Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt3z09q52j No online items Guide to the Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection Andrea Castillo and Nancy Lorimer Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound Stanford University Libraries Braun Music Center 541 Lasuen Mall Stanford, CA 94305-3076 Phone: (650) 723-9312 Fax: (650) 725-1145 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ars/ #169; 2006 The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved. Guide to the Richard and Mildred ARS-0004 1 Crooks Collection Guide to the Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection Collection number: ARS-0004 Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound Stanford University Libraries Stanford, California Processed by: Andrea Castillo and Nancy Lorimer Date Completed: May 2006 Encoded by: Ray Heigemeir #169; 2006 The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection Dates: 1913-1984 Collection number: ARS-0004 Creator: Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection Size: 9 linear ft. Repository: Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound Stanford University Libraries Stanford, California 94305-3076 Abstract: Materials documenting virtually every stage of Crooks career. Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English Access Collection is open for research. Listening appointments may require 24 hours notice. Contact the Archive Operations Manager. Publication Rights Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound. Preferred Citation RIchard and Mildred Crooks Collection, ARS-0004. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif. Biography / Administrative History Alexander Richard Crooks, tenor, was born in Trenton, N.J. on June 26, 1900. He toured widely, and sang with the Metropolitan Opera Company from 1933 to 1942. Crooks recorded extensively for the Victor record company, and was featured on several radio series from 1929 to 1945. He married his childhood friend Mildred Pine in 1921 and they had two children, Patricia and Richard, Jr. In retirement, the couple settled in Portola Valley. Richard Crooks died on September 30, 1972. Scope and Content of Collection Materials documenting virtually every stage of Crooks' career, starting with newspaper clippings and programs apparently kept by his mother from his appearances as a boy soprano in churches, at resort concerts and in vaudeville. Included are materials related to Crooks' high school classmate George Antheil. The collection contains photographs, programs, and other items for nearly every role Crooks undertook at the Metropolitan Opera and memorabilia from the numerous concert tours and the years broadcasting the Voice of Firestone radio program (1932-1945), as well as sheet music. Included are letters from colleagues and friends from throughout his career and into retirement. Finally, Crooks' own recording collection, with test pressings, privately recorded materials, and several air checks (with Bing Crosby) are included. Arrangement Guide to the Richard and Mildred ARS-0004 2 Crooks Collection Organized into 12 series. I. Correspondence. II. Documents. III. Programs. IV. Photographs. V. Scrapbooks. VI. Clippings. VII. Publications. VIII. Libretti. IX. Sheet music. X. Sound recordings. XI. Audio-visual materials. XII. Miscellany. Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Crooks, Richard, 1900-1972. Voice of Firestone (Radio program) Tenors (Singers) Opera. Correspondence Box 1, Folder 1 Correspondence-Durant Box 1, Folder 2 Correspondence-Melchior Box 1, Folder 3 Correspondence-RCA Box 1, Folder 4 Correspondence-Undated Box 1, Folder 5 Correspondence 1913-1939 Box 1, Folder 6 Correspondence 1940-1948 Box 1, Folder 7 Correspondence 1953-1959 Box 1, Folder 8 Correspondence 1960-1971 Box 1, Folder 9 Correspondence 1972 (Condolences) Box 1, Folder 10 Correspondence 1980-1984 (Mildred Crooks) Documents Box 1, Folder 1 Documents -- Award certificates Box 1, Folder 2 Documents -- Honorary Doctorates Box 1, Folder 3 Documents -- Interviews and Articles 1937-1985 Box 2, Folder 4 Documents -- Publicity and Press Releases Box 2, Folder 5 Documents -- Radio transcripts, 1948, 1966 Box 2, Folder 6 Documents -- Closing night at the old Met, 1966 Box 2, Folder 7 Documents -- Mildred Crooks and George Antheil poems Box 2, Folder 8 Documents -- Biography Box 2, Folder 9 Documents -- Mildred's various notes Box 2, Folder 10 Documents -- Lists. Selections from the recordings of Richard Crooks Programs Box 2, Folder 1 Programs -- Opera snakes, 1912, 1933, 1942 Box 2, Folder 2 Programs -- Firestone programs list Box 2, Folder 3 Programs -- Undated Box 2, Folder 4 Programs -- 1913-1931 Box 2, Folder 5 Programs -- 1936 Box 2, Folder 6 Programs -- 1939-1940 Box 2, Folder 7 Programs -- 1941-1942 Box 2, Folder 8 Programs -- 1943-1952 Box 2, Folder 9 Programs -- non-Crooks Photographs Box 3, Folder 1 Photographs -- Portraits Box 3, Folder 2 Photographs -- Richard and Mildred Crooks Box 3, Folder 3 