Sophie Tucker scrapbooks and other material11.MWalB02460

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Brandeis University 415 South St. Waltham, MA URL: https://findingaids.brandeis.edu/ Sophie Tucker scrapbooks and other material11.MWalB02460

Table of Contents

Summary Information ...... 3 Biographical or Historical Information ...... 3 Scope and Contents ...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 4 Controlled Access Headings ...... 5 Collection Inventory ...... 5 Scrapbooks ...... 5 Books and Audio Recording ...... 11

- Page 2 - Sophie Tucker scrapbooks and other material11.MWalB02460

Summary Information

Repository: Brandeis University Creator: Tucker, Sophie, 1884-1966 Title: Sophie Tucker scrapbooks and other material ID: 11.MWalB02460 Date [inclusive]: 1957-1966 Physical Description: 32.50 Linear Feet Physical Description: 21 record center boxes, 8 oversize boxes other_unmapped Language of the English Material:

Preferred Citation

Sophie Tucker scrapbooks and other material, 1957-1966, Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University

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Biographical or Historical Information

Singer, actress, and comedian Sophie Tucker, often called the "Last of the Red Hot Mamas," was born in Russia in 1886 as Sonya Kalish. She and her family immigrated to the soon after her birth, and changed their name to Abuza. The family then moved to Connecticut and opened a kosher restaurant, where Tucker would first perform for tips. At 17 she married Louis Tuck, whom she would leave shortly after the birth of their son. This was the first of three marriages that would end in divorce for Tucker. Following her divorce, she left her son Albert in the care of her family and moved to seeking a career as an entertainer—it was at this point that she added the "-er" to her married name. She began her career as a vaudeville singer in blackface, but became a larger hit once she abandoned this style. Tucker never lost vaudeville influences, however, and continued performing songs in the same risqué manner of that time, frequently using bawdy lyrics or double entendres, while incorporating the new style, , into her music. Tucker also expanded her career beyond music: she appeared in films; was frequently a television personality, appearing on the popular variety and talk shows of her day; wrote an autobiography; and even hosted her own radio show. In her later years, she supported many charities and organizations, including the founding of Brandeis University, through donating to support the library and funding a chaired professorship in her name in the theater department. Sophie Tucker died in 1966 in - Page 3- Sophie Tucker scrapbooks and other material11.MWalB02460 New York City, following a career in which she challenged ideas of ethnicity and female sexuality, and became one of the first stars of the twentieth century.

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Scope and Contents

The Sophie Tucker scrapbook collection contains scrapbooks compiled by Tucker and her assistants from the years 1957 until her death in 1966. Tucker meticulously kept scrapbooks spanning fifty years through her entertainment career, and this collection contains the materials from the end of this collection. The scrapbooks contain pieces pertaining to Tucker's professional and personal life during this time, including newspaper clippings, interviews, photographs, and correspondence, all attached to scrapbook pages. Tucker saved numerous greeting cards from various birthdays and holidays, as well as telegrams and letters. Her correspondence reveals her personal and public life--Tucker received messages from everyone from presidents to ordinary fans. Other correspondence materials include message of thanks for her many charitable works and donations, including for her contributions to Brandeis (she even received letters of thanks from Brandeis' first president, Abram Sachar) and the Brandeis National Committee. The materials collected here show Tucker's public image at the end of her life. Special Collections also holds some of Tucker's personal books, and an audio recording of Tucker.

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Administrative Information

Publication Statement Brandeis University

415 South St. Waltham, MA URL: https://findingaids.brandeis.edu/

Conditions Governing Access Access to the collection is in accordance with the policies of the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University. Please contact the department for more information.

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Conditions Governing Use Requests to reproduce or publish material from the collection should be directed to the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.

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Controlled Access Headings

• Jewish entertainers -- United States • Vaudeville -- United States

Collection Inventory

Scrapbooks Scope and Contents

This series consists of Tucker's personal scrapbooks from 1957-1966 arranged chronologically. The scrapbooks contain Tucker's correspondence, news clippings, and photographs.

