Collection Summary
Ira Gershwin Files from the Law Office of Leonard Saxe
1935-1967
(bulk 1948-1967)
1935-1967
(bulk 1948-1967)
ML31.S28
Saxe, Leonard Spier, 1899-1968
8,250 items
34 containers
14.25 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Music Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
This collection consists primarily of correspondence and contracts related to the personal legal affairs of Ira Gershwin and the activities of the Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust from 1935-1967. It includes royalty and copyright materials for well-known Gershwin shows and films, most notably Porgy and Bess. In addition, this collection contains financial documents related to the Rose Gershwin Estate, litigation materials, programs, and press clippings.
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
Alexandre, Emmanuel--Correspondence.
Breen, Robert S.--Correspondence.
Gershwin, Arthur, 1900-1981--Correspondence.
Gershwin, George, 1898-1937. Porgy and Bess.
Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983--Autographs.
Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983--Correspondence.
Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983.
Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983. Ira Gershwin files from the law office of Leonard Saxe. 1935-1967.
Gershwin, Leonore, -1991.
Gershwin, Rose.
Goldwyn, Samuel, 1879-1974.
Lazar, Irving, 1907-1993--Correspondence.
Saxe, Leonard Spier, 1899-1968--Correspondence.
Saxe, Leonard Spier, 1899-1968.
Organizations
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Chappell and Co.
Columbia Artists Management, Inc.
Gershwin Publishing Corporation.
New Dawn Music Corporation.
New World Music Limited.
On-Stage Productions.
Palestine Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art.
T.B. Harms & Co.
Walden Records.
Subjects
Copyright--Performing rights--United States.
Lyricists--United States--Correspondence.
Theater--Law and legislation--United States.
Form/Genre
Financial records.
Legal correspondence.
Legal documents.
Provenance
Gift, Robert and Steven Saxe, 2000.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing History
The Ira Gershwin files from the law office of Leonard Saxe were processed in 2008 by Christopher Hartten and encoded for EAD by Janet McKinney in 2010.
Related Material
The Music Division holds the George and Ira Gershwin Collection (ML31.G38) and the Gershwin Trust Archive.
Copyright Status
Materials from the Ira Gershwin files from the law office of Leonard Saxe are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
Access and Restrictions
The Ira Gershwin files from the law office of Leonard Saxe are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: [item, date, container number], Ira Gershwin files from the law office of Leonard Saxe, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Ira Gershwin obtained the legal services of attorney Leonard Spier Saxe following the death of his mother, Rose Gershwin, on December 16, 1948. Saxe, a distant relative by marriage who owned an established general practice firm in New York City, provided personal legal counsel to Ira, Leonore, and Arthur Gershwin and managed their affairs with the Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust from 1948-1968. Ira and Leonard also shared a close friendship and corresponded frequently about non-legal matters, including investments, vacations, and real estate opportunities. Leonard Saxe died in 1968.
Scope and Content Note
The Ira Gershwin Files from the Law Office of Leonard Saxe spans the period 1935-1967. The collection includes contracts, correspondence, handwritten notes, financial documents, memos, pamphlets, programs, clippings, and other materials related to Saxe’s legal representation of Ira Gershwin and his involvement with the Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust.
Saxe’s efforts on behalf of Ira, Leonore, and Arthur Gershwin are recorded in extraordinary detail in a series of typescript logs entitled “Record of work done for the Gershwins.” These entries contextualize the hundreds of handwritten notes that accompany many of the subject files and provide a thorough account of Ira’s business affairs throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is an invaluable tool, if not an ideal starting point, for navigating the contents of this collection.
Saxe arranged his office files principally by subject. His original folder headings have been used to organize the materials thematically by show title, organization, and other general categories. The subjects of these documents range from motion picture production contracts and copyright deposits to estate taxes and personal correspondence.
“Royalties and copyrights” contains documents pertaining to the licensing and revenues of compositions by George and/or Ira Gershwin.
Porgy and Bess
accounts for much of this material, primarily because its acclaimed international productions generated additional licensing agreements. “Litigation” includes materials specifically related to courtroom settlements, the most notable being
Breen vs. Goldwyn, Lazar
. The voluminous series entitled “Estate of Rose Gershwin” documents Saxe’s actions as liaison to the Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust, many of which are presented chronologically in his nineteen volume ‘general file.’ The remaining series,’ “Estate of Ira and Leonore Gershwin” and “Arthur Gershwin” describe personal affairs and litigation largely unrelated to musical compositions or royalties.
