- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"5.2 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"11 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*T-VIM 1981-010", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"21792", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1925-1973", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1925/1973"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1925
- date_inclusive_end
-
1973
- keydate
-
1925
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Paul Morrison papers and designs"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. <span class=\"subarea\">Billy Rose Theatre Division.</span></span> New York, New York."}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Paul Morrison (1906-1980), whose prolific theatrical career began in New York with the Theatre Guild and Group Theatre, designed sets, lighting and costumes for more than 60 Broadway productions, often working in multiple capacities. This collection includes many of his scenic and lighting designs and a few costume designs, as well as notes and sketches."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Paul Morrison Papers and Designs, *T-VIM 1981-010. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Paul Morrison's theatrical career was varied and prolific. Born in Altoona, Pa. in 1906, Morrison graduated from Lafayette College (Easton, Pa.), where he also taught drama. During World War II, he joined the armed forces and designed and supervised shows overseas for the USO. Morrison's first theatrical work in New York was performing with the Theatre Guild in 1929-1930. He acted, designed and stage managed for the Group Theatre, appearing in the first production of Clifford Odets' <span class=\"title\">Paradise Lost</span>. During 1935-36, Morrison served as technical director and design supervisor for the Chicago Division of the Federal Theatre (WPA) Project.</p> <p>Morrison often served a show in multiple capacities, covering more than one design element, and sometimes stage managing or supervising the production. As a costume designer, Morrison's first Broadway show was <span class=\"title\">Thunder Rock</span> at the Mansfield Theatre in 1939. Serving as technical director for the American Repertory Theatre, Morrison worked with Eva LeGallienne and Cheryl Crawford, designing sets for <span class=\"title\">What Every Woman Knows</span> and <span class=\"title\">John Gabriel Borkman</span>, which played in repertory 1946-1947.</p> <p>Many Broadway productions followed, for which he designed sets, lighting and/or costumes, including the following shows represented in this collection: <span class=\"title\">All My Sons</span>(1947), <span class=\"title\">Billy Budd</span>(1951), <span class=\"title\">Candide</span>(1956), <span class=\"title\">Separate Tables</span>(1956), <span class=\"title\">The Visit</span>(1958), <span class=\"title\">Much Ado About Nothing</span>(1959), <span class=\"title\">Thurber Carnival</span>(1960), <span class=\"title\">The Caretaker</span>(1961), <span class=\"title\">A Man for All Seasons</span>(1961), and <span class=\"title\">The Price</span>(1968). Morrison worked with such directors as Peter Brook, Harold Clurman, John Gielgud, Ulu Grosbard, Tyrone Guthrie, and Lee Strasberg.</p> <p>From 1936-1942 Morrison headed up the Theatre Department at Bard College. In 1963, he became a director of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he remained for 17 years.</p> <p>Paul Morrison died in New York City on December 29, 1980.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection consists of Morrison's notes, watercolor design sketches, ground plans, set elevations, light plots, channel hookups and other technical drawings. His work as an administrator of theatre training is not represented.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Paul Morrison papers and designs are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21792#c469441'>Series I: Professional Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1925-1927, 1948-1970 and undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>These working files include correspondence, notes, cast lists, costume and property lists, rough sketches, small format technical drawings, instrument schedules, channel hookups, other lighting documentation, and financial records.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21792#c469483'>Series II: Designs</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1939-1964</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>These watercolor and gouache renderings are primarily set designs. Also included are a few costume sketches and lighting designs. Most of them correspond to technical drawings in Series III. The dates listed here are those signed on the work -- in some instances the production was mounted the following year.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21792#c469524'>Series III: Technical Drawings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1946-1970 and undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>5 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Includes drafting for scenic designs: ground plans, elevations, details, and rough sketches. Also includes lighting designs: light plots, lighting sections, channel hookups and other documentation. The year noted on the drawing is that of the design, which in some cases precedes the actual production.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p> <ul> <li>Series I: Professional Papers</li> <li>Series II: Designs</li> <li>Series III: Technical Drawings</li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Paul Morrison Papers and Designs were donated by Alice Owens in 1981.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Library policies on photocopying apply.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Morrison, Paul, 1906-1980", "type"=>"persname"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by: Jim Steere and Barbara Knowles; Machine-readable finding aid created by: Barbara Knowles.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Jim Steere and Barbara Knowles; Machine-readable finding aid created by Barbara Knowles.</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
5.2 linear feet (11 boxes)
- date_start
-
1925
- date_end
-
1973