- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"9.79 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"12 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*MGZMD 213", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"19849", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1910-1994", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1910/1994"}
{"value"=>"1976-1984", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1976/1984"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Helene Obolensky papers"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</span> <span class=\"subarea\">Jerome Robbins Dance Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"><span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The Helene Obolensky Papers document Obolensky's activities in the field of dance book publishing. Obolensky (born 1919), who had a varied career in fashion, marketing, public relations, and publishing, later established Helene Obolensky Enterprises, Inc. as a multiple interest corporation and was active in publishing lavish coffee table books under her own imprint during the 1970s and 1980s."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Helene Obolensky papers, *MGZMD 213. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Obolensky, Helene", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Helene Obolensky (born 1919) began her varied career in fashion, marketing, public relations, and publishing in Paris during the 1940s. She worked initially as a personal assistant to designer Coco Chanel and later as a magazine editor while living in France. Obolensky immigrated to the United States, where she became fashion editor for <span class=\"title\">Town & Country</span> and <span class=\"title\">Redbook</span>. Drawing on her social connections, Princess Obolensky (she was married to Prince Alexander Petrovich Obolensky, a scholar of Slavonic languages), was able to secure the endorsements of celebrities, such as Princess Grace of Monaco, on a wide assortment of projects. She established Helene Obolensky Enterprises, Inc. as a multiple interest corporation and was active in publishing dance books under her own imprint (frequently working out distribution deals with established publishing houses) during the 1970s and 1980s. Among these lavish coffee table works were <span class=\"title\">The Bolshoi Ballet</span> (1975), Clive Barnes's <span class=\"title\">Inside American Ballet Theatre</span> (1977), <span class=\"title\">America Dances</span> (1980) by Agnes De Mille and <span class=\"title\">Nureyev</span> (1982), also by Barnes. During this period, Obolensky also began to become involved with co-producing ballet films and television specials.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Helene Obolensky Papers document Obolensky's activities in the field of dance book publishing. The bulk of the collection consists of Project files which detail editorial and production matters relating to two titles published under the imprint of Helene Obolensky Enterprises, Inc. during the early 1980s, <span class=\"title\">America Dances</span> (1980) by Agnes De Mille and <span class=\"title\">Nureyev</span> (1982) by Clive Barnes. Materials in these files include clippings, contracts, correspondence, galley proofs, invoices, manuscripts, and photographs. Correspondence is almost entirely limited to professional concerns. Notable correspondents represented in the Project Files include De Mille (although she is represented by only a few items). There are also some letters from the former Diaghilev dancer and choreographer, Serge Lifar, contained in the Subject files series. The Lifar materials apparently were collected by Obolensky as part of separate efforts to publish his memoirs and to persuade Lifar to participate in a documentary on the Diaghilev era. Also of note are several snapshots of Lifar at a house party, with other identifiable Ballets Russes alumni (including Alexandra Danilova) in attendance, as well as some photographs that show Lifar at the Diaghilev exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. There also is a small set of studio portraits of Lifar taken by Max Waldman, some of them with a woman (most likely Obolensky). Oversized materials chiefly consist of production mechanicals for the <span class=\"title\">Nureyev</span> book.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Helene Obolensky papers are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/dan/19849#c417139'>Series I. Project Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1975 - 1994</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Project Files series is comprised mostly of clippings, contracts, correspondence, financial records, galley proofs, manuscripts, photographs, and other editorial and production files relating to two of the dance books published by Obolensky during the 1980s, <span class=\"title\">America Dances</span> and <span class=\"title\">Nureyev</span>. Since both books were generously illustrated, much of the material concerns researching and securing permissions for the many photographs used in the books. Also of interest is material regarding the marketing of the Nureyev book, which includes some snapshots of its author, Clive Barnes, as well as Rudolf Nureyev at various book signings. The Oversized Material series also includes complete production mechanicals and related galley proofs for <span class=\"title\">Nureyev</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/dan/19849#c417210'>Series II: Subject Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1910 - 1983</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Subject Files series primarily consists of correspondence and research materials relating to various book, film, and television projects in which Obolensky was interested. It is not clear whether or not any of these projects were completed. Of particular note is material relating to Serge Lifar. Obolensky apparently hosted Lifar when he visited the United States and sought to publish an edition of his autobiography and involve him in a documentary film project. Items include some original and copies of letters from Lifar (in Russian), as well as candid and studio photographs. All of the material that predates the 1970s is in the form of photocopies.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/dan/19849#c417240'>Series III: Oversized Material, and</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1985</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Oversized Material series contains one folder of photocopies of illustrations for a section of <span class=\"title\">America Dances</span> and extensive production materials for <span class=\"title\">Nureyev</span>.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p> <ul> <li>Series I: Project Files, 1975-1994</li> <li>Series II: Subject Files, 1910-1983</li> <li>Series III: Oversized Material, 1985 and undated</li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Helene Obolensky Papers were donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 1995 by Helene Obolensky.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>1 audiocassette, Agnes George De Mille, January 21, 1986</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Jerome Robbins Dance Division.</p>"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1910
- date_inclusive_end
-
1994
- langmaterial_code
-
eng
fre
rus
- keydate
-
1910
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English is predominant language in the collection; there are some letters in French and Russian"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Helice Koffler; Machine-readable finding aid created by Helice Koffler.</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
9.79 linear feet (12 boxes)
- date_start
-
1910
- date_end
-
1994
- date_bulk_start
-
1976
- date_bulk_end
-
1984