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Guide to the Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection
ARS-0004  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • 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.