Scrapbooks

Consists of a group of six volumes acquired either by gift or purchase by Duncan Schiedt. Most of the volumes are dated and are in relatively good condition. It is unknown who created the scrapbooks. The volumes were maintained by Schiedt as a group and are arranged in chronological order with dated materials first and then undated volumes at the end. Scrapbook number one dates from 1901-1908 and contains theater programs, travelogues and other types of ephemera relating to subjects such as circuses including the Carl Hagenbeck Circus and Show Company and Ringling Brothers. Of particular interest is information relating to the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago, Illinois on December 30, 1903. Of 1,602 patrons, at least 602 were reported dead as a result of the fire. It has been suggested that the high casualty rate was due to a lack of stairways and exits for each balcony. The improper use of the fire curtain and the failure of doors to open also contributed to the deadly event. There is a program for The Earl of Pawtucket at Powers' New Theatre. Other subjects include information relating to Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Chicago, Milwaukee, Steamships and Christopher Columbus. In addition there is some information relating to the 1906 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Scrapbook number two dates from 1908-1912 and consists primarily of theatre and concert programs. There are also a few Burton Holmes Travelogues. Burton Holmes combined his photography and film with stories of his travels to create what he referred to as these travelogues. Through the travelogues audiences experienced places some would never have the chance to actually visit. In addition there is a New York Hippodrome souvenir book for the 1911-1912 season. Scrapbook number three dates from 1910s-1920 and includes advertisements and theatre programs from Washington, DC, New York and Illinois including the George M. Cohavis Grand Opera House, Garrick Theatre, Ziegfeld Follies and the Metropolitan Opera House. There is a copy of Victory Travelogues by Burton Holmes (1918), Newman Traveltalks (1919) and a copy of E. E. Meredith's Show Book (1916). Scrapbook number four dates from 1920-1946 and consists primarily of theatre and film programs from New Jersey, New York, Washington, D C, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin. There is also information relating to the Yale-Princeton football game, Newman Travel talks, Burton Holmes' Travel Talks, Ruth Saint Denis and Ted Shawn (1927), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Thanksgiving service in Minneapolis (1937) and Saint Paul's Church located in Milwaukee. Scrapbook number five dates from 1920s-1930s and contains programs, photographs, promotional and publicity materials primarily documenting the activities of Harry A. Yerkes. Yerkes was a marimba player, inventor, and recording manager who assembled recording sessions in the early years of jazz. He was associated with the musical group the Happy Six and there is information about them found among these materials. In addition, there is a small amount of material relating to the musical group Bobbie Grice and the Fourteen Bricktops and a Varsity Records listing. Scrapbook number six dates from the 1930s-1950s and includes photographs, programs and promotional items from Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, Camp Rucker, Alabama and Arkansas relating primarily to jazz. There is also information on the musical group the Crimson Stompers and drummer Walt Gifford.