Research Catalog

White Studio theatrical photographs

Title
White Studio theatrical photographs, 1903-1936.
Author
White Studio (New York, N.Y.)

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21 Items

StatusContainerFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
MWEZ+ n.c. 16532Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16532Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16533Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16533Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16534Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16534Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16535Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16535Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16536Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16536Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16537Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16537Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16538Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16538Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16539Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16539Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16540Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16540Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16541Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16541Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16542Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16542Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16543Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16543Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16544Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16544Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16545Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16545Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16546Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16546Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16547Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16547Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16548Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16548Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16549Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16549Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16550Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16550Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre
MWEZ+ n.c. 16560Still imageSupervised use *T-Vim 1956-002 MWEZ+ n.c. 16560Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre

Details

Description
6,700 keysheets (175,000 photoprints) : b&w.
Summary
The most comprehensive record of the American stage for the years 1903-1936, the collection of White Studio theatrical photographs reflects over 7,000 professional photographic assignments documenting more than 85% of all live performances of theater and vaudeville in New York.
Subjects
Genre/Form
Photographic prints.
Note
  • All print photographs in the White Studio collection were conserved and the originals are now mounted non-adhesively, on acid-free boards using polyester corners or slings. The keysheets have also been inserted in a three-sided polyester sleeve and the encapsulations placed in standard-size acid-free photographic storage boxes. This major preservation project was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
  • This collection also includes thousands of nitrate and acetate still film negatives, which are currently semi-processed and not available for general research access. Specific acetate negatives may be available for digital imaging orders, however. Please email theatre@nypl.org for more information.
Biography (note)
  • A commercial photographic studio founded by Luther White in New York City in the 1890s, White Studio was first known for its portraiture before venturing into theatrical photography beginning in 1904. The firm closed in 1936.
Indexes/Finding Aids (note)
  • Collection guide available in the repository.
Call Number
*T-Vim 1956-002
OCLC
NYPG05-F11338
Author
White Studio (New York, N.Y.)
Title
White Studio theatrical photographs, 1903-1936.
Biography
A commercial photographic studio founded by Luther White in New York City in the 1890s, White Studio was first known for its portraiture before venturing into theatrical photography beginning in 1904. The firm closed in 1936.
Luther White and his principal photographer, George W. Lucas, are credited with the development of flash-pan artificial lighting, which enabled the Studio to cut drastically the time necessary for studio and location photography. By 1904, with the further development of flashlighting, White Studio began to document theater, opera, music, dance and circus production on assignment from producers and theater owners such as David Belasco, Daniel Frohman, Lee and J. J. Shubert and Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. who wanted to provide visual material for the press. White's methods were considered ideal for creating images suitable for rotogravure reproduction in newspapers. Photographs were often taken from the first balcony or lighting booth at the final dress rehearsal and productions were often re-photographed after major cast changes, providing documentation of replacement actors as well as the original cast. In some cases, set models and costume sketches were also photographed. White Studio soon became the leading entertainment photography studio of its day, providing publicity photographs for performers. The Studio, because of its fine reputation in portraiture, also became involved in fashion photography.
Indexes
Collection guide available in the repository.
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Research Call Number
*T-Vim 1956-002
View in Legacy Catalog