Roland Holt Collection of Performing Arts Ephemera and Photographs, 1879-1931

Collection Number: 12022

Collection Title: Roland Holt Collection of Performing Arts Ephemera and Photographs, 1879-1931

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.

Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size	7 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 10000 items)
Abstract	Theater and opera ephemera collected by publisher, theater critic, and lecturer on drama Roland Holt. The collection includes playbills, cabinet cards, opera librettos, scrapbooks, ticket stubs, reviews, illustrations in various formats, photographic prints, and newspaper clippings. Clippings include performance openings and closings; news about theater venues, and performers' obituaries. Many of the playbills include Holt's annotations. A small amount of scattered correspondence pertains chiefly to Holt's lectures and creative projects. The collection was formerly known as the Roland Holt Collection of the Carolina Playmakers. Acquired as part of the Rare Book Literary and Historical Papers.
Creator	Holt, Roland, 1867-1931.
Curatorial Unit	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Rare Book Literary and Historical Papers.
Language	English

Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access: No restrictions. Open for research.

Restrictions to Use: No usage restrictions.

Copyright Notice: Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], in the Roland Holt Collection of Performing Arts Ephemera and Photographs #12022, Rare Book Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information: Received prior to 1940 (Acc. 103337).

Sensitive Materials Statement: Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

Expand/collapse Processing Information

Papers processed by: Rare Book Collection interns in March 2018

Photographs processed by: Patrick Cullom in April 2018

Encoded by: Laura Smith

Updated by: Laura Hart and Patrick Cullom in April 2018

Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

Expand/collapse Related Collections

Roland Holt Papers (04003) in the Southern Historical Collection

Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

1. Photographs, 1880s-1920s
2. Librettos, 1879-1922
3. Scrapbooks, 1881-1931
4. Filed Newspaper Clippings, 1891-1926
5. Books, 1894-1927
6. Playbills, circa 1890-1930
7. Assorted Ephemera and Other Materials, circa 1820s-1930s

Expand/collapse Series 1. Photographs, 1880s-1920s

Photographic prints (chiefly albumen prints, cartes-de-visites, and cabinet cards) depicting popular actors, actresses, composers, and occasional scenes of productions onstage.

Photograph Albums, 1887-1904

Photographic albums containing photographic prints depicting popular actors(portraits and onstage), actresses (portraits and onstage), and composers; as well as occasional scenes of productions onstage.

Indexed in the Roland Holt Theatre Collection indexes and guides (call number Z5781 .R6 1973).

Photograph Album PA-12022/01	"Stage Photographs" (Album I) 37 images Cabinet Cards, Cartes-de-visites
Photograph Album PA-12022/02	"Stage Photographs" (Album II) 72 images Cabinet Cards Includes note stating "Oct 22nd 1887 had 136 cab [cabinet cards] & 2 large photos" on album flyleaf; one photo has been colored (page: II-20); two loose photos stored in front of book with donation statement "Gift of Julius J. Lankes Hilton Village, Virginia September 1, 1936 to Professor Koch."
Photograph Album PA-12022/03	"Stage Photographs" (Album III) 28 images Cabinet Cards Includes photographs with signatures (pages: III-10; III-20); post mark on photograph (page: III-17).
Photograph Album PA-12022/04	"Stage Photographs" (Album IV) 50 images
Photograph Album PA-12022/05	"Stage Photographs" (Album V) 38 images Includes photograph with signature (page: V-8).
Photograph Album PA-12022/06	"Stage Photographs" (Album VI) 34 images Includes photograph with signature (page: VI-17).

Photographic Prints, 1880s-1920s

Photographic prints depicting popular actors(portraits and onstage), actresses (portraits and onstage), and composers. Also included are scenes of productions presented by "Carolina Playmakers," from the 1920s..

Indexed in the Roland Holt Theatre Collection indexes and guides (call number Z5781 .R6 1973).

Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/01	"George Arlise," circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/02	"Sidney Blackman, John McCormack, Mary Anderson (Scott), and Chas. A. Mangum, England 1921" 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/03	"Lucienne Breval," circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/04	"Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coburn," circa 1820s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/05	"Charlotte Cushman," circa 1920s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/06	"Emma Eames," circa 1880s-1890s 3 images Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/07	"Olive Fremstad," circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 2 Image Folder PF-12022/08	"Richard Mansfield," circa 1897 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/09	"Julia Marlowe," circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/10	"Lillian Nordica," circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/11	"Adelina Patti," circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/12	"Morina Sieglinda, circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 1 Image Folder PF-12022/13	"Ellen Terry," circa 1880s-1890s 1 image Black-and-White Photographic Print
Image Box 3 Image Folder PF-12022/14	"Scenes from Carolina Playmakers Productions," Images by Wooten-Moulton Studios (Chapel Hill, N.C.), circa 1920s 32 images Black-and-White Photographic Prints Some images have descriptions on verso, including name of production and actors/actresses depicted.

Expand/collapse Series 2. Librettos, 1879-1922

Some items contain personal annotations about the performances. Newspaper clippings are affixed to or inserted into some items. Smaller programs are inserted into some items, and some items contain musical notation.

Index of librettos (titles only) in the Roland Holt Theatre Collection indexes and guides (call number Z5781 .R6 1973). Same list included in boxes.

Box 1	Opera and Ballet Librettos (A to B), 1887-1920 Student recital program inserted into one item; one book contains color advertisement. Some are duplicates. "The Barber of Seville" listed on index was not found in box.
Box 2	Opera and Ballet Librettos (C to G), 1879-1922 One item contains color advertisement. One item contains composer's obituary. "Francesca Da Rimini" listed on index was not found in box.
Box 3	Opera and Ballet Librettos (G to M), 1883-1919 Literary newsletter inserted into one item. Journal articles inserted into some items. Color printing on some pages of one item. "The Jewels of the Madonna" listed on index was not found in box.
Box 4	Opera and Ballet Librettos (M to R), 1893-1921 2 versions of some operas.
Box 5	Opera and Ballet Librettos (R to Z), 1893-1920 One item contains illustrations. One item contains loose page with synopsis. Some items contain photographic prints.

Expand/collapse Series 3. Scrapbooks, 1881-1931

Most scrapbooks have original handwritten index at beginning. Scrapbooks contain newspaper articles, playbills, and illustrations. Many items have personal annotations

Scrapbooks VII-XVI: Photographs and illustrations only indexed in the Roland Hold Theatre Collection Indexes and Guides (Call number Z5781. R6 1973). The other material not indexed.

Oversize Volume SV-12022/1	Scrapbook, 1881-1886 Playbill for "The Private Secretary" from Madison Square Garden's 1884-1885 season added to box later.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/2	Scrapbook, 1886-1887
Oversize Volume SV-12022/3	Scrapbook, 1887-1888 Playbill for "Legal Wreck" from Madison Square Garden's 1888 season added to box later.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/4	Scrapbook (VII), 1889-1891 Also contains ticket stubs, personal letters, and hand drawing.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/5	Scrapbook (VIII), 1890-1892 Also contains ticket stubs and personal letters.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/6	Scrapbook (IX), 1891-1895 Also contains ticket stubs.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/7	Scrapbook (X), 1895-1900 Mostly photographs and illustrations.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/8	Scrapbook (XI), 1900-1913
Oversize Volume SV-12022/9	Scrapbook (XII), 1913-1924 Also contains glossy photographs.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/10	Scrapbook (XIII), 1924-1926 Also contains glossy photographs.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/11	Scrapbook (XIV), 1926-1927 Also contains glossy photographs and newsletter articles.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/12	Scrapbook (XV), 1927-1929 Also contains glossy photographs and newsletter articles.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/13	Scrapbook (XVI), 1930-1931 Also contains glossy photographs and newsletter articles.

Expand/collapse Series 4. Filed Newspaper Clippings, 1891-1926

Files with alphabetical dividers containing loose newspaper clippings; no consistent organization noted within boxes.

Selected inventories with samples of topics included in Roland Holt Collection: 19 letter files (Call number Z5781 .R62 1960z). Same lists included in boxes (lists not verified).