Box 1 Box 1

Scrapbook, October 1957-December 1957 Box 1 Date: October 1957-December 1957

Scrapbook, November 1957– Box 1 Date: November 1957–February 1958

Box 2 Box 2

Scrapbook, November 1957–January 1958 Box 2 Date: November 1957–January 1958

Scrapbook, October 1957-December 1957 Box 2 Date: October 1957-December 1957

Box 3 Box 3

Scrapbook, - Box 3 Date: February 1959-April 1959

Scrapbook, - Box 3

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Date: March 1959-May 1959

Scrapbook, May 1959- Box 3 Date: May 1959-August 1959

Scrapbook, -August 1959 Box 3 Date: July 1959-August 1959

Box 4 Box 4

Scrapbook, August 1959- Box 4 Date: August 1959-September 1959

Scrapbook, August 1959- Box 4 Date: August 1959-October 1959

Scrapbook, September 1959- Box 4 Date: September 1959-November 1959

Scrapbook, November 1959- (2 volumes) Box 4

Scrapbook, November 1959- Box 4 Date: November 1959-January 1960

Box 5 Box 5

Birthday book, circa January 1960 Box 5 Date: circa January 1960

Scrapbook, December 1959-January 1960 Box 5 Date: December 1959-January 1960

Scrapbook, January 1960 Box 5 Date: January 1960

Box 6 Box 6

Scrapbook, December 1959- Box 6 Date: December 1959-March 1960

Scrapbook, -March 1960 Box 6 Date: February 1960-March 1960

Scrapbook, - Box 6 Date: April 1960-May 1960

Box 7 Box 7

Scrapbook, May 1960- Box 7 Date: May 1960-August 1960

Scrapbook, - Box 7

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Date: July 1960-September 1960

Scrapbook, - Box 7 Date: October 1960-November 1960

Box 8 Box 8

Scrapbook, November 1960- Box 8 Date: November 1960-December 1960

Scrapbook, September 1960-November 1960 Box 8 Date: September 1960-November 1960

Box 9 Box 9

Scrapbook, November 1960-December 1960 Box 9 Date: November 1960-December 1960

Box 10 Box 10

Scrapbook, November 1960- Box 10 Date: November 1960-January 1961

Scrapbook, December 1960 Box 10 Date: December 1960

Scrapbook, December 1960- Box 10 Date: December 1960-February 1961

Scrapbook, January 1961- Box 10 Date: January 1961-March 1961

Scrapbook, February 1961- Box 10 Date: February 1961-April 1961

Box 11 Box 11

Scrapbook, April 1961- Box 11 Date: April 1961-July 1961

Scrapbook, - Box 11 Date: August 1961-September 1961

Scrapbook, August 1961- Box 11 Date: August 1961-October 1961

Box 12 Box 12

Scrapbook, April 1961- Box 12 Date: April 1961-May 1961

Box 13 Box 13

Scrapbook, March 1961-August 1961 Box 13

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Date: March 1961-August 1961

Box 14 Box 14

Scrapbook, October 1961- Box 14 Date: October 1961-November 1961

Scrapbook, October 1961- Box 14 Date: October 1961-December 1961

Scrapbook, November 1961-December 1961 (5 volumes) Box 14

Box 15 Box 15

Scrapbook, Box 15 Date: January 1962

Scrapbook, January 1962- Box 15 Date: January 1962-March 1962

Scrapbook, -March 1962 Box 15 Date: February 1962-March 1962

Scrapbook, March 1962- Box 15 Date: March 1962-April 1962

Scrapbook, - (3 volumes) Box 15

Box 16 Box 16

Scrapbook, - Box 16 Date: August 1962-October 1962

Scrapbook, October 1962- (2 volumes) Box 16

Scrapbook, October 1962- (2 volumes) Box 16

Box 17 Box 17

Scrapbook, June 1962-August 1962 Box 17 Date: June 1962-August 1962

Scrapbook, June 1962-October 1962 Box 17 Date: June 1962-October 1962

Scrapbook, - Box 17 Date: July 1962-September 1962

Scrapbook, August 1962-September 1962 Box 17 Date: August 1962-September 1962

Scrapbook, October 1962-November 1962 Box 17 Date: October 1962-November 1962

Box 18 Box 18

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Scrapbook, November 1962-December 1962 Box 18 Date: November 1962-December 1962