Organization of the Ira Gershwin Files from the Law Office of Leonard Saxe
The collection is organized in 6 series:
-
[Record of Work Done for the Gershwins, 1948-1966](ls01)
-
[Royalties and Copyrights, 1935-1967](ls02)
-
[Litigation, 1953-1964](ls03)
-
[Estate of Rose Gershwin, 1937-1967](ls04)
-
[Estate of Ira and Leonore Gershwin, 1950-1963](ls05)
-
[Arthur Gershwin, 1950-1966](ls06)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-2
Record of Work Done for the Gershwins,
1948-1966
1948-1966
1/1-10
1948 Dec. – 1964 Dec.
1948 Dec. – 1964 Dec.
2/1-3
1965 Jan. – 1966 Sept.
1965 Jan. – 1966 Sept.
3-16, 34
Royalties and Copyrights, 1935-1967
1935-1967
Shows, 1935-1967
1935-1967
American in Paris [film]
3/1-4
General materials, 1949-1952
1949-1952
Funny Face
3/5
Ira Gershwin individually and as George Gershwin’s next-of-kin, including agreements and
D (1928), 1955-1957
D (1928), 1955-1957
Girl Crazy
3/6-7
Agreements, contracts, correspondence, 1951-1965
1951-1965
3/8
General materials, 1958-1959, 1962
1958-1959, 1962
Kiss Me, Stupid [film]
4/1-5
Correspondence, music, contracts, copyrights, etc., 1964
1964
Lady, Be Good!
4/6
1956 estate tax - closed 1961 November 14
1961 November 14
4/7
Ira renewal assignment
Lady in the Dark
4/8-10
Chiefly stock license to Tams-Witmark Music Library Inc., 1965
1965
Of Thee I Sing
4/11-12
General materials, 1951-1952
1951-1952
4/13
Stock amateur correspondence
Oh, Kay!
5/1
Bolton-Wodehouse agreements
5/2-3
General materials, 1951-1960
1951-1960
Porgy and Bess
5/4-6
Breen contract
5/7-8
Clippings, 1950-1953 and undated
1950-1953
5/9-10
Contracts, 1957 Aug.
1957 Aug.
5/11
Colton – instructions re: album, 1965
1965
6/1-6
Colton's letter of 1964 March 1
1964 March 1
Note: Regarding instructions on distrubution of income from U.S. phonograph record album after 1963 Sept. 28
6/7-8
Davis compromise
6/9-12
General materials, 1950-1951, 1955
1950-1951, 1955
7/1-3
General materials, 1954-1956
1954-1956
7/4
The Gershwin years (CBS) license, 1961 Jan. 15
1961 Jan. 15
7/5-10
Motion picture contract data with Samuel Goldwyn, 1957
1957
8/1-2
New Dawn Music Corp. – U.S. renewal publishing rights sale agreement, 1965 July 1
1965 July 1
8/3-6
Papers, including Field and Summer 1963
1963
8/7
Reviews, 1955-1956
1955-1956
8/8
Summer 1958 and 1963-1965 and city center
1958 and 1963-1965
8/9
Theatre Guild investment
8/10
Waiver of cross accountings and agreement of beneficial interests, 1965 July 1
1965 July 1
Strike up the Band
8/11
Ira renewal assignment
Organizations, 1935-1967
1935-1967
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
9/1-4
Contracts dated 1958 Apr. 28 , etc.
1958 Apr. 28
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)
9/5
Amended final judgement, 1950
1950
9/6
Compromise agreement, 1952
1952
9/7-11
General materials, 1949-1965
1949-1965
10/1
Ira Gershwin – ASCAP list
10/2-4
Proposed royalty agreements
Chappell and Co.
10/5
Chappell/Gershwin movie mechanicals royalties modification, 1955 Oct. 31
1955 Oct. 31
10/6-7
Leonore S. Gershwin agreement, 1965 July 1
1965 July 1
10/8-10
Royalty statements
10/11
Selling agency agreements
Columbia Artists Management, Inc.
10/12
General materials, 1951-1954
1951-1954
Gershwin Publishing Corporation (GPC)
11/1-3
Chappell and Co. agreements
11/4-6
Co-owner accounting for own use B accounting for license rights on renewals prior to their sale by the next-of-kin
11/7-12
Correspondence and memos
12/1-2
Deal miscellaneous memoranda
12/3
Deal royalties
12/4
Financial statements, 1949-1952
1949-1952
12/5-6
Personal holding company tax matter
12/7-11, 13/1-2
Used material, 1956-1965
1956-1965
Agreements, contracts, correspondence
Includes documents related to establishment of G.P.C.
New Dawn Music Corporation
13/3
Agreement to sell motion picture renewals and 10% of net profits agreement
13/4
Agreements of sale, 1965 Oct. 1 and 1966 July 1
1965 Oct. 1 and 1966 July 1
13/5-6
Complete set of deal photocopies given to next-of-kin, 1965 Sept. and additional agreements
1965 Sept.
13/7
Dreyfus deal restrictive agreements
13/8
General materials, 1965
1965
13/9
Quarterly statements
New World Music Limited
14/1-2
Annual statements
14/3
Royalty statements, 1951-1958
1951-1958
34/1-4
Royalty statements, 1958-1960
1958-1960
14/4-7
Royalty statements – also data on possible question of ownership of renewal payments taken from various other files
On-Stage Productions
14/8
"Gershwin" [biographical film]