Oversize Volume SV-12022/14	The File-American Theatre, 1891-1895
Oversize Volume SV-12022/15	The File-American Theatre, 1895-1897
Oversize Volume SV-12022/16	The File-American Theatre (Supplementary), 1895-1897
Oversize Volume SV-12022/17	The File-American Theatre, 1898-1899
Oversize Volume SV-12022/18	The File-American Theatre, 1900-1901
Oversize Volume SV-12022/19	The File-American Theatre (Supplementary), 1900
Oversize Volume SV-12022/20	The File-American Theatre, 1902
Oversize Volume SV-12022/21	The File-American Theatre, 1902-1904
Oversize Volume SV-12022/22	The File-American Theatre, 1905-1906
Oversize Volume SV-12022/23	The File-American Theatre, 1907-1908
Oversize Volume SV-12022/24	The File-American Theatre, 1908-1912
Oversize Volume SV-12022/25	The File-American Theatre (Supplementary), 1910-1912
Oversize Volume SV-12022/26	The File-American Theatre, 1913-1914
Oversize Volume SV-12022/27	The File-American Theatre, 1914-1916
Oversize Volume SV-12022/28	The File-American Theatre, 1916-1918
Oversize Volume SV-12022/29	The File-American Theatre, 1918-1920
Oversize Volume SV-12022/30	The File-American Theatre, 1920-1924
Oversize Volume SV-12022/31	The File-American Theatre (Supplementary), 1922-1924
Oversize Volume SV-12022/32	The File-American Theatre, 1924-1926

Expand/collapse Series 5. Books, 1894-1927

Referenced in Roland Holt Theatre Collection indexes and guides (call number Z5781 .R6 1973).

Box 6	Gallery of players 12 parts, 1894 Published encyclopedia of actors with photographic reproductions.
	Marlowe-Adams-Rehan, 1887-1909 Publicity programs bound together relating to actors Julia Marlowe, Maude Adams, and Ada Rehan.
	King Henry IV program, 1926 Contains illustrations and seating charts; personal annotations.
	Romeo and Juliet program, 1895 Lyceum Theater program for this production; personal annotations.
	Henry Irving, 1888-1893 Souvenir books bound together; personal annotations.
	Mary Anderson, 1888 The winter's tale, a comedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, as arranged by Miss Mary Anderson; bound souvenir illustrated acting edition; personal annotations.
	Publications of the Dunlop Society, 1888-1901 Players of the Present (Parts 1-3, 1899-1901) Brief Chronicles (Parts 1-3, 1889-1890) Biennial Reports of the Treasurer and Secretary (1888) Early American Plays (1900) Bunker Hill, or The Death of General Warren (1891)
Oversize Volume SV-12022/33	Sarah Bernhardt, 1900 Bound book with Sarah Bernhardt as subject.

Expand/collapse Series 6. Playbills, circa 1890-1930

Filed alphabetically by title. Newspaper clippings accompany playbills.

Playbills indexed with title, author, theater, and performance date information in Roland Holt Theatre Collection indexes and guides (call number Z5781 .R6 1973). (A complete index inventory was not conducted, but some items listed in the index are missing from the boxes and some items are present that are not listed in the index).

Box 7	Playbills (A to G), circa 1890-1930
Box 8	Playbills (H to N), circa 1890-1930 Also contains Arden Gallery program and issue of Theater Guild magazine.
Box 9	Playbills (O to Z), circa 1890-1930
Box 10	Vaudeville playbills, 1893-1925 Playbills, programs, and newspaper clippings. Rough handwritten card index for vaudeville material in box (not verified against content).
	Drama Calendar, 4 October 1926-30 May 1927 Pamphlets.
Box 11	Musical playbills, 1893-1926 Contains musical playbills, programs, and bulletins organized alphabetically by group or performance venue. Some items contain personal annotations. Some newspaper attachments are crumbling. Full typed index included in box.

Expand/collapse Series 7. Assorted Ephemera and Other Materials, circa 1820s-1930s

Some containers have items with mixed provenance of Roland Holt and later additions to the collection.

