Scope and arrangement
The Vincenzo Celli papers contain address books and journals, correspondence, memorabilia (including scrapbooks), and photographs.
Celli's journals are filled with poems, inspirational quotes from noted authors, and various preparatory performance notes for his 1960s production, Religion in the Dance, which also featured Katharine Rutgers. The address books in the collection are from both Celli and his wife, Marion Ivell, and include the names and addresses of friends and associates.
Celli's correspondence consists of letters, postcards, and greeting cards from his extended family and various grateful pupils, as well as correspondence from the Cecchetti Council and other organizations. Correspondence is arranged chronologically when date is known.
Memorabilia includes programs from various Celli and Rutgers performances, as well as an issue of Dance Index honoring Enrico Cecchetti, which contains a lengthy biographical essay about Cecchetti written by Celli. Scrapbooks contain newspaper and magazine clippings, personal photographs, greeting cards, and blank postcards. One of the scrapbooks appears to have been created by/for Marion Ivell, as it contains clippings related to Royal British coronations, film stars, and political events.
The bulk of the photographs, although undated, appear to have been taken between the 1920s and 1940s, during the apex of Celli's career. Two of the photo albums hold studio headshots of young pupils, notable stage performers, and celebrities, many of which are warmly inscribed to Celli. A third album contains photographs of Alicia Markova, a student of Celli's, taken by Carl Van Vechten. There are also loose photographs which include professional headshots of Celli and photographs of Katharine Rutgers and other unidentified pupils.
Arrangement
Materials in the Vincenzo Celli papers are arranged alphabetically by format.