In particular, this series includes annotated photographs of Blitzstein throughout his life.

Arrangement

Photographs and a file about Marc Blitzstein's parents have been placed at the end of this series. The remaining files are arranged chronologically.
Box 1, Folder 1

1905-1914 1905-1987

Box 1, Folder 2

Chronology of activities, compositions and writings; miscellaneous contracts, letters, royalties 1905-1983

Box 1, Folder 3

Research outline notebook circa 1905-1989

Box 1, Folder 4-5

1920s 1924-1987

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 1, Folder 6

Piano Sonata (1927) 1979-1981

Box 1, Folder 7

Traveling Salesman 1929

Box 1, Folder 8

Guggenheim fellowships 1929-1940

Box 1, Folder 9-22

1930s 1930-1988

Physical Description: [14 folders]
Box 1, Folder 23

Cain (1930) 1930-2008

Box 1, Folder 24

Piano Concerto (1931) 1931-1988

Box 1, Folder 25

Surf and Seaweed (1931) 1931-1980

Box 1, Folder 26

The Condemned 1932-1933

Box 1, Folder 27

Orchestra variations 1934-1988

Box 1, Folder 28

Eva Goldbeck 1935-1936

Box 1, Folder 29

Send for the Militia--Parade (1935) 1935-1988

Box 1, Folder 30

Chesapeake Bay Retriever (1936) 1984-1985

Box 1, Folder 31-42

The Cradle Will Rock 1936-2001

Box 1, Folder 31-34

The Cradle Will Rock (1937) 1936-2000

Physical Description: [4 folders]
Box 1, Folder 35

The Cradle Will Rock (1947-8) 1947-2001

Box 1, Folder 36

The Cradle Will Rock (1960) 1960

Box 1, Folder 37

The Cradle Will Rock recording (1964-5) 1964-1965

Box 1, Folder 38

The Cradle Will Rock TV 1983-1986

Box 1, Folder 39

The Cradle Will Rock film 1984-1988

Box 1, Folder 40

The Cradle Will Rock (Recklinghausen) 1984

Box 1, Folder 41

The Cradle Will Rock (London) 1985

Box 1, Folder 42

The Cradle Will Rock (other productions) 1979-2001

Box 1, Folder 43

I've Got the Tune 1937-1970

Box 1, Folder 44

Mercury Theater Julius Caesar and Danton's Death (1937) 1937-1981

Box 1, Folder 45

Theater Arts Committee 1939

Box 2, Folder 1-5

1940s 1940-1989

Physical Description: [5 folders]
Box 2, Folder 6

Valley Town 1941-1981

Box 2, Folder 7

Federal Theater Project AAA Plowed Under 1941-1987

Box 2, Folder 8-9

World War II 1942-1989

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 10

Native Land 1942-1989

Box 2, Folder 11-12

No For An Answer (1942) 1942-2002

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 13

No For An Answer (1989) 1988-1989

Box 2, Folder 14-16

Airborne Symphony 1943-1991

Box 2, Folder 14

Airborne Symphony (1946) 1943-1945

Box 2, Folder 15

Airborne Symphony (London, 1986) 1986

Box 2, Folder 16

Airborne Symphony (Seattle, 1991) 1990-1991

Box 2, Folder 17

American-Soviet Music Society (1946-1947) 1946-1981

Box 2, Folder 18

The Guests (1949) 1949-1987

Box 2, Folder 19-34

Regina 1949-2000

Box 2, Folder 19

Regina (1949) 1949-2000

Box 2, Folder 20

Regina (92nd St. Y, 1952) 1952

Box 2, Folder 21

Regina (New York City Opera, 1953) 1953

Box 2, Folder 22

Regina (New York City Opera, 1958-1959) 1958-1985

Box 2, Folder 23

Regina (recording) 1958-1959

Box 2, Folder 24

Regina (Encompass, NY, 1977) 1977

Box 2, Folder 25

Regina (Detroit, 1977) 1977

Box 2, Folder 26

Regina (Colorado, 1980) 1980

Box 2, Folder 27

Regina (Houston, 1980) 1980

Box 2, Folder 28

Regina (Kansas City, 1981) 1981

Box 2, Folder 29

Regina (Wolf Trap, 1982) 1982

Box 2, Folder 30

Regina (Opera Ensemble, NY, 1984) 1984

Box 2, Folder 31

Regina (Augusta, 1985) 1985

Box 2, Folder 32

Regina (Baton Rouge, 1986) 1986

Box 2, Folder 33

Regina (Boston, 1991) 1991

Box 2, Folder 34

Regina (other productions) 1968-2000

Box 2, Folder 35-40

1950s 1950-1989

Physical Description: [6 folders]
Box 3, Folder 1-3

Threepenny Opera 1952-2008

Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 3, Folder 4

Reuben Reuben (1955) 1955-1985

Box 3, Folder 5

Mother Courage 1956-1981

Box 3, Folder 6

This is the Garden (1957) 1956-1983

Box 3, Folder 7

The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny 1958-1970

Box 3, Folder 8-9

Juno (1958) 1958-2008

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 10

Juno (Vineyard) 1991-1992

Box 3, Folder 11-12

1960s 1960-1981

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 13

Italy 1960-1961 1960-1987

Box 3, Folder 14-15

Sacco and Vanzetti 1960-2001

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 16

