The Inventory of the Billie Burke Collection #246
The Inventory
of the
Billie Burke
Collection
#246
Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center BURKE, BILLIE 1885-1970
#12D
Purchase February 1988
Boxl
Folder 1
LETTERS (1944-1957) to Nancy Hamilton, (1908-) American playwright, singer, songwriter, author, who wrote radio scripts for Billie Burke Show, "Fashions in Rations," CBS 1943-44.
The letters include many references to Kit and Guthrie [Katharine Cornell and her husband, Guthrie McClintic] with whom Nancy Hamilton evidently stayed on Martha's Vineyard.
18 ALS, 1 ANS, 8 TLS, 2 telegrams, 15 envelopes.
DATED
TLS July 17, 1944 ALS California, April 1, 1946 on postmark with envelope ALS California, March 31, 1948 on postmark with envelope ANS On Christmas card, California, Dec. 30, 1948 on postmark with envelope ALS California, Nov. 3, 1949 on postmark with envelope. ALS Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 1950 on postmark with envelope. ALS California, Feb. 11, 1952 with envelope ALS Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 4, 1953 on postmark with envelope. ALS Illinois, Sept. 23, 1953 on postmark with envelope TLS California, Nov. 20, 1953 with postmark ALS California, Oct. 4, 1954 on postmark with envelope ALS ·Maine, August 17, 1956 on postmark with envelope ALS California, January 4, 1957 on postmark with envelope Telegram California, March 4, 1957 Telegram California, August 7, 1957 ALS California, September 12, 1957 postmark on envelope ALS California, October 1, 1957 draft of holograph reply in pencil on verso of envelope by NH. ALS California, October 22, 1957 with envelope Billie Burke, Purchase February 1988, page 2. Box 1 (cont.)
Folder 1 (cont.):
UNDATED
ALS "Friday" ALS "Sunday" ALS With ANS on verso, in French, signed "Paulette" ALS "Thursday eleventh", with holograph note in pencil, to "Darling Nabisco", unsigned ALS Christmas greetings ALS Christmas greetings
Addendum February 1991 PURCHASE Boxl Folder 2
PHOTOGRAPH Billie Burke. Inscribed 1938. Black & White, matte. 5" x 7". Burke, Billie (1886-1970)
#12D Purchase December 1994
Archive of over a hundred original photographs and other memorabilia relating to her early American theatrical and screen career, family and home life from the estate of Burke's manager for her first American tour. While Billie Burke is best remembered for her flourishing film career which cuhninated in her performance as Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, she was first introduced to this country in a series of triumphant stage performances, when she was the highest paid actress in history. A renowned beauty who included Somerset Maugham, Caruso, and J.M. Barrie among her escorts in 1914, she married the great showman Florenz Ziegfeld, with whom she lived at Burkeley Crest, their estate in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.
The archive includes a wealth of documentation of her theatrical career in this country before World War I.
15 folio size images, including seven Sarony portraits, one of which is inscribed by Burke
A Sarony portrait of Burke's mother, Blanche, inscribed Other large costume portraits Photos of her Hudson river estate 8 Medium size images, including a boldly inscribed portrait of Burke by Moffett of Chicago and an early glossy movie still. A series of cabinet photos of mother Blanche's western vacation another Sarony estate Over 70 snapshots of friends and family around the pool and on the grounds ofBurkely Crest An unusual photo-map of the U.S. showing the route of Burke's 1915 tour in a folder printed with the itinerary Sheet music featuring Burke A mint copy with the original box of a specially issued edition of the novelization of the "Mind the Paint" girl by Louis Tracy, marking a 100th Broadway performance of the Sir Arthur Pinero play, with a leaved insert signed by star Billie Burke. (The book has been catalogued in the Y collection.) Burke, Billie (1886-1970)
#12D Addenda Purchase December 1994
Boxl I. PHOTOGRAPHS ca. 1900-1915
A. OF BILLIE BURKE
10 Folio Size Images:
7 Sarony ofNew York costume portraits, one inscribed to "William". (#3)
1 LaMertha of St. Louis costume portrait ofBurke. (#4)
