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Inventory of the Sanford and Barbara Freeman Collection of Henrique Vivian Messetti Materials1943-1946
D-277  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administrative Information
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Related collections
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Sanford and Barbara Freeman Collection of Henrique Vivian Messetti Materials,
    Date (inclusive): 1943-1946
    Collection number: D-277
    Creator: Messetti, Vivian
    Collector: Freeman, Sanford
    Collector: Freeman, Barbara
    Extent: 0.8 linear feet
    Repository: University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
    100 North West Quad
    Davis, California, 95616-5292
    Abstract: These materials, which document the life of Henrique Vivian Messetti, a writer, performer, and member of a vaudeville-circus family active during the 1920's-1940's, were collected by Sanford and Barbara Freeman. 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 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], Sanford and Barbara Freeman Collection of Henrique Vivian Messetti Materials, D-277, Department of Special Collections, University of California Library, Davis, California.

    Acquisition Information

    Donated in 1999.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Rebecca Wendt in 2001. EAD finding aid created by Sara Gunasekara in 2004.

    Biography

    Biographical Narrative

    Henrique Vivian 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.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    Organized into three series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Manuscript, and 3. Ephemera.

    Related collections

    Denslow, Jack. Collection, D-268
    Messetti, Henrique Vivian. Papers, D-197

    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
    Circus performers
    Vaudeville
    Female impersonators