Scope and arrangement
The Lee Simonson Photographs consist of over 340 black and white photographs of his theater sets, costumes and research materials, spanning from 1871-1937 (bulk dates 1915-1937).
Among the productions designed by Simonson that are well-represented in the collection are As You Like It (1923), Don Juan (1921), The Faithful (1919), Heartbreak House (1920), Marco Millions (1928), Martinique (1920), and Peer Gynt (1923).
The photographs are by Francis Bruguière, Vandamm, White Studio, and Ira D. Schwartz. Some mounts are signed.
A number of the photographs in the research materials were used in one of Simonson's books, The Stage Is Set (Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1932) and include photographs of set designs and illustrations by other designers such as Adolphe Appia, Edward Gordon Craig, Robert Edmond Jones, and others spanning several centuries. There are also several photographs of theatres, New York City's Garrick Theatre and Guild Theatre; topics related to scenic design also in the collection include lighting and perspective. Several of the research photographs are by Peter A. Juley & Son and one by John Wallace Gillies, Inc.
Additional research materials include a few late 19th century publications, mostly in German.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into two topics: Lee Simonson Photographs and Research Materials, then alphabetically.