Scope and arrangement
The Elizabeth Swados papers, Additions document the career, and to a much lesser extent, the personal life, of playwright, director, composer, and artist Elizabeth Swados with scripts, scores, contracts, photographs, publicity materials, posters, artwork, personal diaries, notebooks, and audio and moving image recordings. The artistic side of Swados' career is documented in this addition, but also, to an equal extent, the logistical side of her career is documented with extensive files of contracts and agreements.
Swados' Alphabetical Files contain files on her productions, works, writings, and projects; as well as general subjects and individuals, dating from the begining of her career to 2001. Some of these files are also listed by format or file type. These materials include drafts of scripts, scores, and other writings; programs, clippings, posters, flyers, and other promotional materials; correspondence; notes; budgets; contracts; research materials, designs; and drawings.
The full span of Swados' career is covered more extensively with Scores and Scripts from theatrical productions, writings, and compositions. Every stage of her composition process is documented through sheet music, hand-written notes, and printed and published scores. Alphabetical Files, which cover many of the same productions as Scripts and Scores, contain a wider range of materials, though they cover a shorter date span. Scripts and Scores occasionally contain photographs, notes, research materials, correspondence, and publicity materials.
Publicity and Press Files consist of reviews, clippings, posters, flyers and other publicity materials. They may include photographs, programs and other production materials.
Awards, Honors, Tributes, and Other Events contain programs, correspondence, certificates and other materials relating to awards, tributes, and honorary degrees for which Swados was nominated or received. These include multiple Drama Desk Award nominations (for Nightclub Cantata and Runaways), a Grammy Award nomination (for the Doonesbury cast album), and Tony Award nominatinos (in multiple categories for Runaways), and a Jewish Cultural Achievement Award.
Notebooks, Journals, and Diaries, which are largely undated, provide insight into every aspect of Swados' life and career. Some contain notes on the writing or rehearsing of productions; some contain drafts of poems, lyrics, cartoons, and drawings; and others contain personal diaries and autobiographical writings, concerning her personal life, friends, family, sexuality, and sexual encounters. Box 89 includes cards and invitations.
Also included are photographs of productions; professional headshots; a few photos of Swados' childhood and family; photographs with friends and pets; photographs while traveling, while giving lectures, and at other public appearances. Productions include Bible Women, Doonesbury, The Hating Pot, Jerusalem, The Red Sneaks, and Runaways.
Contracts, Agreements, Royalties, and Other Business Files paint a comprehensive picture of the business side of an artist's career. There are multiple drafts and final signed copies of contracts and agreements for Swados' theatrical productions and other professional works, as well as royalty statements for plays and songs. Swados' wife, Rosalind Lichter, was also her lawyer, and they maintained detailed business records.
This collection also contains a large number of sound and video recordings and one film. These include recordings of Swados productions, compositions, rehearsals, demos, and recordings collected and created as research for projects.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following groups: Alphabetical Files; Scripts and Scores; Publicity and Press Files; Awards, Honors, Tributes, and Other Events; Notebooks, Journals, and Diaries; Photographs; Contracts, Agreements, Royalties and Other Business Files; Sound Recordings; Video Recordings; and Film.