Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biography
Scope and Content of Collection
Related collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Jack Denslow Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1922-1948
Collection number: D-268
Collector:
Denslow, Jack
Creator:
Messetti, Henrique Vivian
Extent:
10.4 linear feet
Repository:
University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
100 North West Quad
Davis, California, 95616-5292
Abstract: These materials, collected by Jack Denslow, document the life of Henrique Vivian Messetti, a writer, performer, and member
of a vaudeville-circus family active during the 1920's-1940's. Messetti was born on September 5, 1918 in Spain where his parents
were performing. Upon the family's return to the United States, Los Angeles became their permanent residence. Messetti began
appearing on the stage at the age of four. Most of his work was in vaudeville/circus productions although he also claimed
to have performed in a few motion picture serials. In later years he dropped his first name while continuing as a female impersonator.
He was with, among others, the touring Messett's Great Road Show, Little Eva's Temptation Company, and F.A. Cunningham's Kick
High Musical Circus. The majority of the collection contains Messetti's incoming and outgoing correspondence.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis 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 by the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Jack Denslow Collection, D-268, Department of Special Collections, University of California Library,
Davis, California.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Jack Denslow in 1999.
Processing Information
Processed by Rebecca Wendt. EAD finding aid created by Sara Gunasekara with assistance from Jared Campbell and Jim Sylva.
Biography
Biographical Narrative
Jack Denslow (1944-) was born in Tacoma, Washington and spent his early years in Hawaii and his high school years in Oklahoma.
He earned a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Computer Science, and an M.A. in Mythology, and has spent his career working in
the technology field.
Scope and Content of Collection
Arranged in two series: 1. Correspondence and 2. General Interest Files.
Related collection
D-197, Henrique Vivian Messetti Papers
D-277, Sanford and Barbara Freeman Collection
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Messetti, Vivian
Denslow, Jack
Vaudeville
Circus performers
Female impersonators