- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"3 lin. ft. (1 box; oversized photographs)"}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 1997-032", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"21431", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Higgins Family papers"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Billy Rose Theatre Division."}
- prefercite
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{"value"=>"<p>Higgins Family Papers, *T-Mss 1997-032, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Higgins family", "type"=>"famname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The <span class=\"famname\">Higgins family</span> hails from Fall River, Massachusetts. Thomas R. Higgins was with Special Services during World War II. His father, Thomas H., was a flyman during the 1920s and 30s working with such notable performers as Maurice Evans, the Marx Brothers, and Eddie Cantor. His brother, Robert, was a writer and an actor in the 1950s appearing on television in <span class=\"title\">Omnibus</span>, <span class=\"title\">Lamp Unto My Feet</span>, and <span class=\"title\">Studio One</span>, in the national company of <span class=\"title\">Tea and Sympathy</span>, and on Broadway in <span class=\"title\">Auntie Mame</span>.</p>"}
- custodhist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The papers of the Higgins Family were bequeathed to the Billy Rose Theatre Division by Thomas R. Higgins. His brother Robert arranged for the disposition of the materials in 1997.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The bulk of the collection is correspondence to Thomas R. Higgins from his friend actress<span class=\"persname\"> Evelyn Russell</span> who entertained in and wrote soldier shows for Special Services in Europe from 1945-1948. Letters (mostly from Germany) give insight into itineraries and experiences of soldier show performers. In a letter dated August 8, 1947, Russell recreates for Higgins the skits and lyrics for a show called <span class=\"title\">Who's On First</span>. Also included are autographed photographs of Russell from the 1940s and headshots from the 1960s. Her letters dated 1960-1971 reflect her stage and television career and her life with her husband director/choreographer<span class=\"persname\"> Joe Layton</span>.</p> <p>Photographs of casts and crews, hanging plots, contracts, and two letters from the <span class=\"persname\">Maurice Evans</span> office document Thomas H. Higgins' career as a stagehand in the 1920s and 30s.</p> <p>Actor Robert Higgins' career is represented by photographs from two plays: <span class=\"title\">Tea and Sympathy</span> and <span class=\"title\">Auntie Mame</span>.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Higgins Family papers are arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21431#c300320'>Series I. Thomas H. Higgins Papers,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1924-1939</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>6 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of Higgins' IATSE contracts, hanging plots for some of the productions he worked on, two letters from Maurice Evans' office (one signed by Evans) regarding employment and a photograph of Evans autographed to Higgins.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21431#c300327'>Series II. Thomas R. Higgins Papers,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1946-1971</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>8 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series consists of letters to Tom Higgins from Evelyn Russell while she was working in Special Services in Germany (1946-1948). Later correspondence (1960-1971) touches on her career and that of her husband Joe Layton.</p> <p>Photographs include Special Services publicity photos of Russell (1946-1947), a candid photo of Russell, Tom Higgins and Bette Larson in Germany (1946), headshots of Russell (1960s), photo of Joe Layton, photo of Noel Coward (Russell appeared in <span class=\"title\">Sail Away</span>), and a few snapshots of the Layton family and cat.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21431#c300331'>Series III. Robert Higgins Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1955-1956</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 folder</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Three photographs of<span class=\"persname\"> Robert Higgins</span> as he appeared in Auntie Mame with <span class=\"persname\">Rosalind Russell</span> and in <span class=\"title\">Tea and Sympathy</span> with <span class=\"persname\">Maria Riva</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21431#c300333'>Series IV. Oversized Materials,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1923-1932</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 folder</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Oversized photographs of casts and crews Thomas H. Higgins worked with include <span class=\"title\">The Cocoanuts</span> (1927), <span class=\"title\">Artists and Models</span> (1925), and <span class=\"title\">Make It Snappy</span> (1923) and <span class=\"title\">Of Thee I Sing</span>(ca. 1931-1932).</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<ul> <li>Series I. Thomas H. Higgins Papers</li> <li>Series II. Thomas R. Higgins Papers</li> <li>Series III. Robert Higgins Papers</li> <li>Series IV. Oversized Materials (Rose Bldg.:Drawer 7)</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Photocopying prohibited.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.</p>"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1923-1971", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1923/1971"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1923
- date_inclusive_end
-
1971
- acqinfo
-
{"accession_number"=>"THE Mss 1997-032"}
{"date"=>"1997", "source"=>"Bequest of Thomas Ronald Higgins", "address"=>"See donor file", "method"=>"Gift", "extent"=>"3 o", "value"=>"Gift, Bequest of Thomas Ronald Higgins, 1997"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The Higgins Family papers consist of correspondence, contracts, photographs and hanging plots and document this family's career in the theater. The bulk of the collection is correspondence to Thomas R. Higgins from his friend actress Evelyn Russell who entertained in and wrote soldier shows for Special Services in Europe from 1945-1948. Letters (mostly from Germany) give insight into itineraries and experiences of soldier show performers. In a letter dated August 8, 1947, Russell recreates for Higgins the skits and lyrics for a show called \"Who's On First\". Also included are autographed photographs of Russell from the 1940s and headshots from the 1960s. Her letters dated 1960-1971 reflect her stage and television career and her life with her husband director/choreographer Joe Layton."}
- keydate
-
1923
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Susan McArthur.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1923
- date_end
-
1971