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Creator
Libidins, David, approximately 1899-1958
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 61
Physical description
1523 items in 198 folders
Language
In English, French, and Russian with some Italian and German. The papers document Libidins' career as administrator for Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1938 to 1943 and manager for individual performers, including Alicia Alonso and Igor Youskevitch. The collection includes correspondence with Sergei Denham, Leonide Massine, René Blum, Sol Hurok, Jacques Rubinstein and others relating to the purchase of Blum's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the formation of the new Ballet Russe in 1938. Much of the collection documents the long personal and professional relationship between Libidins and Youskevitch; English
Preferred Citation

Libidins, David, c.1899-1958. Papers, (S) *MGZMD 61, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The David Libidins Papers document his professional life from 1936 to 1958. Although primarily concerned with his roles as administrator and artists' manager, Libidins' correspondence reflects frequent crossovers between professional relationships and personal friendships. He was widely known as a man for whom there was no separation between the two spheres.

Biographical/historical information

David Savelevich Libidins was born in c. 1899in Istanbul (then Constantinople) of Russian parents. He studied voice in Moscow, and after serving in the Russian army in World War I, toured Europe performing with opera companies and in other theatrical shows. In the early 1930's, Libidins took an administrative position with Sol Hurok, handling the U.S. tours of the de Basil Ballet Russe.

In 1938, he became administrative director of the newly formed Denham-Massine Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and retained this position until 1943 when he became an independent manager. Except for a brief period in 1943 when he served as administrative director for Ballet Theatre, Libidins maintained his own firm until his death, with a clientele that included the Ballet Russe, Alicia Alonso in her guest appearances with Igor Youskevitch, Teresa and Luisillo's Ballet Espagnol, Vladimir Horowitz, and the harpsichordist Wanda Landowska. In 1946, Libidins began a long-standing professional and personal relationship with Igor Youskevitch, as his manager and deep-sea fishing partner.

David Libidins died on December 22, 1958.

Scope and arrangement

The David Libidins Papers document his professional life from 1936 to 1958. Although primarily concerned with his roles as administrator and artists' manager, Libidins' correspondence reflects frequent crossovers between professional relationships and personal friendships. He was widely known as a man for whom there was no separation between the two spheres.|||In English, French and Russian with some Italian and German.

The David Libidins papers are arranged in four series:

  • I. World Art/Universal Art
    622 items

    The first series of the collection (622 items) contains papers relating to World Art, Inc., later known as Universal Art, Inc. Correspondence with and between Sergei Denham, Leonide Massine, Rene Blum, Sol Hurok, Jacques Rubinstein and others, documents the purchase of Blum's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the formation of the new Ballet Russe in 1938. As all papers are arranged chronologically, an alphabetical list of frequent and/or important correspondents is included in the register. It should be noted that the correspondents frequently use nicknames: “Libby”, “Smith” and “Clifford Smith” for Libidins; and “Clyde” for Sergei Denham.

  • II. Igor Youskevitch
    886 items

    The second series of papers (886 items), relating to Igor Youskevitch, trace the long personal and professional relationship between the two, from 1941 to 1958. The correspondence, while largely relating to tours, contracts, etc., often has updates on Youskevitch's family, including his wife, the dancer Anna Scarpova. The financial papers include many exchanges with the accountant Isador Magidoff, and income tax preparations for Youskevitch.

  • III. Manuscripts/Diaries
    2 items

    Includes A manuscript and diary written by Libidins (the third series of the collection, 2 items), present a more anecdotal description of the Ballet Russe, as well as offering insights into Libidins' own character.

  • IV. Miscellaneous
    13 items

    The fourth series contains 13 miscellaneous items.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Lincoln J. Herzeca (niece of Libidins). Received: 1989.

Processing information

Processed by Sally Bomer.

Separated material

  • 63 duplicate manuscript items - Location: Discarded
  • 2 souvenir programs - Location: To Bazaar
  • 4 music scores
  • 4 rolls 35mm film - Location: To film archive
  • 1 roll 8mm film
  • 1 piano score of Tortoni - Location: Added to *MGZMD 52 (Ballet Foundation scores)
  • 2 11½×17½ photostats of 1942 drawings of company life - Location: Conservation; to be processed
  • Box #1 - Location: Manuscript area shelves
    • ca. 425 stage and portrait photos with xeroxed list from Libidins' diary identifying some photos - Location: To be processed *MGZEA
    • ca. 45 envelopes of negatives - Location: To be processed
  • Box #2 - Location: Manuscript area shelves
    • 2 scrapbooks with snapshots (Libidins, Youskevitch, fishing, family) - Location: To be processed *MGZEB
    • ca. 85 house programs--Ballet Russe in U.S. appearances - Location: To be processed
    • 9 folders clippings (mostly on Youskevitch) - Location: Added to *MGZR Youskevitch, Igor
    • 1 fabric insignia with eagle and “A” - Location: To be processed

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor