Arranged Series of Ephemera
While most ephemera can be found by searching HOLLIS or HOLLIS for Archival Discovery, some collections of ephemera are arranged but not described. Library staff must physically consult these "arranged series" to determine if the item you are searching for is included in a particular series. Because they are organized in very specific ways (some by production title, others by personal or organizational names, others by venue and date) you will need to provide staff with the information specific to the arrangement of any given series.
In addition to instructions and tips for placing requests, this page provides lists of the series in two formats:
- Lists of series that tend to yield results for the majority of projects. These are broken out into how the series are arranged (production title, personal name, organization name, and venue).
- A complete list of the series.
The lists indicate whether or not the series has a finding aid describing its contents. When this is the case, or if the collection is only one box, you can place your requests from the finding aid or HOLLIS record as usual. Instructions on requesting material from those series without finding aids are found below.
Placing Requests
In order to request that staff search a series:
- Consult the lists below. If you want to know more information about a series, clicking on the series name will direct you to its HOLLIS catalog record.
- To request a box from a series, open the HOLLIS record, scroll to the Access Options section, and click on "Request to Scan or Visit." Log in to your HOLLIS Special Request account. If you don't already have an account, register before placing your requests.
- After logging into your account, enter the required information.
- Most series have been more fully cataloged. If this is the case, you will find a link to the catalog record and can request the specific box you want through HOLLIS or HOLLIS for Archival Discovery.
- If a series has no finding aid and consists of more than one box you will need to enter a search term for stacks staff to check:
- If a series is listed under production title, personal name, organization name, or venue, enter that information.
- For series from the complete list of arranged series, enter the information asked for on that list.
- Please note that staff will not search for material in an arranged series until you are physically present in the Houghton Library Reading Room.
Tips for Searching the Arranged Series
The arranged series of ephemera hold a wealth of information, but because they aren't fully cataloged it can be difficult to fully exploit them. Here are a few tips:
- Information on productions can also be found by searching for associated people, organizations and venues - and vice versa.
- Subjects covered in specialized arranged series (e.g. photographs of dance or Shakespeare productions) can often be found in more general series (e.g. Theatrical scene photographs, ca. 1860-2010).
- It may be necessary to use secondary sources to discover the connections between productions, people, organizations, and venues.
- Need additional help? Contact a librarian to ask a question or make an appointment.
Frequently Consulted Series Arranged by Production Title
Series Name |
---|
Clippings on theatrical productions, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on dance, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on Shakespeare productions, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Theatrical scene photographs, ca. 1860-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Cabinet photographs of theatrical scenes, ca. 1866-1929 (see finding aid for contents) |
Cabinet photographs of Shakespeare productions, ca. 1866-1929 (see finding aid for contents) |
Theatrical scene photographs of Shakespeare productions, ca. 1860-2010 |
Theatrical scene photographs of Shaw productions, ca. 1860-2010 |
Theatrical scene photographs of O’Neill productions, ca. 1860-2010 |
Dance scene photographs, ca. 1860-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Film still scene photographs, ca. 1900-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Theatrical scene prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 (see finding aid for contents) |
Dance scene prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Programs by title, ca. 1930-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Souvenir programs by title, ca. 1800-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Programs for "modern" productions of Shakespeare, ca. 1930-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Sheet music by title, ca. 1800-2000 (see finding aid for contents) |
Frequently Consulted Series Arranged by Personal Name
Series Name |
---|
Clippings on persons in the theater, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on dance, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Theatrical portrait photographs, ca. 1860-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Cabinet photographs of men, ca. 1866-1929 (see finding aid for contents) |
Cabinet photographs of women, ca. 1866-1929 (see finding aid for contents) |
Cartes-de-visite photographs of men, ca. 1854-1879 (see finding aid for contents) |
Cartes-de-visite photographs of women, ca. 1854-1879 (see finding aid for contents) |
Dance portraits, ca. 1860-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Theatrical portrait prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 (see finding aid for contents) |
Theatrical portrait prints (visual works) of men, ca. 1700-1900 (see finding aid for contents) |
Theatrical portrait prints (visual works) of women, ca. 1700-1900 (see finding aid for contents) |
Dance portrait prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Playbills and programs concerning male "stars", ca. 1700-1930 (see finding aid for contents) |
Playbills and programs concerning female "stars", ca. 1767-1962 (see finding aid for contents) |
Programs by name, ca. 1930-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Souvenir programs by name, ca. 1800-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Sheet music about personalities: men, ca. 1800-2000 (see finding aid for contents) |
