David Trutt Gilbert and Sullivan Ephemera Collection, 1871-2010

Summary

Abstract:

The David Trutt Gilbert and Sullivan Ephemera Collection contains promotional ephemera for the late 19th century comic opera works created by dramatist William Schwenck Gilbert and composer Arthur Seymour Sullivan between 1871 and 1896. The playbills, posters, music scores, advertising trade cards, souvenir items, and other ephemeral items document the popularity and continued performances of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Extent:

20.83 linear feet

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The David Trutt Gilbert and Sullivan Ephemera Collection contains promotional ephemera collected by David Trutt related to the late 19th century comic opera works created by dramatist William Schwenck Gilbert and composer Arthur Seymour Sullivan. Through the promotional work of Richard D'Oyly Carte and his family members, Gilbert and Sullivan operas continued to be performed from their inception in the 19th century, well into the 20th and 21st centuries. Their work influenced the development of modern musical theatre and recorded cultural British attitudes of the Victorian period through references to politics and contemporary culture.

The playbills, posters, music scores, advertising trade cards, souvenir items, and other ephemeral items document the continued performances of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. Promotional materials document advertising partnerships, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The majority of the Gilbert and Sullivan advertising cards consist of cigarette cards specifically advertising John Player and Sons, a well-known tobacco company in Great Britain and Ireland in the 19th century.

Playbills are arranged alphabetically by name of opera company or producer, if that was unknown the name of the theatre was used. Performances by repertory company D'Oyly Carte Opera Company are especially well-represented. Folders and items are arranged alphabetically by title.

Biographical / historical:

William Schwenck Gilbert was born November 18, 1836 and Arthur Seymour Sullivan was born May 13, 1842. Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet, and illustrator. Before collaborting with Sullivan, Gilbert illustrated a series of poems titled the Bab Ballads. Sullivan was an English composer, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Leipzig.

Gilbert and Sullivan first collaborated together in 1871 for Thespis. Their partnership continued for over twenty years, with their last collabortion, The Grand Duke, opening in March 1896. Their other twelve collaborations were Trial by Jury,The Sorcerer,HMS Pinafore,The Pirates of Penzance,Patience,Iolanthe,Princess Ida,The Mikado,Ruddigore,The Yeomen of the Guard,The Gondoliers,Utopia Limited.

Impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte built the Savoy Theatre to showcase Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and used the profits to build the adjacent Savoy Hotel. He partnered with Gilbert and Sullivan to create the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. The Company staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas from the 1870s through 1982, as well in later short seasons and tours from 1988 and into the 21st century.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Related material:

Books, serials, scores, and other published materials are cataloged individually in the Library catalog, as the David Trutt Gilbert and Sullivan Collection.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Ephemera
Photographs

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:

California State University, Northridge, Special Collections

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330, US

Contact:

(818) 677-4594

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