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                          The Nazimova Collection

    A Register of Papers Related To Nazimova in the Library of Congress


                        Prepared by Laura J. Kells

                                    1996

                            Manuscript Division
                            Library of Congress

                             Washington, D.C.

                Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress
                         Manuscript Division, 2001

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Table of Contents for The Nazimova Collection
Collection Summary
Selected Search Terms

   * Names:
   * Subjects:
   * Occupation:

Administrative Information

   * Provenance:
   * Processing History:
   * Transfers:
   * Copyright Status:
   * Preferred Citation:

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note
Description of Series

   * Kling-Lewton Papers, 1877- 1988, n.d.
   * Harry E. Vinyard, Jr., Papers, 1905- 1959, n.d.
   * Oversize, 1905- 1929, n.d.

Container List

   * KLING-LEWTON PAPERS, 1877- 1988, n.d.
   * HARRY E. VINYARD, JR., PAPERS, 1905- 1959, n.d.
   * OVERSIZE, 1905- 1929, n.d.

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Collection Summary

Creator: Nazimova, 1879-1945
Title: Nazimova Collection 1877-1988
Size: 1400 items; 5 containers plus 1 oversize; 1.8 linear feet
Repository: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Abstract: Actress. Correspondence, programs, press clippings, and
scrapbooks documenting the American stage and film career of the
Russian-born actress Nazimova, particularly during the silent film era.

Selected Search Terms

Names:

Lewton, Lucy Olga
Lewton, Nina
Scott, Leona

Subjects:

Actors
Motion picture actors and actresses--United States
Silent films--United States
Theater--United States

Occupation:

Actresses

Administrative Information

Provenance:

The Nazimova Collection relating to Alla Nazimova , stage and motion
picture actress, was donated to the Library of Congress by Jean L. Kling,
Lucy Olga Lewton, and Val E. Lewton in 1991 and 1992. Additional material
from Harry E. Vinyard, Jr., was transferred from the Motion Picture,
Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division in 1992.

Processing History:

A description of the Nazimova Collection appears in Library of Congress
Acquisitions: Manuscript Division, 1991, pp. 36-39.

Transfers:

Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial
divisions of the Library. Some photographs have been transferred to the
Prints and Photographs Division. Sound recordings have been transferred to
the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. All
transfers are identified in these divisions as part of the Nazimova
Collection.

Copyright Status:

Alla Nazimova's literary rights are held by the Glesca Marshall Library,
Columbus, Georgia . Jean L. Kling has dedicated to the public all rights,
including copyrights throughout the world, that she may possess in the
collection. The status of copyright in other unpublished writings in the
Nazimova Collection is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States
(Title 17, U.S.C.).

Preferred Citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following
information: container number, Nazimova Collection, Manuscript Division,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Biographical Note

 Date          Event

 1879 , June
 4             Born Adelaide Leventon, Yalta, Russia

 1896          Enrolled in the dramatic school of the Philharmonic
               Society, Moscow, Russia

 1898          Studied acting with Stanislavsky; member of stock company,
               Moscow Art Theatre

 ca. 1904      Joined Paul Orleneff's St. Petersburg Players, St.
               Petersburg, Russia

 1905          American stage debut with Paul Orleneff's St. Petersburg
               Players in The Chosen People, Herald Square Theatre, New
               York, N.Y.

 1906          Stage debut in English in Hedda Gabler, Princess Theatre,
               New York, N.Y.

 1915          Toured on the Keith vaudeville circuit

 1916          Appeared in first film, War Brides

 1918          Signed a motion picture contract with Metro Pictures
               Corporation

 1921          Produced and acted in film Camille

 1922          Produced and acted in film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's
               Salomé and of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House

 1928          Joined Eva Le Galliene's Civic Repertory Co.

 1929          Joined the Theatre Guild

 1944          Acted in last films, including The Bridge of San Luis Rey

 1945 , July
 13            Died, Hollywood, Calif.

