Introduction to Special Collections Materials
Special collections with rare or historical documents, sheet music, recordings, and ephemera can be excellent sources for your research. We are highlighting several collections on this page that you can browse here in person (in the case of the UIUC special collections materials) or online (in the case of digital collections at the bottom of the page).
Local Collections
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) has a few collections focusing on 19th and 20th century theatre. If you need to consult primary sources for your research or just want to check out some of the library's special materials, the two collections listed below are an excellent place to start!
- Motley Collection of Theatre and Costume DesignThe Motley Collection of Theatre and Costume Design is a valuable source of documentation on the history of theatre and is housed in The Rare Book and Manuscript Library. It is a rare collection of original materials on the theatre comprising over 5000 items from more than 150 productions in England and the United States. These materials include costume and set designs, sketches, notes, photographs, prop lists, storyboards, and swatches of fabric.
- Theatre Program collection, 1868-1989Housed in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, this collection contains theatre programs dating from the late nineteenth to the late twentieth century and some concert programs from the same time period. Bulk are from Chicago and New York, with many from other cities in the U.S. and a smaller number from other countries. Also included are souvenir programs; most are for theatrical productions; some are autographed; most are not dated; and most have no geographical information. There are also three scrapbooks, ca. 1900-1910, containing theatre programs and clippings, primarily from Washington, D.C., and New York.
Archives & Digital Collections Beyond UIUC
- Musicals of Stage and Screen: Digital Collections from the Library of CongressDigital collections provide online access to a number of musical theater-related collections including the Leonard Bernstein Collection and the Sheet Music of Musical Theatre from 1880-1992 Collection, among many others. You can also browse the Library of Congress' digital exhibits of theatre and musical theatre materials!
- Playbill ArchivesPlaybill Archive is a periodic look back at Broadway and Playbill history, timed to accompany a new production or event of a show from theatre's past.
- Theatre on Film and Tape ArchiveA collection of video recordings which have documented and preserved Theatre history, America's diverse and expansive culture, and revolutionized theatre research. It has been long-recognized as the first and foremost collection of videorecorded live theatre performances in the world and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts plans to mark the occasion with an exhibition to celebrate its work.