Nat Karson designs

id
4429
origination
Karson, Nat
date statement
1931-1949
key date
1931
identifier (local_mss)
22123
org unit
Billy Rose Theatre Division
call number
*T-Vim 2011-101
b-number
b19322884
total components
23
total series
0
max depth
1
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:05:02 UTC
updated
2026-08-16 02:31:24 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"*T-Vim 2011-101", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"22123", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Nat Karson designs"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1931-1949", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1931/1949"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"6 boxes (ca. 600 drawings)"}, {"name"=>"physfacet", "value"=>"col"}, {"name"=>"dimensions", "value"=>"56 x 76 cm. or smaller"}], "supress_display"=>true}
date_inclusive_start
1931
date_inclusive_end
1949
origination
{"value"=>"Karson, Nat", "type"=>"persname", "role"=>"Artist", "role_code"=>"art"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Nat Karson, producer and designer of costumes, sets, and lighting in theatrical and television productions in New York, was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1908, and moved to Chicago at an early age. He moved to New York in 1929, and worked in theatre productions at the Federal Theatre Project, including the all-black-cast production of Macbeth (1936), directed by Orson Welles. Karson also produced and created set, costume and lighting designs for theatrical productions on Broadway and elsewhere, such as the 1939 New York World's Fair. He served as the art director of Radio City Music Hall (1936-1943), and in 1948 he became consultant producer at the Columbia Broadcasting Company. His credits include The Hot Mikado (1939), Keep off the grass (1940), and Hamlet at the Kronberg Festival in Denmark (1949). Nat Karson died in New York City in 1954.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>Originals and copies of color costume and set designs; sketches and costume plots; technical drawings; and storyboards by Nat Karson for theatrical and television productions in New York during 1931-1949. The collection also includes 2 sketchbooks of set designs, several cut-outs of stage models, 1 caricature, 2 posters, and some black & white photographs.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
note
{"value"=>"<p>Many costume designs include swatches or notion samples, as well as notes with costume details on the margins or typed and attached to the design</p>", "encodinganalog"=>"500"}
{"value"=>"<p>Most of the set designs are unlabeled and unidentified</p>", "encodinganalog"=>"500"}
{"value"=>"<p>Many designs are signed</p>", "encodinganalog"=>"500"}
keydate
1931
prefercite
{"value"=>"Nat Karson designs, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library"}
extent_statement
6 boxes (ca. 600 drawings) : col ; 56 x 76 cm. or smaller
abstract
{"value"=>"Nat Karson, producer and designer of costumes, sets, and lighting in theatrical and television productions in New York, was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1908, and moved to Chicago at an early age. He moved to New York in 1929, and worked in theatre productions at the Federal Theatre Project, including the all-black-cast production of Macbeth (1936), directed by Orson Welles. Karson also produced and created set, costume and lighting designs for theatrical productions on Broadway and elsewhere, such as the 1939 New York World's Fair. He served as the art director of Radio City Music Hall (1936-1943), and in 1948 he became consultant producer at the Columbia Broadcasting Company. His credits include The Hot Mikado (1939), Keep off the grass (1940), and Hamlet at the Kronberg Festival in Denmark (1949). Nat Karson died in New York City in 1954. Originals and copies of color costume and set designs; sketches and costume plots; technical drawings; and storyboards by Nat Karson for theatrical and television productions in New York during 1931-1949. The collection also includes 2 sketchbooks of set designs, several cut-outs of stage models, 1 caricature, 2 posters, and some black & white photographs.", "generated"=>true}
date_start
1931
date_end
1949

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https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/thekarson.pdf

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