Scope and Content Note

The Nazimova Collection, consisting of material relating to the stage and
screen actress Alla Nazimova (1879-1945), was compiled by family members
and fans. Nazimova, acclaimed for her performances in the dramas of Henrik
Ibsen and in Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra, also became a
prominent silent film star in the early years of the motion picture
industry. The collection covers the years 1877 to 1988 and is arranged in
two sections, the Kling-Lewton Papers and the Vinyard Papers.

The Kling-Lewton Papers consist of items compiled by members of Nazimova's
extended family and focuses on correspondence from Nazimova to her sister,
Nina Lewton . These letters span the period from 1909, when Nina and her
children arrived from Russia, until 1943. Many of the early letters are in
Russian, but English translations of most are attached. Nazimova describes
details of her life while on theatrical tour, her feelings about various
acting projects and fellow actors and directors, and her relationship with
actor and director Charles Bryant, with whom Nazimova lived publicly as a
married couple although they never married. The correspondence also
discusses household matters, including the extensive renovation of her
estate in Port Chester, New York, "Who-Torok," and it illuminates her
relationship with Nina and Nina's children, Lucy Olga Lewton and Val Ivan
Lewton . A memoir by Lucy Olga Lewton of Nazimova is filed in a biography
section. Other items include press clippings and a few programs. Papers of
Val Lewton, who became a film producer and writer, are also in the
Manuscript Division .

The Vinyard Papers consist of items collected by Harry E. Vinyard, Jr., who
apparently planned to write a biography of Nazimova. The collection
contains correspondence, programs, photostatic copies of press clippings,
and scrapbooks relating to her career. The correspondence includes letters,
1927-1940, from Nazimova to Leona Scott, a school teacher from New Jersey
who was a fan and friend.

Description of Series

 Box    Series

 BOX    Kling-Lewton Papers, 1877 - 1988 , n.d.
 1-3

        Biographical notes and writings, correspondence, photographs,
        press clippings, programs, and other printed matter.

        Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically
        therein.

 BOX    Harry E. Vinyard, Jr., Papers, 1905 - 1959 , n.d.
 3-4

        Correspondence, press clippings, programs, scrapbooks, and
        sketches.

        Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically
        therein.

 BOX    Oversize, 1905 - 1929 , n.d.
 OV1

        Photostatic copies of press clippings.

        Described according to the series, folders, and boxes from which
        the items were removed.

Container List

 Box    Contents

        KLING-LEWTON PAPERS, 1877 - 1988 , n.d.

 BOX 1           Biographical material on Nazimova
                        Notes, n.d.
                        (4 folders)
                        Writings
                                By family members
                                       Kling, Jean L., 1972
                                       Lewton, Lucy Olga, 1988, n.d.
                                       (2 folders)
                                By others, 1962, n.d.
 BOX 2           Correspondence
                        1909-1945
                        (18 folders)
 BOX 3                  1966-1978, n.d.
                        (3 folders)
                 Miscellany, 1877, ca. 1882-ca. 1899, 1904, 1967-1969,
                 1976-1977, n.d.
                 Printed matter
                        Miscellany, 1919, 1931, n.d.
                        (2 folders)
                        Press clippings, 1906-1908, 1917-1921, 1931,
                        1939-1947, 1958-1961, 1967-1974, n.d.
                        Programs, 1905, 1917, 1932

        HARRY E. VINYARD, JR., PAPERS, 1905 - 1959 , n.d.

 BOX 3           Correspondence, 1927-1940, 1948-1953, n.d.
                 (2 folders)
 BOX 4           Miscellany, 1935, n.d.
                 Printed matter
                        Press clippings, 1905-1929, 1935-1936, 1942-1958,
                        n.d. See also Oversize
                        Programs, 1932-1939, n.d.
                 Scrapbooks
                        Compiled by Leona Scott, 1927-1950, 1959, n.d.
                        (2 folders)
                        Compiled by Harry E. Vinyard, Jr., n.d.
                        (2 folders)

        OVERSIZE, 1905 - 1929 , n.d.

 BOX OV 1        Harry E. Vinyard, Jr., papers
                        Printed matter
                        Press clippings, 1905-1929, n.d. (Container 4)