Scrapbook, December 1962- Box 18 Date: December 1962-January 1963

Scrapbook, January 1963 (2 volumes) Box 18

Scrapbook, January 1963- (2 volumes) Box 18

Box 19 Box 19

Scrapbooks, January 1963-February 1963 (2 volumes) Box 19

Scrapbook, January 1963- Box 19 Date: January 1963-March 1963

Scrapbook, February 1963-March 1963 Box 19 Date: February 1963-March 1963

Scrapbook, March 1963- Box 19 Date: March 1963-April 1963

Scrapbooks, - (2 volumes) Box 19

Scrapbook, June 1963- Box 19 Date: June 1963-July 1963

Box 20 Box 20

Scrapbook, July 1963- Box 20 Date: July 1963-August 1963

Scrapbook, August 1963- Box 20 Date: August 1963-September 1963

Scrapbooks, August 1963- (2 volumes) Box 20

Scrapbook, October 1963- Box 20 Date: October 1963-November 1963

Scrapbook, November 1963- Box 20 Date: November 1963-December 1963

Box 21 Box 21

Scrapbook, November 1963-December 1963 Box 21 Date: November 1963-December 1963

Scrapbooks, December 1963- (4 volumes) Box 21

Scrapbook, December 1963- Box 21 Date: December 1963-February 1964

Box 22 Box 22 - Page 9- Sophie Tucker scrapbooks and other material11.MWalB02460

Scrapbook, December 1963-February 1964 Box 22 Date: December 1963-February 1964

Scrapbook, January 1964 Box 22 Date: January 1964

Scrapbook, February 1964- Box 22 Date: February 1964-March 1964

Scrapbook, March 1964 Box 22 Date: March 1964

Scrapbook, - Box 22 Date: April 1964-May 1964

Scrapbook, May 1964- Box 22 Date: May 1964-August 1964

Box 23 Box 23

Scrapbook, -August 1964 Box 23 Date: June 1964-August 1964

Scrapbook, - Box 23 Date: July 1964-September 1964

Scrapbook, August 1964-September 1964 Box 23 Date: August 1964-September 1964

Scrapbook, September 1964- Box 23 Date: September 1964-October 1964

Scrapbook, October 1964- Box 23 Date: October 1964-November 1964

Box 24 Box 24

Scrapbooks, November 1964- (2 volumes) Box 24

Scrapbooks, December 1964 (2 volumes) Box 24

Scrapbook, December 1964- Box 24 Date: December 1964-January 1965

Box 25 Box 25

Scrapbook, December 1964-January 1965 Box 25 Date: December 1964-January 1965

Scrapbook, January 1965- Box 25 Date: January 1965-March 1965

Scrapbook, -March 1965 Box 25

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Date: February 1965-March 1965

Scrapbook, March 1965- Box 25 Date: March 1965-April 1965

Scrapbook, April 1965- Box 25 Date: April 1965-May 1965

Box 26 Box 26

Scrapbook, May 1965- Box 26 Date: May 1965-July 1965

Scrapbook, July 1965- Box 26 Date: July 1965-August 1965

Scrapbook, August 1965- Box 26 Date: August 1965-September 1965

Scrapbook, September 1965- Box 26 Date: September 1965-October 1965

Scrapbook, September 1965- Box 26 Date: September 1965-November 1965

Box 27 Box 27

Scrapbooks, October 1965- (6 volumes) Box 27

Box 28 Box 28

Scrapbook, December 1965 Box 28 Date: December 1965

Scrapbooks, December 1965- (3 volumes) Box 28

Scrapbooks, January 1966 (2 volumes) Box 28

Scrapbook, November 1965- Box 28 Date: November 1965-February 1966

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Books and Audio Recording Scope and Contents

This series consists of Tucker's personal books, some of which are inscribed by Tucker or the author, and a casette tape of Tucker singing "My Yiddishe Momme" and "Some of These Days."

Box 29 Box 29

Parkinson Keyes, Frances. [i]Crescent Carnival[/i], 1943 Box 29

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Date: 1943 Scope and Contents

Sophie Tucker inscribed her name and " 1944."

The Patriotic Foundation of . [i]The Story of the George Box 29 Washington, Robert Morris, Haym Salomon Monument with the proceedings at the unveiling and dedication , 1941[/i], 1942 Date: 1942

Bart, Jan with Barney Ruben. [i]I Lost a Thousand Pounds[/i], Box 29 1957 Date: 1957 Scope and Contents

Inscribed by Jan Bart for Sophie Tucker.

Tisdale Hobart, Alice. [i]Yang and Yin: A Novel of an Box 29 American Doctor in [/i], 1936 Date: 1936 Scope and Contents

Sophie Tucker inscribed her name and the date in 1944.

Streeter, Edward. [i]Window on America: The Growth of a Box 29 Nation as seen by New York's First Bank, 1784-1959[/i], 1959 Date: 1959

Thompson, Morton. [i]Joe, the Wounded Tennis Player[/i], 1945 Box 29 Date: 1945 Scope and Contents

Sophie Tucker inscribed her name and "Chicago 1945."

Garfield, James B. [i]They Like You Better[/i], 1959 Box 29 Date: 1959 Scope and Contents

Inscribed by James B. Garfield for Sophie Tucker.

Simpson, William R. and Simpson, Florence K. with Charles Box 29 Samuels. [i]Hockshop[/i], 1954 Date: 1954

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Scope and Contents

Inscribed by William and Florence Simpson for Sophie Tucker.

"My Yiddishe Momme" and "Some of These Days" performed Box 29 by Sophie Tucker, (cassette tape), undated Date: undated

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