Israel 1962

Box 3, Folder 17-18

Martinique and death 1962-1987

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 19

Tales of Malamud 1963-1991

Box 3, Folder 20

FBI report circa 1964

Box 3, Folder 21

Blitzstein! (1966) 1965-1966

Box 3, Folder 22

Among Marc Blitzstein's papers 1983

Box 3, Folder 23

Composers' Showcase, April 28, 1985 1985-1988

Box 3, Folder 24

Soho Rep Blitzstein Evening 1987-1988

Box 3, Folder 25

The Informer, Agnes De Mille (American Ballet Theater) 1988

Box 3, Folder 26

A Blitzstein Cabaret 1990

Box 3, Folder 27-29

1990-1992

Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 3, Folder 30

1993-2011

Box 7, Folder 1

Posters circa 2000-2011

Physical Description: [1 oversize folder]
Box 3, Folder 31

Sam and Anna Blitzstein (parents) 1975-1983

Box 5, Folder 28-29

Photocopies of Blitzstein images

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 7, Folder 3

Photograph Undated

Physical Description: [1 oversize photograph]
General Physical Description note: [1 photograph: b&w.]
Box 6

Photographs circa 1850-1964

General Physical Description note: [74 photographs: b&w, col.]
 

Correspondence and research Series 2.  1921-1992

Physical Description: 2.5 linear feet.

Series Description

This series comprises correspondence, interview notes, clippings and other material related to Eric A. Gordon's research for his book, Mark the Music: The Life and Work of Marc Blitzstein. The bulk of the material is Gordon's correspondence with individuals who knew or worked with Blitzstein.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent's last name.
Box 4, Folder 1

A 1979-1989

Box 4, Folder 2-3

B 1958-1989

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 4, Folder 4

Bernstein, Leonard 1946-1990

Box 4, Folder 5-6

C 1979-1992

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 4, Folder 7

Curtis, Mina 1938-1968

Box 4, Folder 8-9

D 1979-1989

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 4, Folder 10

Davis (Christopher, Josephine, and Stephen) 1978-1989

Box 4, Folder 11

E-F 1981-1989

Box 4, Folder 12-13

G 1978-1989

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 4, Folder 14

Goldbeck, Eva 1922-1936

Box 4, Folder 15

H-I 1979-1989

Box 4, Folder 16

Hewitt, Bill 1944-1988

Box 4, Folder 17

J-K 1979-1989

Box 4, Folder 18

L 1979-1989

Box 4, Folder 19-20

Lehrman, Leonard 1979-1989

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 4, Folder 21

M 1977-1989

Box 4, Folder 22

N-O 1979-1991

Box 5, Folder 1

P-Q 1980-1992

Box 5, Folder 2

R 1980-1991

Box 5, Folder 4

S 1980-1990

Box 5, Folder 5

Simon, Louis and Stella 1927-1989

Box 5, Folder 3

Skildelsky, Berenice 1921-1988

Box 5, Folder 6

T-U 1980-1991

Box 5, Folder 7

V-W 1980-1990

Box 5, Folder 8

X-Z 1980-1987

 

Publication records Series 3.  1850-1991

Physical Description: 0.5 linear foot.

Series Description

This series comprises correspondence, grant proposals, notes, bibliographies, permissions and releases, financial records, promotional and other administrative material from the publication of Gordon's biography on Blitzstein, Mark the Music (1989). This series includes Gordon's various project proposals sent to potential funders and information regarding archives of Blitzstein's sound recordings.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 5, Folder 20

Bibliography 1977-1989

Box 5, Folder 18

Boosey and Hawkes 1986-1987

Box 7, Folder 2

Cover layout circa 1989

Box 5, Folder 11

Dictionary of Opera 1980-1982

Box 5, Folder 9

Discography

Box 5, Folder 13

Grant applications 1976

Box 5, Folder 12

Grove Dictionary 1983-1989

Box 5, Folder 19

Mark the Music correspondence 1990

Box 5, Folder 24

Mark the Music records 1991

Box 5, Folder 23

Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture 1980

Box 5, Folder 15

National Endowment for the Humanities 1980

Box 5, Folder 21

Performing Arts, "The Roots of Regina" April 1980

Box 5, Folder 25-26

Permissions signed 1988

Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 5, Folder 27

Permissions pending 1988

Box 5, Folder 14

Proposal 1986

Box 5, Folder 22

Publishers 1963-1975

Box 5, Folder 17

State Historical Society of Wisconsin 1981-1989

Box 5, Folder 16

When the Wind Blows 1984

Box 5, Folder 10

Miscellaneous notes Undated