Sheet music about personalities: women, ca. 1800-2000 (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection of sheet music, circa 1800-2000 (see finding aid for contents) |
Sheet music about personalities: dance portraits, ca. 1800-2000 (see finding aid for contents) |
Sheet music about personalities: authors, ca. 1800-2000 (see finding aid for contents) |
Sheet music by composer, ca. 1800-2000 (see finding aid for contents) |
Sheet music by author, ca. 1800-2000 (see HOLLIS record for contents) |
Frequently Consulted Series Arranged by Organizational Name
Series Name |
---|
Clippings on theatrical organizations, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on dance, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on opera, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Dance organization photographs, ca. 1860-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Playbills and programs from London organizations, ca. 1700-1930 (see finding aid for contents) |
Playbills and programs from Boston organizations, ca. 1800-1930 (see finding aid for contents) |
Programs by name, ca. 1930-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Souvenir programs by name, ca. 1800-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Sheet music about personalities: troupes, ca. 1800-2000 |
Frequently Consulted Series Arranged by Venue
Series Name |
---|
Clippings on London theaters, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on Boston theaters, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on New York theaters, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on theaters in the United States, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Clippings on "foreign" theaters, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection of clippings on opera, ca. 1800-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Harvard Theatre Collection photographic postcards of theaters in the United States, ca. 1870-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection photographic postcards of foreign theaters, ca. 1870-2010 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Harvard Theatre Collection on London theaters, 1616-1967, (bulk 1751-1875) (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection on New York theaters, 1822-1962, (bulk 1856-1900) (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection on Boston theaters, 1850-1972 (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection on United States theaters, 1793-1969 (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection on British theaters, circa 1600-1900, (bulk 1820-1890) (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection on Paris theaters, 1745-1945 (see finding aid for contents) |
Harvard Theatre Collection on international theaters, 1662-1900 (see finding aid for contents) |
Series Name |
---|
Playbills and programs from London theaters, ca. 1777-1978 (see finding aid for contents) |
Playbills and programs from New York City theaters, ca. 1800-1930 (see finding aid for contents) |
Playbills and programs from Boston theaters, 1775-1988 (see finding aid for contents) |
Playbills and programs from theaters in the United States, ca. 1800-1930 (see finding aid for partial list of contents) |
Playbills and programs from theaters in Great Britain, ca. 1700-1930 (see finding aid for contents) |
Playbills and programs from "international" theaters, ca. 1700-1930 (see finding aid for contents) |
Souvenir programs by name, ca. 1800-2011 (see finding aid for contents) |
Complete List of Arranged Series
Series | Information to Enter in Volume/Box/Folder/Item |
---|---|
Theatrical cabinet photographs of men, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents. |
Theatrical cabinet photographs of women, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents. |
Theatrical cabinet photographs of groups of performers, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection Cabinet photographs of European operetta performers, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of men with dwarfism, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of women with dwarfism, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of men in "freak shows", circa 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of women in "freak shows", ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection unidentified cabinet photographs, ca. 1866-1929 | No information needed |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of popular entertainment, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of scenes, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of Gilbert and Sullivan productions, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cabinet photographs of Shakespeare productions, ca. 1866-1929 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection photographic portrait postcards, circa 1870-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection photographic postcards of groups and scenes, ca. 1870-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection photographic postcards of theaters in the United States, ca. 1870-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection photographic postcards of foreign theaters, ca. 1870-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Harvard Theatre Collection cartes-de-visite photographs of men, circa 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical cartes-de-visite photographs of women, ca. 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
Cartes-de-visite photographs of men in popular entertainment, ca. 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
Cartes-de-visite photographs of women in popular entertainment, ca. 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
French and Italian cartes-de-visite theatrical portrait photographs, ca. 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
German cartes-de-visite theatrical portrait photographs, ca. 1854-1879 | Personal name |
