Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park 1860-2004 (bulk 1960-1990) MS.2007.004 https://hdl.handle.net/2345.2/MS2007-004
Archives and Manuscripts Department John J. Burns Library Boston College 140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill 02467 library.bc.edu/burns/contact URL: http://www.bc.edu/burns Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Administrative Information ...... 4 Historical Note: Norumbega Park ...... 5 Biographical Note: Robert F. Pollock ...... 5 Scope and Contents ...... 6 Arrangement ...... 6 Collection Inventory ...... 7 I: Robert Pollock papers ...... 7 II: Norumbega Park collection ...... 7 III: Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway collection ...... 10
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 2 - Summary Information
Creator: Norumbega Park (Auburndale, Mass.) Title: Robert F. Pollock collection of Norumbega Park Collection Identifier: MS.2007.004 Date [inclusive]: 1860-2004 Date [bulk]: 1960-1990 Physical Description 21.5 Linear Feet (11 boxes and 3 map folders) Physical Description 2.75 Gigabytes (2 files with approximately 1.25 hours of audio and video) Language of the English Material: Abstract: Assembled by by Auburndale native Robert Pollock, this collection includes advertisements, artifacts, ephemera, maps, photographs, and video recordings of the Norumbega Park amusement grounds; its ballroom, The Totem Pole; and the Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway, the train line Norumbega Park was built to support. This material spans the opening of the Park grounds to its centennial anniversary. It also incorporates some of Pollock's personal writings and research regarding the Park. Preferred Citation
Identification of item, Box number, Folder number, Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park, MS.2007.004, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 3 - Administrative Information
Publication Information Processed by Catherine Macek, March 2012; Rachael Young in 2019. This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace.
Restrictions on access Collection is open for research. Video recordings have been digitally copied; all original media was retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room. Film has not been reformatted and is not available for playback due to format impermanence. Please let Reading Room staff know of your specific interest, and if possible reformatting will be scheduled.
Provenance Gift of Brian Pollock, the brother of Robert F. Pollock, in 2007.
Restrictions on use These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 4 - Historical Note: Norumbega Park
Norumbega Park opened in 1897 in the Auburndale neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts as a means to increase patronage for the Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway. The Park was located on the Charles River and featured an arcade, canoeing, dining, outdoor theatre, zoo, and other amusements. In the 1930s the Great Steel Theatre of Norumbega was converted into a ballroom, named The Totem Pole, that showcased renowned performers including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ozzie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, and the Von Trapp family. The Totem Pole was the favored destination for young couples through the 1940s. The shift towards the use of automobiles from public transportation caused the decline of the recreational area in the 1950s. The Park closed in 1963, and the Totem Pole ballroom closed five months later.
Sources:
Historic Newton: The Jackson Homestead and Museum, "Down by the Riverside: Remembering Norumbega," Accessed March 19, 2012.
Nourmbegapark.com, "History." Accessed March 19, 2010. http://www.norumbegapark.com/html/ history.html
Biographical Note: Robert F. Pollock
Robert F. Polluck grew up in Auburndale, Massachusetts and worked at the Norumbega Park amusement grounds as a teenager. Years later, he began researching the history of the Park and collecting artifacts, printed material, and photographs associated with it. He authored several articles and created two films, Down by the Riverside (1992) and "Return to Norumbega" (unpublished at the time of his death) about the park's history. Robert Pollock died on September 1, 2004.
Sources:
"Robert F. Pollock, Jr." The Boston Globe obituaries.
"History." Norumbega Park.com, accessed at http://www.norumbegapark.com/html/history.html, July 18, 2019.
Pollock, Robert F., "Down by the Riverside" in Historic Auburndale, a booklet published by the Auburndale Community Association, revised edition 1996.
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 5 - Scope and Contents
Assembled by Robert F. Pollock, the collection documents the history of Norumbega Park in the Auburndale neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts through administrative documents, artifacts, ephemera, maps, photographs, and video recordings.
Norumbega Park administrative documents cover insurance, licensure, stocks, public relations, grounds renovations, and ultimate closure. Park ephemera includes advertisements, fliers, posters, post cards, and programs promoting park activities: arcade and rides; boating; outdoor theater; restaurant and ballroom, including live music; and zoo. The extensive assembly of artifacts comprises ashtrays, awards from park competitions, drinkware, paper weights, porcelain miniatures, souvenir spoons, and toys. The park's closure is illustrated by photographs and printed material of Norumbega shuttered, equipment liquidation, the 1965 fire, and preservation efforts for river-frontage.
The Norumbega Park collection also includes Pollock's personal correspondence, photographs, and writings documenting his research on the park as well as his family, education, and career. Personal photographs include portraits of family members and many snapshots of them enjoying events at the site of Norumbega Park. His family records contain his high school transcripts, military records, certificates of continuing education, and documents regarding his burial. Pollock's writings comprise drafts and published articles, as well as letters, certificates of authenticity, and a question published in "Ask Marilyn."
Noteworthy materials include letters from Bob Elliot and Ed McMahon about their experiences at Norumbega Park, a copy of a telegram written by Senator John F. Kennedy, an original program signed by Ozzie Nelson advertising his performance at the Totem Pole, Pollock's video "Return to Norumbega", and ephemera from the Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into three series: I. Robert Pollock papers, II. Norumbega Park collection, and III. Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway collection.
Series II is divided into five subseries: A. Administrative documents, B. Artifacts, C. Graphic material, D. Performances, and E. Post-closure.
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 6 - Collection Inventory
Series I: Robert Pollock papers, 1958-1998
Personal photographs, 1958-1998 box 5 folder 1-6
Records, 1958-2001 box 1 folder 1
Writing and correspondence, 1963-1997, undated box 1 folder 2-4
Series II: Norumbega Park collection, 1860-2004
Subseries A: Administrative documents, 1860-1970 Arrangement
Alphabetical.