Box 12	Folio, circa 1921 -1931 Contains personal correspondence (including a letter to Holt from a UNC mathematics professor), newspaper articles, hand-drawn floor plan, and playbill from UNC Carolina Dramatic Association.
	Scrapbook, 1887-1914 Holt's personal scrapbook with his press clippings, some unsigned, from 1887 to 1902. Includes some of his published poems copied in manuscript and additional loose press clippings dated to 1914.
	Richard Mansfield, circa 1800s Contains materials relating to actor Richard Mansfield. Referenced under Miscellaneous section in Roland Holt Theatre Collection indexes and guides (call number Z5781 .R6 1973).
	Ephemera, circa 1900s Contains material relating to actor Richard Mansfield. Envelope of playbills presented by Samuel Selden (June 5, 1939). Some contents indexed in Miscellaneous section of Roland Holt Theatre Collection indexes and guides (call number Z5781 .R6 1973).
Oversize Paper Folder OPF-12022/1	Circulars, handbills, and advertisements, circa 1880s-1890s
Oversize Paper Folder OPF-12022/2	Circulars, handbills, and advertisements, circa 1880s-1890s
Box 13	Ephemera, circa 1826-1900s Contains The Becky Sharp Picture Book, correspondence to Dr. Koch, programs with presentation inscriptions to the Playmakers or Dr. Koch, advertisements, and "The Century Illustrated Monthly" magazine (February 1893) which includes an account of the Original Passion Play.
	Ephemera, circa 1900s Contains newspaper articles, music catalogue, miscellaneous playbills, and magazines. Some items have Holt's personal annotations. Also contains photocopies of articles, some dated during Holt's lifetime and others from 1936 to 1940 concerning the donation of the collection and the playwriting award established in Holt's memory at the same time.
	Lecture notes and slide lists Lecture notes and slide lists from the Roland Holt Collection on the two topics of little theaters and scholastic drama, in an envelope addressed to Dr. Koch from Mrs. Roland Holt.
	Pollock's juvenile drama, The miller and his men, in two acts Script (16 pages) and full set of 21 color plates (7 characters, 11 scenes, 3 wings), uncut. London: Printed and published by B. Pollock.
Box 14	Ephemera, 1922-1930 Material unmounted; envelope of clippings, programs, and postcards related to Holt's visit to Chapel Hill in 1928 for the Regional conference on the drama (southeast division). Envelope of Holt's reviews and press clippings 1922-1929 and additional loose reviews and press clippings, some dated 1930; envelope of playbills presented by Howard Richardson.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/34	Portrait scrapbook, circa 1895-1906 Scrapbook of printed portraits of actors and actresses, images dated in pencil.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/35	Scrapbook, circa 1900s Bookplate: "Presented to collection in Oct. 11, 1941 by Mary R. Wallace, Winstead, Connecticut." Contains programs, playbills, and cast lists.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/36	Scrapbook titled "Album", circa 1800s Bookplate: "Presented to collection in Oct. 11, 1941 by Mary R. Wallace, Winstead, Connecticut." Includes handwritten donor letter. Contains programs, letters, playbills, and cast lists.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/37a	Ledger with theatrical clippings part one, circa 1800s Part one of three (pages 1 -220). Includes newspaper articles, pictures, and illustrations. Materials appear to be older than those in indexed scrapbooks, and beneath mounted material appears handwritten entries for possible older accounting ledger. Missing cover.
Oversize Volume SV-12022/37b	Ledger with theatrical clippings part two, circa 1800s Part two of three (pages 221-500).
Oversize Volume SV-12022/37c	Ledger with theatrical clippings part three, circa 1800s Part three of three (pages 501-805).

Expand/collapse Items Separated

Oversize volumes: SV-12022/1-37c
Oversize folders: OPF-12022/1-2
Photograph albums: PA-12022/1-6
Image folders: PF-12022/1-14

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Collection Number: 12022 Collection Title: Roland Holt Collection of Performing Arts Ephemera and Photographs, 1879-1931