Cartes-de-visite portrait photographs of female dancers, circa 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
Cartes-de-visite portrait photographs of female opera musicians, ca. 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
Cartes-de-visite portrait photographs of male opera musicians, ca. 1854-1879 | See finding aid for contents |
Unidentified theatrical cartes-de-visite portrait photographs, ca. 1854-1879 | No information needed |
Theatrical portrait photographs, ca. 1860-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical scene photographs, ca. 1860-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical scene photographs of Shakespeare productions, ca. 1860-2010 | Production title |
Theatrical scene photographs of Shaw productions, ca. 1860-2010 | Production title |
Theatrical scene photographs of O'Neill productions, ca. 1860-2010 | Production title |
Theatrical scene photographs of Yiddish productions, ca. 1860-2010 | No information needed |
Dance portrait photographs, ca. 1860-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Dance organization photographs, ca. 1860-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Dance scene photographs, ca. 1860-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Film still scene photographs, ca. 1900-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical daguerreotypes, ca. 1830-1860 | Digitized. Originals are restricted. Consult staff if needed |
Theatrical ambrotypes, ca. 1850-1870 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical organization photographs, ca. 1860-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical photographs by photographer, ca. 1860-2010 | See finding aid for contents |
Series | Information to Enter in Volume/Box/Folder/Item |
---|---|
Theatrical portrait prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical portrait prints (visual works) of men, ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical portrait prints (visual works) of women, ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical scene prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical scene photomechanical prints, ca. 1850-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical portrait photomechanical prints, ca. 1850-1930 | Personal name |
Dance portrait prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Dance scene prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Dance caricature prints (visual works), ca. 1700-1900 | Consult library staff |
Prints (visual works) of London theaters, ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Prints (visual works) of New York City theaters, ca. 1700-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Prints (visual works) of Boston theaters, ca. 1790-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Prints (visual works) of theaters in the United States, ca. 1750-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Prints (visual works) of provincial theaters in Great Britain, ca. 1600-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Prints (visual works) of theaters in Paris, ca. 1600-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Prints (visual works) of "international" theaters, ca. 1600-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical caricature prints (visual works), ca. 1600-1900 | See finding aid for contents |
Theatrical organization prints (visual works), ca. 1600-1900 | Organization name |
Series | Information to Enter in Volume/Box/Folder/Item |
---|---|
Playbills and programs from London theaters, ca. 1777-1978, and undated | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs from London organizations, ca. 1700-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs from New York City theaters, ca. 1800-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs from Boston theaters, 1775-1988 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs from Boston organizations, ca. 1800-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs from theaters in the United States, ca. 1800-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs from theaters in Great Britain, ca. 1700-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs from "international" theaters, ca. 1700-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs concerning male "stars", ca. 1700-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Playbills and programs concerning female "stars", ca. 1700-1930 | See finding aid for contents |
Programs by title, ca. 1930-2011 | See finding aid for contents |
Programs by name, ca. 1930-2011 | See finding aid for contents |
Souvenir programs by title, ca. 1800-2011 | See finding aid for contents |
Souvenir programs by name, ca. 1800-2011 | See finding aid for contents |
Programs for "modern" productions of Shakespeare, ca. 1930-2011 | See finding aid for contents. |
Series | Information to Enter in Volume/Box/Folder/Item |
---|---|
Sheet music about personalities: men, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents. |
Sheet music about personalities: women, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents. |
Sheet music about personalities: authors, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents. |
Sheet music about personalities: dance portraits, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents. |
Sheet music about personalities: troupes, ca. 1800-2000 | Troupe name |
Sheet music concerning baseball, ca. 1840-2000 | No information needed |
Sheet music for the circus, ca. 1800-2000 | No information needed |
Sheet music for dance, ca. 1800-2000 | Dance name (e.g. Tarantella) |
Sheet music for ragtime, ca. 1896-2000 | See finding aid for contents. |
Songster collection, ca. 1780-1910 | See finding aid for contents |
Sheet music by topic, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents |
Sheet music by composer, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents. |
Sheet music by title, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents. |
Sheet music by performer, ca. 1800-2000 | See finding aid for contents |
Sheet music by author, ca. 1800-2000 | See HOLLIS record for contents |