Collection Summary
Nazimova Collection
1877-1988
1877-1988
MSS81203
Nazimova,
1879-1945
1400
items
5 containers plus 1
oversize
1.8 linear
feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Actress.
Correspondence, programs, press clippings, and scrapbooks documenting the
American stage and film career of the Russian-born actress Nazimova,
particularly during the silent film era.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Lewton, Lucy Olga.
Lewton, Nina.
Nazimova, 1879-1945.
Scott, Leona.
Subjects
Actors.
Motion picture actors and actresses--United States.
Silent films--United States.
Theater--United States.
Titles
Nazimova papers
Occupations
Actresses.
Provenance
The Nazimova Collection relating to Alla Nazimova, stage and motion
picture actress, was donated to the Library of Congress by Jean L. Kling, Lucy
Olga Lewton, and Val E. Lewton in 1991 and 1992. Additional material from Harry
E. Vinyard, Jr., was transferred from the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and
Recorded Sound Division in 1992.
Additional Guides
A description of the Nazimova Collection appears in
Library of Congress Acquisitions: Manuscript Division,
1991
, pp. 36-39.
Transfers
Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other
custodial divisions of the Library. Some photographs have been transferred to
the Prints and Photographs Division. Sound recordings have been transferred to
the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. All transfers
are identified in these divisions as part of the Nazimova Collection.
Related Material
Papers of
Nazimova's nephew, [
Val Lewton,
] who became
a film producer and writer, are also in the
Manuscript Division
.
Copyright Status
Alla Nazimova's literary rights are held by the
Glesca Marshall Library, Columbus, Georgia. Jean L. Kling has dedicated to the
public all rights, including copyrights throughout the world, that she may
possess in the collection. The status of copyright in other unpublished
writings in the Nazimova Collection is governed by the Copyright Law of the
United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The Nazimova Collection is open to research.
Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to
visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to
retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Nazimova Collection, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1879, June 4
Born
Adelaide Leventon
,
Yalta, Russia
1896
Enrolled in the dramatic school of the
Philharmonic Society
,
Moscow, Russia
1898
Studied acting with
Stanislavsky
; member of stock company,
Moscow Art Theatre
circa 1904
Joined
Paul Orleneff's
St. Petersburg Players
,
St. Petersburg, Russia
1905
American stage debut with
Paul Orleneff's
St. Petersburg Players
in
The Chosen People
,
Herald Square Theatre
,
New York, N.Y.
1906
Stage debut in English in
Hedda Gabler
,
Princess Theatre
,
New York, N.Y.
1915
Toured on the
Keith vaudeville circuit
1916
Appeared in first film,
War Brides
1918
Signed a motion picture contract with
Metro Pictures Corporation
1921
Produced and acted in film
Camille
1922
Produced and acted in film adaptation of
Oscar Wilde's
Salomé
and of
Henrik Ibsen's
A Doll's House
1928
Joined
Eva Le Galliene's
Civic Repertory Co.
1929
Joined the
Theatre Guild
1944
Acted in last films, including
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
1945, July 13
Died,
Hollywood, Calif.
Scope and Content Note
The Nazimova Collection, consisting of material relating to the stage
and screen actress
Alla Nazimova (1879-1945)
, was compiled by family
members and fans. Nazimova, acclaimed for her performances in the dramas of
Henrik Ibsen
and in
Eugene O'Neill's
Mourning Becomes Electra
, also became a prominent silent
film star in the early years of the motion picture industry. The collection
covers the years 1877 to 1988 and is arranged in two sections, the
[Kling-Lewton Papers](kli)
and the
[Vinyard Papers](har).
The
[Kling-Lewton
Papers](kli) consist of items compiled by members of Nazimova's extended family
and focuses on correspondence from Nazimova to her sister,
Nina Lewton
. These letters span the period from
1909, when Nina and her children arrived from
Russia
, until 1943. Many of the early letters are
in Russian, but English translations of most are attached. Nazimova describes
details of her life while on theatrical tour, her feelings about various acting
projects and fellow actors and directors, and her relationship with actor and
director
Charles Bryant
, with whom Nazimova lived publicly
as a married couple although they never married. The correspondence also
discusses household matters, including the extensive renovation of her estate
in
Port Chester, New York
, "Who-Torok," and it
illuminates her relationship with Nina and Nina's children,
Lucy Olga Lewton
and
Val Ivan Lewton
. A memoir by
Lucy Olga Lewton
of Nazimova is filed in a
biography section. Other items include press clippings and a few programs.
The
[Vinyard Papers](har)
consist of items collected by
Harry E. Vinyard, Jr.
, who apparently planned to
write a biography of Nazimova. The collection contains correspondence,
programs, photostatic copies of press clippings, and scrapbooks relating to her
career. The correspondence includes letters, 1927-1940, from Nazimova to
Leona Scott
, a school teacher from
New Jersey
who was a fan and friend.
Organization of the Papers
The collection is arranged in three series:
-
[Kling-Lewton Papers,
1877-1988](kli)
-
[Harry E. Vinyard,
Jr., Papers, 1905-1959](har)
-
[Oversize, 1905-1929](ove)
Container List
Box
Contents
1-3
Kling-Lewton Papers,
1877-1988
1877-1988
Biographical notes and writings, correspondence, photographs,
press clippings, programs, and other printed matter.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically
therein.
1
Biographical material on
Nazimova
Notes, undated
(4
folders)
Writings
By family members
Kling, Jean L.,
1972
Lewton, Lucy Olga, 1988,
undated
(2
folders)
By others, 1962,
undated
2
Correspondence
1909-1945
(18
folders)
3
1966-1978, undated
(3
folders)
Miscellany, 1877, circa 1882-circa
1899, 1904, 1967-1969, 1976-1977, undated
Printed matter
Miscellany, 1919, 1931, undated
(2
folders)
Press clippings, 1906-1908,
1917-1921, 1931, 1939-1947, 1958-1961, 1967-1974, undated
Programs, 1905, 1917,
1932
3-4
Harry E. Vinyard, Jr.,
Papers,
1905-1959
1905-1959
Correspondence, press clippings, programs, scrapbooks, and
sketches.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically
therein.
3
Correspondence, 1927-1940,
1948-1953, undated
(2
folders)
4
Miscellany, 1935,
undated
Printed matter
Press clippings,
1905-1929, 1935-1936, 1942-1958, undated
[
See also Oversize
](preov)
Programs, 1932-1939,
undated
Scrapbooks
Compiled by Leona Scott,
1927-1950, 1959, undated
(2
folders)
Compiled by Harry E. Vinyard,
Jr., undated
(2
folders)
OV1
Oversize,
1905-1929
1905-1929
Photostatic copies of press clippings.
Described according to the series, folders, and boxes from which
the items were removed.
OV 1
Harry E. Vinyard, Jr.,
papers
Printed matter
Press clippings,
1905-1929, undated
[(Container
4)](pre4)