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Creator
Lillie, Beatrice, 1894-1989
Call number
*T-Mss 1990-025
Physical description
.42 linear feet (1 box)
Preferred Citation

Bruce Laffey - Beatrice Lillie Collection, *T-Mss 1990-025, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Beatrice Lillie was an actress and comedian. The collection was created by Bruce Laffey, her biographer, and contains correspondence and photographs documenting Beatrice Lillie's career. Most of the correspondence is either to Bruce Laffey from Beatrice Lillie or about her.

Biographical/historical information

Beatrice Lillie, stage star, was born in Toronto, Canada on May 29, 1894. Her first appearances on stage were in 1914 in Canada and in England in musical revues. She made her Broadway debut in Andre Charlot's Revue of 1924. Miss Lillie's most notable Broadway performances were in The Seven Lively Arts, Inside U. S. A., Ziegfeld Follies of 1957 and High Spirits. She toured the world in An Evening with Beatrice Lillie from 1952 to 1956. Miss Lillie appeared in films and on television. She married Sir Robert Peel in 1920. Beatrice Lillie retired to England in 1977. She died January 20, 1989.

Scope and arrangement

The Beatrice Lillie papers consist of clippings, correspondence, programs and photographs. The collection spans from 1919 to 1989 and includes materials on her professional and personal life. The correspondence is primarily to her biographer, Bruce Laffey.

The Beatrice Lillie papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I: Correspondence and Personal Papers
    1937-1989
    10 folders

    This series consists of correspondence, programs, clippings and biographical materials about Beatrice Lillie. The correspondence includes letters written by Beatrice Lillie to Bruce Laffey as well as letters to Bruce Laffey about Beatrice Lillie for his research. Of special note is the program from her funeral requiem.

  • Series II: Photographs
    20 folders

    This series contans personal and professional photographs of Beatrice Lillie with her friends and in her various roles. Other photographs include pictures of her husband, Sir Robert Peel and her son, Bobbie. Of special note are some photographs taken of Beatrice Lillie and Brandon De Wilde at Coney Island, New York. Production photographs include Beasop's Fables, High Spirits, Inside U.S.A., The Seven Lively Arts and Walk a Little Faster.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The Beatrice Lillie Collection was donated to the Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, August 27, 1990 by Bruce Laffey, Miss Lillie's biographer.

Source of acquisition

Bruce Laffey, 08/--/1990

Processing information

Processed by Rosalie Spar and Mary Ellen Rogan.

The collection arrived in good condition and was processed and cataloged in 1991. In 2000 the collection was reprocessed with a finding aid made available on the Web.

Separated material

  • Plaster head of Beatrice Lillie, bronze finish, by William Yoscary
  • 2 photographs of Beatrice Lillie

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre 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

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.