Scope and Contents
Contains both original and photocopied material.
Administration, general, 1860-1964 box 1 folder 5
Announcements: proposed Park (copy); availability of box 1 folder 6 Normandie Room and Totem Pole Ballroom for high school graduations; and Totem Pole closure, 1896-1964
Closing of the Park, 1963-1970 box 2 folder 12
Insurance certificates, stock options, and licenses to operate (all box 1 folder 7 copies), 1865-1956
Site maps, surveys, and architectural plans for Norumbega, Shared box folder 3 1901-1963 1142 box 9 folder 1 and 5 folder OS 1
Subseries B: Artifacts, 1890s-1963 Arrangement
Alphabetical.
Ashtray, "Norumbega Park" with illustration of a ship in full box 3 sail, between 1897-1963
Bread plate, "Norumbega Tower, Waltham, Mass.", probably box 3 1890s
Canoe, birch bark toy, between 1897-1963 box 3
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 7 - Coat-check tags,"Norumbega Park" (3 each), "N.P. and Co." (1 box 8 each), and "Normandie Ballroom" (1 each), between 1897-1963
Coupe glass, no markings, probably from the Park's restaurant, box 10 between 1897-1963
Glass paperweights, with photograph of the Park's deer barn (2 box 8 each), between 1897-1963
Medals, Riverside Recreation Grounds water sports metals won box 8 by R. J. McCormick, 1898 June 11
Miniature steins, "Music Court" on one side and "Open Air box 10 Theatre" on the other (2 each), Between 1905 and 1929
Napkin ring, "Norumbega theatre", between 1905 and 1929 box 8
Pin-back button, "Norumbega Park Souvenir", between box 8 1897-1963
Porcelain miniature vase and pitcher, with illustrations of the box 8 Charles River and boat house at Norumbega Park, between 1897-1963
Shot glass with illustration, "Mountain Chief, Norumbega Park, box 8 Auburndale, Mass., Largest Buffalo in Existence", between 1897-1963
Souvenir spoon, "Dutchland Farms", between 1897-1963 box 3
Souvenir spoons, "Norumbega Park", one with totem pole box 3 handle and two with image of the Park engraved in the bowl, between 1897-1963
Totem poles (2 different items), between 1897-1963 box 4
Trophy cup, "Norumbega Follies Winner", 1927 box 10
Subseries C: Graphic material, 1897-1963 Arrangement
Alphabetical by subject.
Scope and Contents
Contains photographs, promotional materials, and newspaper clippings. Photographs include the Park's features, grounds, and head shots of performers. Ephemera--both originals and reproductions--is in the form of advertisements, informational pamphlets, maps, menus, news clippings, playbills, postcards, printed tickets, and souvenir booklets.
Boating and canoeing ephemera and photographs, 1897-1963, box 1 folder 7-8 undated box 2 folder 1-3 box 7
General Park ephemera and photographs, 1906-1947, undated box 1 folder 9-10
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 8 - box 2 folder 4-7 box 4 box 5 folder 7-8 box 7 Shared box 1142 box 9 folder 2
Outdoor theater ephemera, circa 1908-1930 box 1 folder 11 box 2 folder 8 box 7
Restaurant ephemera, circa 1905-1916 box 2 folder 9
Rides and arcade games tickets and photographs, between box 1 folder 12 1897-1963 box 4 box 7
Totem Pole Ballroom ephemera and photographs, 1930-1956 box 1 folder 13 box 2 folder 11 box 7 Shared box folder 1 1142
Special events ephemera, 1898-1958 box 2 folder 9
Zoo ephemera, between 1897-1963 box 1 folder 14
Subseries D: Performances, 1939, undated Conditions Governing Access
These film reels and DVD are not available for playback due to format impermanence and have not been reformatted. Please let Reading Room staff know of your specific interest, and if possible reformatting will be scheduled.
Arrangement
Chronological.
"Jack Jenney Remote," Jack Jenney and his orchestra box 6 performing at the Totem Pole Ballroom, audio recording, 1939 June 23 Digital Physical Description content 110311 1 audio CD
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
- Page 9 - Existence and Location of Originals
Digital recording made from a phonograph record. Location of original unknown.
"Case of the Missing Cookies" film reel, undated box 6
Film reel with illegible label, undated box 6
Subseries C: Post-closure, 1963-2004 Arrangement
Alphabetical.
Art prints of Neil McAuliffe paintings of Norumbega: "A Day at Shared box folder 2 Norumbega" and "Moments to Remember", between 1963-2004 1142
Calendar with photograph of the Charles River, 1996 box 9 folder 3
Plans for land development after Norumbega: Marriott Hot folder OS 2 Shoppes, 1968
Plans for land development after Norumbega: Upper Charles box 9 folder 4 River Reservation Master Plan, 1998
"Return to Norumbega" documentary, written and narrated by box 6 Robert F. Pollock, video recording, 2004 Physical Description Digital content 1 DVD 110310
Map of Norumbega Park as it was in 1961 by Whitney Chipman Shared box folder 4 Hayward, 1999 1142 folder 2
Series III: Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway collection, 1898-1990, undated Scope and Contents
Photographs and ephemera created by the Massachusetts Transit Authority (MTA). Included are maps, routes, schedules, and stock certificates, as well as photographs of the trains and the MTA office.
Photographs, 1898-1990 box 2 folder 13 box 7
Printed material, 1910-1955 box 2 folder 14
Robert F. Pollock Collection of Norumbega Park MS.2007.004
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