1 Kajiwara of St. Louis oval costume portrait of Burke, signed by photographer. (#5)
1 Lallie Charles of Mayfair, London oval portrait, inscribed by Burke. (#6)
Package 1 1 photo map of the United States showing the rail route of Burke's 1915 national tour. The photo is in a folder printed with itinerary of said tour which coincided with Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. In May of the year, Billie Burke was appearing at the Columbia Theatre, San Francisco in a production of "Mrs. Dot." Boxl
B. 9 Medium-Sized Photographs
1 costume portrait of Burke by Witzel of Los Angeles. (#7)
1 costume portrait by Moffett of Chicago dated 1910, mounted and inscribed by Burke. (#8)
1 anonymous silent movie still of Burke in overalls repairing car. (#9)
1 Sarony of New York small cabinet photo of Burke. This image shows Burke as a very young woman with her hair down. (#10) Boxl 1 anonymous photo of a girl and two dogs in front of a house, mounted. (#11)
3 photos mounted on board of a Dutch/English Colonial style house overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades at Pine Crest, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. They are early twentieth century and on the back of one are pencil notations as to the location, specifications, deed, and mortgage of said house which appears to be called Long Vue. (#12)
2 White of New York photos of Burkeley Crest, the Florenz Ziegfeld estate at Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. They are of the facade of the main house and its landscaping and of the rear of the house with the swimming pool. Burke appears near the pool under a tree house. (#13)
C. Sarony of New York medium size in shepherdess costume, signed by Sarony. (#14)
D. TEN REAL-PHOTO POSTCARDS (#14)
4 portraits of Burke, two inscribe'd by Burke.
6 photos ofBurkeley Crest on 5 cards.
1 photo a British Palladian country house, "Follaton House, Totnes".
E. 1 PHOTO BY LA MERTHA of St. Louis who was a St. Louis Globe Democrat staff photographer. Photo shows Billie and Blanche in late Edwardian/pre-World War I, joyous crowd scene. Possibly a steamship hon voyage or early airplane event. (#15)
F. SNAPSHOTS/CANDIDS, 69 TOTAL (#16)
The primary subject matter consists of family and friends at Burkeley Crest. They are pictured on the grounds, at the main house, at the out buildings, and at the pool with its jet d' eau. Billie is featured in a number of solo candids at the pool. Family and friends are also shown at various places in and around Westchester and New York City. There are also some shots of livestock - chickens and pigeons, there are a few shots of Niagara Falls. (#5)
G. OF BLANCHE BURKE, Billie's mother.
1 White ofNew York oval portrait of Blanche, Burke's mother. (#17) Boxl 2 Sarony, New York standard portraits ofBlanche, Burke's mother, one is inscribed and unmounted.
Series of Eight Cabinet Photos of Blanche's vacation out West to Pike's Peak in May of 1911. (#18)
3 Cabinets by J.G. Hiestand, official photographer for the Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway, Manitou, Colorado. Blanche et al standing at rear of stopped train. 2 images and 1 in duplicate.
5 cabinets by Paul Goerke and Son of Manitou, Colorado. Blanche et. At. at the Peak. 4 images, 1 in duplicate.
II. PRINTED MATERIAL (#19)
A. Printed oval portrait of Billie Burke removed from book THE "MIND THE PAINT" GIRL. A novelization of Pinero play by Louis Tracy. (#19)
B.ADS
PANAMA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION Hotel St. , San Francisco
1. Card with music program for June 9, 1911 and on verso photo of BB listed in "Mrs. Dot" among attractions at theater week of May 5.
2. Charles Frohman presents Miss Billie Burke in "Mrs. Dot" season of 1911. Dates and locations.
C. SHEET MUSIC
Kern, Jerome "My Otaheitee Lady" words Charles H. Taylor. c. 1913. Sung by Miss Billie Burke in Charles Frohman's "THE AMAZONS". Billie Burke on cover wearing spats, plus fours, hunting jacket, and carrying a gun.
D. "Ziegfeld Estate and Mementos to be Auctions"
Tearsheet; New York Herald Tribune; April 25, 1940. BURKE, BILLIE #12D Addenda: September 1997 Purchase
Box 1 F.20 I. CORRESPONDENCE
ALS to unidentified person [probably Howard Scaman], n.d. ALS to Howard Scaman, n.d.