Fosse & Verdon Book No. 8 - How I Use NYPL for Research
In my previous update I shared what was so special about visiting the Harry Ransom Center for researching Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. But I only spent a few hours at the HRC looking through the archival photos. Mostly I have relied on the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center to do a lot of my research.
A research library holds more than just books. And this one in particular preserves the physical collections belonging to great dancers, photographers and theater makers. Anyone can view these Special Collections, it is free to access, but you do need to create a “Special Collections Account” and place requests with the librarians to view the old and fragile materials on the top floor of the library.
Often I’m viewing photographs, newspaper, magazine clippings, or personal correspondence. These materials are protected in special folders, boxes, and sheet-protectors, and researchers must use special tools like gloves, magnifying classes, and book cradles to safely view them.
Some points of interest for me on this project have been looking through the Broadway photos of Friedman-Abeles, and Martha Swope who captured photos of Bob and Gwen during their performing years.
NYPL also has the Dance Oral History Project which is an initiative to record long-form interviews with important dancers and choreographers to preserve their stories and experiences. I read through a dozen transcripts of these interviews with dancers who had worked for Fosse.
There’s one other research library that’s been important to my project…but I’ll tell you about that one next time!
Comments