Photographs -- at Buck Hill Falls with family Box 3, Folder 4 Photographs -- Recreation--New Jersey, 1935 and earlier Box 3, Folder 5 Photographs -- Recreation--General Box 3, Folder 6 Photographs -- Victor Male Chorus, 1925 Box 3, Folder 7 Photographs -- Hamburg and Berlin debuts, 1927 Box 3, Folder 8 Photographs -- Canada and Sweden concerts Guide to the Richard and Mildred ARS-0004 3 Crooks Collection Photographs Box 3, Folder 9 Photographs -- World Tour, 1936 Box 3, Folder 10 Photographs -- Seattle, 1938 Box 3, Folder 11 Photographs -- World Tour, 1939 Box 3, Folder 12 Photographs -- Metropolitan Opera Box 3, Folder 13 Photographs -- Metropolitan Opera -- Faust Box 4, Folder 14 Photographs -- Metropolitan Opera -- Linda di Chamounix Box 4, Folder 15 Photographs -- Metropolitan Opera -- Manon Box 4, Folder 16 Photographs -- Metropolitan Opera -- Mignon Box 4, Folder 17 Photographs -- Metropolitan Opera -- Traviata Box 4, Folder 18 Photographs -- Firestone Broadcast Box 4, Folder 19 Photographs -- Miscellaneous Box 4, Folder 20 Photographs -- with others Box 4, Folder 21 Photographs -- Others I Box 4, Folder 22 Photographs -- Others II Scrapbooks Box 6, Scrapbook Fragments of scrapbook 1914-1919 1 Physical Description: 15" x 12 1/4'' gray cloth cover Box 6, Scrapbook Dated Feb. 25, 1933 2 Physical Description: 14.5" x 12'' black leather covers with loose pages Box 7, Scrapbook World Tour, 1936 3 Physical Description: 14" x 9 3/4'' beige, green, brown and yellow cloth covers, with leather strap for gathering pages. Box 7, Scrapbook Publicity book for the Melbourne season of Richard Crooks, 1936. Vol.3 4 Physical Description: 13" x 8 1/2''gray paper covers Box 7, Scrapbook Publicity book for the Melbourne season of Richard Crooks, 1936. Vol.3 5 Physical Description: 14 1/2" x 9 1/2''gray cloth covers Scope and Content Note Bound copies of scrapbook 4 Clippings Oversize Box 8 Publications Box 9, Book 1 The Metropolitan Opera Fête. February 26, 1977. Boston Opera Association Box 9, Book 2 The Life of Emma Thursby. 1845-1931 Scope and Content Note Inscribed by Ina Love Thursby. Feb. 21, 1941 Box 9, Book 3 Flagstad. A personal memoir Scope and Content Note Inscribed by ?. Feb. 9, 1983 Libretti Box 10, Libretto 1 Donizetti, Gaetano, 1797-1848. Linda di Chamounix Box 10, Libretto 2 Donizetti, Gaetano, 1797-1848. Don Pasquale Box 10, Libretto 3 Sullivan, Arthur, Sir, 1842-1900. H.M.S. Pinafore Box 10, Libretto 4 Massenet, Jules, 1842-1912. Manon Box 10, Libretto 5 Thomas, Ambroise, 1811-1896. Mignon Box 10, Libretto 6 Prokofiev, Sergey, 1891-1953. Love for three oranges Guide to the Richard and Mildred ARS-0004 4 Crooks Collection Libretti Box 10, Libretto 7 Puccini, Giacomo, 1858-1924. Turandot Box 10, Libretto 8 Rodgers, Richard, 1902- Carousel Box 10, Libretto 9 Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901. Macbeth Box 10, Libretto Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901. Rigoletto 10 Box 10, Libretto Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901. Otello 11 Box 10, Libretto Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901. Traviata 12 Sheet music Box 10, Volume 1 Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897. Lieder, op. 49. Wiegenlied Box 10, Volume 2 Carissimi, Giacomo, 1605-1674. Vittoria, mio core Box 10, Volume 3 Chenoweth, Wilbur, 1899-1980. Vocalise Box 10, Volume 4 Confrey, Zez, 1895-1971. Kitten on the keys Box 10, Volume 5 Donizetti, Gaetano, 1797-1848. Elisir d'amore Box 10, Volume 6 Firestone, Idabelle. If I could tell you Box 10, Volume 7 Firestone, Idabelle. In my garden Box 10, Volume 8 Gabrilowitsch, Ossip, 1878-1936. Good-bye Box 10, Volume 9 Gluck, Christoph Willibald, Ritter von, 1714-1787. Paride ed Elena. O del mio dolce ardor Box 10, Volume Godard, Benjamin, 1849-1895. Jocelyn. Berceuse 10 Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Floridante. Alma mia 11 Physical Description: Manuscript Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Atlanta. Dii ad Irene 12 Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Partenope. Sei mia gioia 13 Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Judas Maccabaeus. Sound an alarm (copy 1) 14 Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Judas Maccabaeus. Sound an alarm (copy 2) 15 Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Judas Maccabaeus. Sound an alarm 16 Physical Description: Manuscript Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Samson. Total eclipse ; Alexander Balus. To 17 God, who made the radiant sun Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Semele. Where'er you walk (copy 1) 18 Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Semele. Where'er you walk (copy 2) 19 Box 10, Volume Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759. Acis and Galatea. Would you gain the tender 20 creature Box 10, Volume Hupfeld, Herman, 1894-1951. Casablanca. As time goes by 21 Box 10, Volume Kern, Jerome, 1885-1945. Very warm for May. All the things you are 22 Box 10, Volume Kodaly, Zolt#225;n, 1882-1967.