Palestine Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art
14/9
General materials, 1953-1954
1953-1954
T. B. Harms and Co.
14/10
Harms/New World Music agreements
Walden Records
14/11
General materials, 1953-1960
1953-1960
Miscellany, 1935-1967
1935-1967
15/1-3
Copyright renewal and capital gains data
15/4-6
Copyright renewals
15/7-8
Deal correspondence and data relating to Malino to 1965 Oct. 27
1965 Oct. 27
15/9
Gershwin copyrights
15/10
Gershwin correspondence, etc. re: television
16/1-2
Gershwin income for Leonard Saxe
16/3
Holograph envelope from IG to Leonard Saxe, 1965 Dec. 23
1965 Dec. 23
16/4
Index to work on deal, 1957-1965
1957-1965
16/5-6
Ira Gershwin’s renewals, etc. – contract for Ira and Leonore with four publishing corporations, 1965 July 1
1965 July 1
16/7
Open post-deal matters
16/8
Some more or less open Gershwin matters
Agreements, contracts, correspondence
16/9
Working out manner for Ira, Arthur, and Frankie to report next-of-kin deal in 1965 income tax returns
17-18
Litigation, 1953-1964
1953-1964
Breen vs. Goldwyn, Lazar
17/1-3
18th report of the judicial council
17/4-8
General materials, 1953-1964
1953-1964
17/9-10
Porgy and Bess
Gershwin vs. U.S.
18/1
Distribution of Gershwin vs. U.S., 1958
1958
Gershwin vs. U.S. – The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
18/2
General materials, 1956-1957
1956-1957
18/3-6
Tax refund for 1945 and 1946
1945 and 1946
Schwartz vs. BMI
18/7-11
John Schulman correspondence, memoranda, and agreements
Société de spectacles lumbroso vs. Hug and Sons
18/12
Zurich stuff
Robert Breen contract for Porgy and Bess
19-32, 34
Estate of Rose Gershwin, 1937-1967
1937-1967
General files, 1949-1966
1949-1966
19/1-7
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #1, 1949-1950
1949-1950
19/8-12, 20/1-2
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #2, 1950-1952
1950-1952
20/3-7
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #3, 1952-1953
1952-1953
20/8-10, 21/1-2
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #4, 1954-1956
1954-1956
21/3-6
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #5, 1956
1956
21/7-8
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #6, 1957
1957
21/9-10, 22/1
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #7, 1957-1958
1957-1958
22/2-5
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #8, 1958
1958
22/6-10
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #9, 1959
1959
23/1-5
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #10, 1959-1960
1959-1960
23/6-9, 24/1-2
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #11, 1960-1961
1960-1961
24/3-7
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #12, 1962
1962
24/8-10, 25/1-2
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #13, 1963
1963
25/3-6
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #14, 1964
1964
25/7-11
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #15, 1964
1964
26/1-4
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #16, 1964
1964
26/5-8
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #17, 1965
1965
26/9-11, 27/1-2
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #18, 1965
1965
27/3-7
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust general file #19, 1966
1966
Subject files, 1937-1967
1937-1967
28/1
Agendas and meetings in the 1950 's
1950
28/2
Executor final account, 1952
1952
28/3-4
Federal estate tax
28/5
Gershwin estate correspondence, 1937-1943
1937-1943
28/6
Gershwin fee agreement
28/7
Gershwin miscellaneous trust first intermediate accounting
28/8-12
Income tax
28/13
Ira Berlove claim
28/14
Jewelry
29/1-3
Leonard Saxe legal services for Gershwin Trust
29/4-6
Miscellaneous law memos
29/7
Miscellaneous memoranda of fact, drafts, agendas, etc.
29/8
Miscellaneous open matters
Agreements, contracts, correspondence
29/9-12, 30/1-3
New York County Surrogate’s Court – account of proceedings
30/4-7
New York County Surrogate’s Court – claims of Emmanuel Alexandre, Pollock, and Berger, 1948
1948
30/8-9
New York County Surrogate’s Court – memoranda
30/10
New York state estate tax
34/5
Rose Gershwin Hadassah bequest acknowledgement
31/1-10
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust financial statements, 1948 Dec. - 1965 Dec.
1948 Dec. - 1965 Dec.
32/1-2
Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust financial statements, 1966 Jan. - 1968 Mar.
1966 Jan. - 1968 Mar.
32/3
Royalties earned, four years ending 1952 Nov. 30
1952 Nov. 30
32/4-7
Tax forms, 1970-1972
1970-1972
32/8-9
Trustees first intermediate accounting
33
Estate of Ira and Leonore Gershwin, 1950-1963
1950-1963
33/1
Gershwin material of some interest but to be left in N.Y.
33/2-4
Ira Gershwin personal papers
33/5
Leonore and Ira Gershwin trusts – law file
33/6-7
Leonore and Ira Gershwin trusts – material for California
33/8
Life and estate planning
33
Arthur Gershwin, 1950-1966
1950-1966
33/9
General materials, 1955-1966
1955-1966
33/10
Gershwin vs. Gershwin separation and divorce